Satoshi Tsunami

Satoshi Tsunami
Personal information
Full nameSatoshi Tsunami
Date of birth14 August 1961
Place of birthSetagaya, Tokyo, Japan
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing positionDefender (retired)
Youth career
1977–1979Fukasawa High School
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1980–1995Yomiuri / Verdy Kawasaki230(5)
1996–1997Avispa Fukuoka21(0)
1997–1998Bellmare Hiratsuka11(0)
National team
1980–1995Japan78(2)
Teams managed
2005Vegalta Sendai
2007Cerezo Osaka
2008Yokohama FC
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Satoshi Tsunami (都並 敏史 Tsunami Satoshi, born 14 August 1961 in Setagaya, Tokyo) is a former Japanese international football (soccer) player. He was a left full back.

Playing career

Tsunami was a product of Yomiuri Club's (current Tokyo Verdy 1969) youth system. He played for Japan Soccer League side Yomiuri Club, which was transformed to Verdy Kawasaki when J. League was founded, between 1980 and 1996. Toward the end of his career, he played for Avispa Fukuoka (1996–1997) and Bellmare Hiratsuka (1997–1998).

He was capped 80 times and scored 2 goals for the Japanese national team between 1980 and 1995. He made his first international appearance on 22 December 1980 in a World Cup qualifier against Singapore in Hong Kong. He scored his first international goal on 20 September 1986 in an Asian Games match against Nepal in Daejeon, South Korea.

He was a member of the Japan team that won the 1992 AFC Asian Cup. He played all the Japan games except one for which he wasn't eligible due to suspension.

He was such a key player that national coach Hans Ooft named him a member of the Japan squad for the AFC's final qualifying stage for the 1994 FIFA World Cup in spite of his injury. However, he could not play any game in the competition that was centrally held in Doha, Qatar as his recovery wasn't as good as Ooft had wished it to be. Japan's hope to qualify for the finals was dashed by a stoppage time Iraqi equaliser in the last qualifying match. The Japanese fans now refer to this match as the Agony of Doha, and his absence was one of the main reasons why Japan's campaign ended up unsuccessful.

Managerial career

After finishing his playing career, Tsunami worked as a pundit on television and as a coach at Tokyo Verdy's youth setup. He acquired the S-Class Coaching License that was a prerequisite to manage a J. League club in 2004.

In 2005, he was appointed the manager of J. League Division 2 side Vegalta Sendai.[1] Vegalta finished fourth and failed to gain the promotion. Tsunami was dismissed after one season. In 2006, he became an assistant coach to new manager Ruy Ramos at another J2 side Tokyo Verdy. Again the team failed to move up and he was sacked after one season. In 2007, he became the manager of newly relegated J2 side Cerezo Osaka but was dismissed in May after a bad start.

In 2008, he was appointed as the manager of Division 2 club Yokohama FC but was fired at the end of the 2008 season.

Club career statistics

[2]

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
1980YomiuriJSL Division 11223021173
19811815010241
19821703010210
19831803030240
19841815000231
1985/862102041271
1986/871903010230
1987/881004010150
1988/892103031271
1989/901004040180
1990/912112020251
1991/922104150301
1992Verdy KawasakiJ. League 1-30111141
199350000050
1994802100101
199516000-160
1996Avispa FukuokaJ. League 121010110330
199700000000
1997Bellmare HiratsukaJ. League 160000060
199850004090
Country Japan 267547253436711
Total 267547253436711

International career statistics

Japan national team
YearAppsGoals
198030
198170
198280
1983100
198450
198570
198652
1987100
198800
198900
199000
199100
1992100
1993100
199400
199530
Total782

Honors and awards

Team honors

References