Masakiyo Maezono

is a former Japanese football player. He played for the Japan national team.

Masakiyo Maezono

Maezono in 2012
Personal information
Full name	Masakiyo Maezono
Date of birth	(1973-10-29) October 29, 1973
Place of birth	Satsumasendai, Kagoshima, Japan
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Playing position	Forward, Midfielder
Youth career
1989–1991	Kagoshima Jitsugyo High School
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1992–1996	Yokohama Flügels	128	(25)
1997–1998	Tokyo Verdy	63	(9)
1998	→Santos (loan)	5	(1)
1999	→Goiás (loan)	0	(0)
2000	→Shonan Bellmare (loan)	38	(11)
2003	Anyang LG Cheetahs	16	(0)
2004	Incheon United	13	(1)
Total		263	(47)
National team
1996	Japan U-23	3	(2)
1994–1997	Japan	19	(4)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Biography

Maezono was born in Satsumasendai on October 29, 1973. After graduating from Kagoshima Jitsugyo High School, he joined J1 League club Yokohama Flügels in 1992. He debuted in June 1993 and he became a regular player after his debut. The club won the 1993 Emperor's Cup, their first major title. In Asia, the club also won the 1994–95 Asian Cup Winners' Cup, their first Asian title. In 1997, he moved to Verdy Kawasaki (later Tokyo Verdy). In October 1998, he moved to Brazil and played for Santos (1998) and Goiás (1999). In 2000, he returned to Japan and joined J2 League club Shonan Bellmare. In 2001, he returned to Tokyo Verdy. In 2003, he moved to South Korea and played for Anyang LG Cheetahs (2003) and Incheon United (2004). He announced his retirement in May 2005.

On May 22, 1994, Maezono debuted for the Japan national team against Australia. He also played at the 1994 Asian Games.

From 1995, Maezono prioritized the Japan U-23 national team. He played as captain for U-23 Japan. In the 1996 Summer Olympics Qualifiers, Japan qualified for the 1996 Summer Olympics for the first time in 28 years since the 1968 Summer Olympics where Japan won the bronze medal. At the 1996 Olympics, although Japan won 2 matches, they exited in the first round. At the Olympics Japan beat Brazil in the first game. It was known as the "Miracle of Miami" (マイアミの奇跡) in Japan. He played 3 games at the Olympics and scored 2 goals against Hungary.

After the 1996 Summer Olympics, in August 1996, Maezono was selected by the Japan senior team for the first time in years. On August 25, he played and scored a goal against Uruguay. This goal was his first goal for Japan. In December, he played at the 1996 Asian Cup. He played 19 games and scored 4 goals for Japan until 1997.

Statistics

Club performance			League		Cup		League Cup		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Japan			League		Emperor's Cup		J. League Cup		Total
1992	Yokohama Flügels	J1 League	-				0	0	0	0
1993			24	2	5	1	5	0	34	3
1994			38	8	2	0	2	0	42	8
1995			40	7	2	0	-		42	7
1996			26	8	2	0	11	7	39	15
1997	Verdy Kawasaki	J1 League	28	5	2	0	0	0	30	5
1998			22	3	0	0	2	1	24	4
Brazil			League		Copa do Brasil		League Cup		Total
1998	Santos	Série A	5	1					5	1
1999	Goiás	Série B	0	0					0	0
Japan			League		Emperor's Cup		J. League Cup		Total
2000	Shonan Bellmare	J2 League	38	11	3	2	2	0	43	13
2001	Tokyo Verdy	J1 League	13	1	0	0	2	0	15	1
2002			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Korea Republic			League		Korean FA Cup		League Cup		Total
2003	Anyang LG Cheetahs	K-League	16	0					16	0
2004	Incheon United	K-League	13	1					13	1
Country	Japan		229	45	16	3	24	8	269	56
	Brazil		5	1					5	1
	Korea Republic		29	1					29	1
Total			263	47	16	3	24	8	303	58

Japan national team
Year	Apps	Goals
1994	6	0
1995	4	0
1996	7	4
1997	2	0
Total	19	4