Takaji Mori

Takaji Mori
Personal information
Full name	Takaji Mori
Date of birth	November 24, 1943
Place of birth	Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan
Date of death	July 17, 2011 (aged 67)
Place of death	Meguro, Tokyo, Japan
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s)	Defender, Midfielder
Youth career
1959–1961	Shudo High School
1962–1966	Waseda University
Senior career*
Years	Team
1967–1977	Mitsubishi Motors
Total
National team
1966–1976	Japan
Teams managed
1981–1985	Japan
1992–1993	Urawa Reds
1998	Avispa Fukuoka
Honours
Mitsubishi Motors
Representing Japan
Olympic Games
Asian Games
	* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Takaji Mori (森孝慈, Mori Takaji, November 24, 1943 – July 17, 2011) was a Japanese football player and manager. He played for the Japan national team. He also managed the Japan national team.

Biography

Mori was born in Fukuyama on November 24, 1943. He played for Waseda University. He won 1963 and 1966 Emperor's Cup at the university. After graduating from Waseda University, he joined Mitsubishi Motors (later Urawa Reds) in 1967. The club won Japan Soccer League champions in 1969 and 1973. The club also won 1971 and 1973 Emperor's Cup. He retired in 1977. He played 146 games and scored 28 goals in the league. He was selected Best Eleven 5 times.

In October 1964, when Mori was a Waseda University student, he was selected the Japan national team for 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. But he did not play in the match. On December 16, 1966, he debuted against Singapore at 1966 Asian Games. In 1968, he was selected Japan for 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. He played in all matches and Japan won Bronze Medal. In 2018, this team was selected Japan Football Hall of Fame. In 1970, he also played at 1970 Asian Games. He played 56 games and scored 2 goals for Japan until 1976.

After retirement, in November 1980, Mori became an assistant coach for the Japan national team under new manager Saburo Kawabuchi. Mori was promoted to manager in April 1981. He managed at 1982 Asian Games and 1984 Summer Olympics qualification. At 1986 World Cup qualification in 1985, Japan defeated Singapore, North Korea and Hong Kong to reach the final round of the East Asian zone to play South Korea. Japan lost 1-3 on aggregate. Mori then led the team to the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul and resigned following the team's failure to reach the second round. In 1992, Mori became a manager for Urawa Reds. However, Urawa Reds finished at the bottom place in 1993 season and he resigned end of the season. In 1998, he signed with Avispa Fukuoka and he managed the club in 1 season.

In 2006, Mori was selected to the Japan Football Hall of Fame. On July 17, 2011, he died of renal pelvis cancer in Meguro, Tokyo at the age of 67. That day was the day Japan women's national team won 2011 Women's World Cup, Japan won the world champions for the first time through men and women teams.

Statistics

^[1]

Club statistics			League
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals
Japan			League
1967	Mitsubishi Motors	JSL Division 1	14	3
1968			14	3
1969			14	2
1970			14	6
1971			10	1
1972			14	0
1973			18	1
1974			18	8
1975			12	4
1976			18	0
1977			0	0
Country	Japan		146	28
Total			146	28