Masashi Watanabe (渡辺 正, Watanabe Masashi, January 11, 1936 – December 7, 1995) was a Japanese football player and manager. He played for Japan national team. He also managed Japan national team.

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Masashi Watanabe
渡辺 正

Personal information
Full name	Masashi Watanabe
Date of birth	(1936-01-11)January 11, 1936
Place of birth	Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Empire of Japan
Date of death	December 7, 1995(1995-12-07) (aged 59)
Place of death	Chiba, Chiba, Japan
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Youth career
1951	Sotoku High School
1951–1953	Hiroshima Motomachi High School
1958–1961	Rikkyo University
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1954–1958	Yawata Steel
1962–1971	Nippon Steel	79	(19)
Total		79	(19)
International career
1958–1969	Japan	39	(12)
Managerial career
1969–1975	Nippon Steel
1980	Japan
Medal record Nippon Steel Runner-up Japan Soccer League 1965 Runner-up Japan Soccer League 1966 Winner Emperor's Cup 1964 Runner-up Emperor's Cup 1956 Runner-up Emperor's Cup 1968 Runner-up Emperor's Cup 1965 Representing  Japan Olympic Games 1968 Mexico City Team Asian Games 1966 Bangkok Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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Watanabe was born in Hiroshima on January 11, 1936. After graduating from high school, he joined Yawata Steel (later Nippon Steel) in 1954. In 1958, he left Yawata Steel and entered Rikkyo University. After graduating from Rikkyo University, he joined Yawata Steel again in 1962. In 1965, Yawata Steel joined new league Japan Soccer League. He retired in 1971. He played 79 games and scored 19 goals in the league. He was selected Best Eleven in 1968.

On December 25, 1958, when Watanabe was a Rikkyo University student, he debuted for Japan national team against Hong Kong. He played at 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. At 1968 Summer Olympics, he played 5 games and scored 2 goals against Brazil and France. Japan also won Bronze Medal. In 2018, this team was selected Japan Football Hall of Fame. He also played at 1962 and 1966 Asian Games. He played 39 games and scored 19 goals for Japan until 1969.^[1]

In 1969, when Watanabe played for Yawata Steel (later Nippon Steel), he became a playing manager. He managed the club until 1975. In 1979, he became an assistant coach for Japan national team under manager Yukio Shimomura. At 1980 Asian Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in April 1980, following Japan's failure to qualify for 1980 Summer Olympics, Shimomura resigned a manager. In May, Watanabe was promoted to manager as Shimomura successor. However, just before 1982 World Cup qualification in December, he suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage and replaced to Saburo Kawabuchi.

On December 7, 1995, Watanabe died of heart failure in Chiba at the age of 59. In 2006, he was selected Japan Football Hall of Fame.

^[1]

• Japan Soccer League Best Eleven: 1968
• Japan Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2006^[2]