Japanese footballer and manager
Tsukasa Hosaka (保坂 司, Hosaka Tsukasa, March 3, 1937 – January 21, 2018) was a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for Japan national team.
Club career
Hosaka was born in Kofu on March 3, 1937. After graduating from Meiji University, he joined Furukawa Electric in 1959. He won 1960, 1961 and 1964 Emperor's Cup. In 1965, Furukawa Electric joined new league Japan Soccer League. He retired in 1968. He played 47 games in the league.
National team career
In November 1960, he was selected by the Japan national team for the 1962 World Cup qualification. At this qualification, on November 6, he debuted against South Korea. In 1962, he also played at the Asian Games. He was a regular goalkeeper in the early 1960s. In 1964, he was selected by Japan for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo. However, he did not compete, because he fractured his hand just before the Olympics. Instead, he was the team's reserve goalkeeper behind Kenzo Yokoyama. He played 19 games for Japan until 1964.[1]
Coaching career
After retirement, Hosaka became a manager for his local club Kofu SC in 1973. He managed until 1977.
On January 21, 2018, Hosaka died of pneumonia in Kofu at the age of 80.[2]
