Hiroshi Ninomiya

Hiroshi Ninomiya
二宮寛
Personal information
Full name	Hiroshi Ninomiya
Date of birth	February 13, 1937 (age 87)
Place of birth	Tokyo, Empire of Japan
Position(s)	Forward
Youth career
1952–1954	Keio High School
1955–1958	Keio University
Senior career*
Years	Team
1959–1968	Mitsubishi Motors
Total
International career
1958–1961	Japan
Managerial career
1967–1975	Mitsubishi Motors
1976–1978	Japan
Medal record
Mitsubishi Motors
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Hiroshi Ninomiya (二宮寛, Ninomiya Hiroshi, born February 13, 1937) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for Japan national team. He also managed Japan national team.

Club career

Ninomiya was born in Tokyo on February 13, 1937. After graduating from Keio University, he joined Mitsubishi Motors in 1959. In 1965, Mitsubishi Motors joined new league Japan Soccer League. He retired in 1968. He played 45 games and scored 8 goals in the league.

National team career

On December 25, 1958, when Ninomiya was a Keio University student, he debuted for Japan national team against Hong Kong. In 1959, he played 9 games and scored 9 goals as a regular player. He played 12 games and scored 9 goals for Japan until 1961.^[1]

Coaching career

In 1967, Ninomiya played for Mitsubishi Motors, he became a playing manager as Tomohiko Ikoma successor and managed until 1975. In 9 seasons, the club won the champions 2 times (1969 and 1973) and 2nd place 4 times. The club also 1971 and 1973 Emperor's Cup. After Japan national team failed to qualify for 1976 Summer Olympics in April 1976, Ninomiya became a manager for Japan national team as Ken Naganuma's successor. Ninomiya managed at 1978 World Cup qualification and 1978 Asian Games. He resigned after 1978 Asian Games.

In 2015, Ninomiya was selected Japan Football Hall of Fame.