Akira Matsunaga (footballer, born 1914)

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Akira Matsunaga
Personal information
Full nameAkira Matsunaga
Date of birth(1914-09-21)September 21, 1914
Place of birthYaizu, Shizuoka, Japan
Date of deathJanuary 20, 1943(1943-01-20) (aged 28)
Place of deathGuadalcanal, British Solomon Islands
Height1.71 m (5 ft 7+12 in)
Playing positionForward
Youth career
YearsTeam
????Shida High School
1935–1937Tokyo Liberal Arts and Science University
National team
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1936Japan2(1)

Biography

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.

Statistics

[1]

Japan national team
YearAppsGoals
1936 2 1
Total 2 1

Akira Matsunaga (footballer, Born 1914) Media

References

Other websites