Takaji Mori

Japanese football player and manager (1943-2011)

Takaji Mori (森 孝慈, Mori Takaji, November 24, 1943 – July 17, 2011) was a Japanese football player and manager. He played for the Japan national team. He also managed the Japan national team.

Takaji Mori
Personal information
Full name Takaji Mori
Date of birth (1943-11-24)November 24, 1943
Place of birth Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan
Date of death July 17, 2011(2011-07-17) (aged 67)
Place of death Meguro, Tokyo, Japan
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Defender, Midfielder
Youth career
1959–1961 Shudo High School
1962–1966 Waseda University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1967–1977 Mitsubishi Motors 146 (28)
Total 146 (28)
National team
1966–1976 Japan 56 (2)
Teams managed
1981–1985 Japan
1992–1993 Urawa Reds
1998 Avispa Fukuoka
Honours
Mitsubishi Motors
Winner Japan Soccer League 1969
Winner Japan Soccer League 1973
Runner-up Japan Soccer League 1970
Runner-up Japan Soccer League 1971
Runner-up Japan Soccer League 1974
Runner-up Japan Soccer League 1975
Runner-up Japan Soccer League 1976
Runner-up Japan Soccer League 1977
Winner Emperor's Cup 1971
Winner Emperor's Cup 1973
Runner-up Emperor's Cup 1967
Runner-up Emperor's Cup 1968
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

Mori was born in Fukuyama on November 24, 1943. He played for Waseda University. He won 1963 and 1966 Emperor's Cup at the university. After graduating from Waseda University, he joined Mitsubishi Motors (later Urawa Reds) in 1967. The club won Japan Soccer League champions in 1969 and 1973. The club also won 1971 and 1973 Emperor's Cup. He retired in 1977. He played 146 games and scored 28 goals in the league. He was selected Best Eleven 5 times.

In October 1964, when Mori was a Waseda University student, he was selected the Japan national team for 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. But he did not play in the match. On December 16, 1966, he debuted against Singapore at 1966 Asian Games. In 1968, he was selected Japan for 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. He played in all matches and Japan won Bronze Medal. In 2018, this team was selected Japan Football Hall of Fame. In 1970, he also played at 1970 Asian Games. He played 56 games and scored 2 goals for Japan until 1976.

After retirement, in November 1980, Mori became an assistant coach for the Japan national team under new manager Saburo Kawabuchi. Mori was promoted to manager in April 1981. He managed at 1982 Asian Games and 1984 Summer Olympics qualification. At 1986 World Cup qualification in 1985, Japan defeated Singapore, North Korea and Hong Kong to reach the final round of the East Asian zone to play South Korea. Japan lost 1-3 on aggregate. Mori then led the team to the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul and resigned following the team's failure to reach the second round. In 1992, Mori became a manager for Urawa Reds. However, Urawa Reds finished at the bottom place in 1993 season and he resigned end of the season. In 1998, he signed with Avispa Fukuoka and he managed the club in 1 season.

In 2006, Mori was selected to the Japan Football Hall of Fame. On July 17, 2011, he died of renal pelvis cancer in Meguro, Tokyo at the age of 67. That day was the day Japan women's national team won 2011 Women's World Cup, Japan won the world champions for the first time through men and women teams.

Statistics change

[1]

Club statistics League
SeasonClubLeague AppsGoals
JapanLeague
1967 Mitsubishi Motors JSL Division 1 14 3
1968 14 3
1969 14 2
1970 14 6
1971 10 1
1972 14 0
1973 18 1
1974 18 8
1975 12 4
1976 18 0
1977 0 0
Country Japan 146 28
Total 146 28

[2]

Japan national team
YearAppsGoals
1966 4 0
1967 5 1
1968 4 0
1969 4 0
1970 13 0
1971 3 0
1972 8 0
1973 1 1
1974 1 0
1975 9 0
1976 4 0
Total 56 2

References change

Other websites change