Kunishige Kamamoto

Japanese association football player and manager

Kunishige Kamamoto (Japanese: 釜本 邦茂, Kamamoto Kunishige, born April 15, 1944) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for the Japan national team.

Kunishige Kamamoto
Kamamoto in 2014
Personal information
Full name Kunishige Kamamoto
Date of birth (1944-04-15) April 15, 1944 (age 79)
Place of birth Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10+12 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
1960–1962 Yamashiro High School
1963–1966 Waseda University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1967–1984 Yanmar Diesel 251 (202)
Total 251 (202)
National team
1964–1977 Japan 76 (75)
Teams managed
1978–1984 Yanmar Diesel
1991–1994 Gamba Osaka
2009 Fujieda MYFC
Honours
Yanmar Diesel
Winner Japan Soccer League 1971
Winner Japan Soccer League 1974
Winner Japan Soccer League 1975
Winner Japan Soccer League 1980
Runner-up Japan Soccer League 1968
Runner-up Japan Soccer League 1972
Runner-up Japan Soccer League 1978
Winner JSL Cup 1983
Winner JSL Cup 1984
Runner-up JSL Cup 1977
Runner-up JSL Cup 1982
Winner Emperor's Cup 1968
Winner Emperor's Cup 1970
Winner Emperor's Cup 1974
Runner-up Emperor's Cup 1971
Runner-up Emperor's Cup 1972
Runner-up Emperor's Cup 1976
Runner-up Emperor's Cup 1977
Runner-up Emperor's Cup 1983
Representing  Japan
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 1968 Mexico City Team
Asian Games
Bronze medal – third place 1966 Bangkok Team
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Biography change

Kamamoto was born in Kyoto on April 15, 1944. After graduating from Waseda University, he joined Japan Soccer League club Yanmar Diesel in 1967. He played all games in league from first season. In 1968, he became a top scorer in the league. The club won their 1st title 1968 Emperor's Cup with his winning goal in final. The club also won 1970 Emperor's Cup. In 1971, the club won their 1st league champions and he also became a top scorer Second time. In 1974 and 1975, the club won the league for 2 years in a row and also won 1974 Emperor's Cup. In 1978, he became a playing manager. The club won the league champions in 1980. In 1982, he ruptured his Achilles tendon 2 times. In 1984, when he was 40 years old, he retired and resigned a manager. He became a top scorer 7 times and was selected Best Eleven 14 times. He was also selected "Japanese Footballer of the Year" awards 7 times.

On March 3, 1964, when Kamamoto was a Waseda University student, he debuted and scored a goal for the Japan national team against Singapore. In October, he was selected by Japan for 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. He played all matches and scored 1 goal. In 1968, he also was selected Japan for 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. Japan won Bronze Medal and he became a top scorer. He played all matches and scored 7 goals. In 2018, this team was selected Japan Football Hall of Fame. In the 1970s, after many Olympic players left national team, he continued being selected national team. He also played at 1966, 1970 and 1974 Asian Games. In 1977, he retired from national team. He played 76 games and scored 75 goals for Japan until 1977.

In 1991, he signed with across town to the Yanmar Diesel rivals, Matsushita Electric (later Gamba Osaka). He resigned in 1994.

Kamamoto was selected as a member of the House of Councillors in July 1995, then served until July 2001. Kamamoto was also served the vice-president of the Japan Football Association from July 1998 to July 2008. In 2005, he was selected Japan Football Hall of Fame.

Statistics change

Club statistics League CupLeague CupTotal
SeasonClubLeague AppsGoals AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
JapanLeague Emperor's Cup J.League CupTotal
1967 Yanmar Diesel JSL Division 1 14 14 3 7 - 17 21
1968 14 14 3 5 - 17 19
1969 12 10 3 7 - 15 17
1970 14 16 3 5 - 17 21
1971 14 11 3 5 - 17 16
1972 14 11 4 5 - 18 16
1973 16 17 2 0 - 18 17
1974 18 21 4 3 - 22 24
1975 17 9 3 2 - 20 11
1976 18 15 3 2 1 0 22 17
1977 18 20 4 4 3 2 25 26
1978 18 15 3 4 3 4 24 23
1979 18 7 3 2 2 1 22 11
1980 18 10 2 0 3 2 23 12
1981 18 11 2 0 0 0 20 11
1982 8 1 0 0 0 0 8 1
1983 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
1984 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 0
Country Japan 251 202 48 51 12 9 311 262
Total 251 202 48 51 12 9 311 262

[1]

Japan national team
YearAppsGoals
1964 2 1
1965 3 3
1966 7 6
1967 5 11
1968 4 7
1969 0 0
1970 6 3
1971 6 8
1972 8 15
1973 3 2
1974 5 5
1975 7 5
1976 16 9
1977 4 0
Total 76 75

References change

Other websites change