Hiroshi Ochiai

Hiroshi Ochiai
落合弘
Personal information
Full name	Hiroshi Ochiai
Date of birth	28 February 1946 (age 78)
Place of birth	Saitama, Saitama, Empire of Japan
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Defender, Midfielder
Youth career
1961–1963	Urawa High School
Senior career*
Years	Team
1964–1965	Toshiba
1966–1984	Mitsubishi Motors
Total
International career
1974–1980	Japan
Medal record
Mitsubishi Motors
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Hiroshi Ochiai (落合弘, Ochiai Hiroshi, born 28 February 1946) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.

Club career

Ochiai was born in Saitama on 28 February 1946. After graduating from high school, he joined Toshiba in 1964. He played at offensive position. In 1966, he moved to his local club Mitsubishi Motors played in Japan Soccer League (JSL). He played in all 260 matches in the league until 1981. In 1969, he became a top scorer and the club won the champions at JSL first time. In the 1970s he was converted to defensive position. In 1973, the club won JSL and Emperor's Cup. In 1978, the club won all three major title in Japan; JSL, JSL Cup, Emperor's Cup and he was selected Japanese Footballer of the Year awards. He retired in 1984. He played 267 games and scored 56 goals in the league. This 267 games is the second record in JSL after Yoshikazu Nagai (272 games). He was selected Best Eleven 10 times included for 9 years in a row (1973-1981). The club won the league champions 2 times, JSL Cup 2 times and Emperor's Cup 4 times.

National team career

In September 1974, Ochiai was selected Japan national team for 1974 Asian Games. At this competition, on 7 September, he debuted against Israel. After his debut, he played in most games included 1976 Summer Olympics qualification, 1978 World Cup qualification and 1978 Asian Games. In 1980, 1980 Summer Olympics qualification was his last game for Japan. He played 63 games and scored 9 goals for Japan until 1980.^[1]

Coaching career

After retirement, in 1988, Ochiai became coach for Japan national team under manager Kenzo Yokoyama was team mate at Mitsubishi Motors. In 1992, Ochiai became a coach for Urawa Reds (former Mitsubishi Motors) under manager Takaji Mori.

In 2010, Ochiai was selected Japan Football Hall of Fame.

Club statistics

Club performance			League
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals
Japan			League
1966	Mitsubishi Motors	JSL Division 1	14	6
1967			14	13
1968			14	5
1969			14	12
1970			14	2
1971			14	4
1972			14	1
1973			18	2
1974			18	2
1975			18	3
1976			18	1
1977			18	1
1978			18	1
1979			18	2
1980			18	1
1981			18	0
1982			5	0
1983			2	0
1984			0	0
Total			267	56

National team statistics

^[1]

Japan national team
Year	Apps	Goals
1974	2	0
1975	13	3
1976	15	2
1977	5	0
1978	14	3
1979	9	1
1980	5	0
Total	63	9

Personal honors

Japan Soccer League Top Scorer - 1969
Japanese Footballer of the Year - 1978
Japan Soccer League Best Eleven: (10) 1969, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981
Japan Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2010^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b Japan National Football Team Database
^ "OCHIAI Hiroshi". Japan Football Association. Retrieved 19 March 2024.

External links

Hiroshi Ochiai at National-Football-Teams.com
Japan National Football Team Database
Japan Football Hall of Fame at Japan Football Association

[JNFTD-1] Japan National Football Team Database

[2] "OCHIAI Hiroshi". Japan Football Association. Retrieved 19 March 2024.

[1]

[2]