Shigeyoshi Suzuki

Shigeyoshi Suzuki
Personal information
Full name	Shigeyoshi Suzuki
Date of birth	October 13, 1902
Place of birth	Fukushima, Japan
Date of death	December 20, 1971 (aged 69)
Place of death	Japan
Position(s)	Forward
Youth career
1920–1922	Waseda University High School
1923–1926	Waseda University
Senior career*
Years	Team
	Waseda WMW
National team
1927	Japan
Teams managed
1930	Japan
1936	Japan
	* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Shigeyoshi Suzuki (鈴木重義, Suzuki Shigeyoshi, October 13, 1902 – December 20, 1971) was a Japanese football player and manager. He played for the Japan national team. He also managed the Japan national team.

Biography

Suzuki was born in Fukushima Prefecture on October 13, 1902. He was a founding member of the football team at Waseda University High School in 1921, and a founding member of the Waseda University football team in 1924. At Waseda, he played with many Japan national team players including Haruo Arima, Misao Tamai, Tamotsu Asakura, Shigeru Takahashi, Shojiro Sugimura, Nagayasu Honda, Ko Takamoro and Michiyo Taki.

In August 1927, Suzuki was selected the Japan national team at the Far Eastern Championship Games in Shanghai. At this competition, on August 27, he debuted as captain against the Republic of China. On August 29, he also played and scored a goal against the Philippines, and Japan won this match, its first victory in an "International A Match". Suzuki played 2 games and scored 1 goal for Japan in 1927.

In 1930, Suzuki became manager for the Japan national team for Far Eastern Championship Games in Tokyo. He led Japan to the champions. In 1936, he became manager for Japan again and managed at 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. 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 to the Japan Football Hall of Fame.

After World War II, Suzuki became an executive in the insurance industry. He died on December 20, 1971 at the age of 69. In 2007, he was selected to the Japan Football Hall of Fame.