Akira Matsunaga (footballer, born 1914)

Akira Matsunaga
Personal information
Full name	Akira Matsunaga
Date of birth	September 21, 1914
Place of birth	Yaizu, Shizuoka, Japan
Date of death	January 20, 1943 (aged 28)
Place of death	Guadalcanal, British Solomon Islands
Height	1.71 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Youth career
Years	Team
????	Shida High School
1935–1937	Tokyo Liberal Arts and Science University
National team
Years	Team
1936	Japan

Akira Matsunaga (松永行, Matsunaga Akira, September 21, 1914 – January 20, 1943) was a Japanese football player. He played for the Japan national team. His brother Nobuo Matsunaga and Seki Matsunaga also played for Japan national team.

Biography[change | change source]

Matsunaga was born in Yaizu on September 21, 1914. In 1936, when he was a Tokyo Liberal Arts and Science University student, he was selected the Japan national team for 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. At this competition, on August 4, he debuted and scored a goal against Sweden. Japan completed a come-from-behind victory against Sweden. The first victory in Olympics for the Japan and the historic victory over one of the powerhouses became later known as "Miracle of Berlin" (ベルリンの奇跡) in Japan. In 2016, this team was selected Japan Football Hall of Fame. On August 7, he also played against Italy. He played 2 games and scored 1 goal for Japan in 1936.

In 1937, Matsunaga entered the Imperial Japanese Army and served in World War II with the 230th Infantry Regiment. On January 20, 1943 he was killed in action during the Guadalcanal Campaign at the age of 28.