Koji Tanaka

Koji Tanaka
田中 孝司
Personal information
Date of birth (1955-11-02)November 2, 1955
Place of birth Saitama, Japan
Date of death May 26, 2026(2026-05-26) (aged 70)
Place of death Yokohama, Japan
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position Midfielder
Youth career
1971–1973 Saitama Urawa High School
1974–1977 Meiji University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1978–1988 NKK
International career
1982–1984 Japan 20 (3)
Managerial career
1993–1995 Japan U-20
1997–1999 Nagoya Grampus Eight
2001–2002 Shonan Bellmare
2003–2006 Vegalta Sendai
2016–2020 Matsue City
Medal record
NKK
Runner-upJapan Soccer League1985/86
Runner-upJapan Soccer League1986/87
Runner-upJapan Soccer League1987/88
WinnerJSL Cup1980
WinnerJSL Cup1987
WinnerEmperor's Cup1981
Runner-upEmperor's Cup1986
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Koji Tanaka (田中 孝司, Tanaka Kōji; November 2, 1955 – May 26, 2026) was a Japanese football player and manager. He played for the Japan national team.

Club career

Tanaka was born in Saitama on November 2, 1955. After graduating from Meiji University, he joined Nippon Kokan (later NKK) in 1978. The club won the champions at 1980 JSL Cup and 1981 Emperor's Cup. From 1985, the club won the second place for three years in a row and won the champions 1987 JSL Cup. He retired in 1988.

International career

On July 15, 1982, Tanaka debuted for the Japan national team against Romania. In November, he played at 1982 Asian Games. In 1983 and 1984, he played at 1984 Summer Olympics qualification. He played 20 games and scored 3 goals for Japan until 1984.[1]

Coaching career

After retirement, Tanaka started coaching career at NKK in 1989. In 1993, he became a manager for Japan U-20 national team. At 1995 World Youth Championship, he led U-20 Japan to advanced to the quarter-finals. In 1995, he signed with Nagoya Grampus Eight and became a coach. In November 1997, he became a manager as Carlos Queiroz successor. He was sacked in April 1999. In 2001, he signed with J2 League club Shonan Bellmare and managed the club until 2002.

In 2016 Tanaka was appointed manager of Matsue City FC, renamed FC Kagura Shimane.

Death

Tanaka died from acute myeloid leukemia on May 26, 2026, at the age of 70.[2]

Playing statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League
DivisionAppsGoals
NKK[a] 1978 Japan Soccer League Division 1 180
1979 161
1980 Japan Soccer League Division 2
1981
1982 Japan Soccer League Division 1 180
1983 Japan Soccer League Division 2
1984 Japan Soccer League Division 1 180
1985–86 150
1986–87 220
1987–88 220
1988–89 140
Total 1431
  1. ↑ "Nippon Kokan" until 1988

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[1]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Japan 198260
198383
198460
Total203

Managerial statistics

[3]

TeamFromToRecord
GWDLWin %
Nagoya Grampus Eight 1998 1999 4025114062.50
Shonan Bellmare 2001 2002 88362032040.91
Vegalta Sendai 2003 2006
Matsue City 2016 2020
Total 128612146047.66

References

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