Ryuzo HIRAKI

Ryuzo Hiraki was a defender on the Japanese national team between 1954 and 1962. He played a total of 30 international matches, scoring once. During this period, he participated in the 1956 Olympics. He was also on the team for the 1964 Games in Tokyo, but was unable to play due to injury. Earlier playing for Kwansei Gakuin University and Yuasa Battery, Hiraki played the longest for Furukawa Electric (now JEF United), from 1958 until 1966. From 1962 on, he was also manager for the same team. He later continued to coach, leading the Japanese youth and B teams. He later coached J-League side Nagoya Grampus for two seasons. Hiraki, who was voted in the Japanese Football Hall of Fame in 2005, died of pneumonia at age 77.