Kazuo Saito
Kazuo Saito (斉藤 和夫, Saito Kazuo, born July 27, 1951) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for the Japan national team.
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Kazuo Saito | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | July 27, 1951 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Saitama, Saitama, Japan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1967–1969 | Saitama Urawa Minami High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1970–1973 | Hosei University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1974–1989 | Mitsubishi Motors | 248 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 248 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1976–1984 | Japan | 32 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Teams managed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1989–1992 | Mitsubishi Motors | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997 | Kawasaki Frontale | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000 | Urawa Reds | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | JEF United Chiba | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Honours
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| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Biography
Saito was born in Saitama on July 27, 1951. After graduating from Hosei University, he joined his local club Mitsubishi Motors in 1974. The club won the 2nd place in Japan Soccer League for 4 years in a row (1974-1977). In 1978, the club won all three major title in Japan; Japan Soccer League, JSL Cup and Emperor's Cup. The club also won 1980 Emperor's Cup, 1981 JSL Cup and 1982 Japan Soccer League. However, the club finished at the bottom place in 1988/89 season and was relegated Division 2. He retired end of 1988/89 season. He played 248 games and scored 3 goals in the league. He was selected Best Eleven in 1975, 1977 and 1978.
On January 28, 1976, Saito debuted for the Japan national team against Bulgaria. He played as regular player at 1976 Summer Olympics qualification and 1978 World Cup qualification. He was also selected for Japan for 1978 Asian Games. In 1984, he played for Japan for the first time in 6 years. 1984 Summer Olympics qualification was his last game for Japan. He played 32 games for Japan until 1984.
Saito retired from playing career in 1989, he became a manager for Mitsubishi Motors (later Urawa Reds) as Kuniya Daini successor. In 1989/90 season, he led the club to won the champions in Division 2 and promoted to Division 1. He resigned in 1992. Through an assistant coach for Urawa Reds and JEF United Ichihara (later JEF United Chiba), he signed with Kawasaki Frontale in 1997. In 2000, he returned to Urawa Reds and managed the club. From 2010, he signed with JEF United Chiba and became an assistant coach. In 2014, he managed JEF United Chiba as caretaker as Jun Suzuki successor.
Statistics
| Club statistics | League | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals |
| Japan | League | |||
| 1974 | Mitsubishi Motors | JSL Division 1 | 15 | 0 |
| 1975 | 18 | 0 | ||
| 1976 | 17 | 1 | ||
| 1977 | 18 | 1 | ||
| 1978 | 13 | 0 | ||
| 1979 | 14 | 0 | ||
| 1980 | 18 | 1 | ||
| 1981 | 18 | 0 | ||
| 1982 | 18 | 0 | ||
| 1983 | 12 | 0 | ||
| 1984 | 15 | 0 | ||
| 1985/86 | 21 | 0 | ||
| 1986/87 | 19 | 0 | ||
| 1987/88 | 20 | 0 | ||
| 1988/89 | 12 | 0 | ||
| Country | Japan | 248 | 3 | |
| Total | 248 | 3 | ||
| Japan national team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 1976 | 14 | 0 |
| 1977 | 5 | 0 |
| 1978 | 9 | 0 |
| 1979 | 0 | 0 |
| 1980 | 0 | 0 |
| 1981 | 0 | 0 |
| 1982 | 0 | 0 |
| 1983 | 0 | 0 |
| 1984 | 4 | 0 |
| Total | 32 | 0 |
References
- Kazuo Saito at National-Football-Teams.com
- Japan National Football Team Database
Other websites
- Kazuo Saito at J.League (manager) (in Japanese)
- Kazuo Saito at National Football Teams.com
- Kazuo Saito at Soccerway.com
- Kazuo Saito at FootballDatabase.eu
- Kazuo Saito at Transfermarkt (player)
- Kazuo Saito at Transfermarkt (manager)