Yoshio Kato
Yoshio Kato is a former Japanese association football player known for his role as a goalkeeper.
He played for JEF United Chiba from 1980 to 1993, contributing to their league championship win in 1985-86.
Kato represented the Japan men's national football team from 1980 to 1981, earning 8 caps.
Biography
Early Life
Yoshio Kato was born on August 1, 1957, in Saitama, Japan. He pursued his education at Osaka University of Commerce, where he laid the foundation for his future career in football.
Career
Kato began his professional football journey in 1980 when he joined Furukawa Electric, which later became known as JEF United Ichihara. Over his 13-year tenure with the club, he contributed to their success, including winning the league championship in the 1985-86 season and the JSL Cup in both 1982 and 1986. Despite being a reserve goalkeeper for much of his early career, Kato eventually became the team's regular goalkeeper in the late 1980s, amassing a total of 87 league appearances before retiring in 1993.
In addition to his club career, Kato represented the Japan men's national football team from 1980 to 1981, earning 8 caps. He made his debut on June 9, 1980, in a match against Hong Kong.
Coaching Career
Following his retirement as a player, Kato transitioned into coaching, starting at JEF United Ichihara in 1994. He later took on the role of goalkeeper coach for the youth team of the Japan national team in the 2000s and became the national team's goalkeeper coach in 2006, serving until the 2010 World Cup under managers Ivica Osim and Takeshi Okada. Kato's coaching journey took him to Thailand in 2011, where he worked with Chonburi and the Thailand national team before returning to Japan in 2015 to coach at the JFA Academy.
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Career & Clubs
Kato was born in Saitama on August 1, 1957. After graduating from Osaka University of Commerce, he joined Furukawa Electric (later JEF United Ichihara) in 1980. The club won the league champions in 1985–86. The club also won 1982 and 1986 JSL Cup. However, he could not play in the game much, as he was the team's reserve goalkeeper behind Choei Sato. Kato became a regular goalkeeper in later 1980s. He retired in 1993. He played 87 games in the league.
On June 9, 1980, Kato debuted for Japan national team against Hong Kong. He played 8 games for Japan until 1981.
After retirement, Kato started a coaching career at JEF United Ichihara in 1994. During the 2000s, he became a goalkeeper coach for the youth team of the Japan national team. In 2006, he became a goalkeeper coach for the Japan national team. He coached Japan until the 2010 World Cup under managers Ivica Osim and Takeshi Okada. In 2011, Kato moved to Thailand and became a goalkeeper coach for Chonburi. In 2013, he also became a goalkeeper coach for the Thailand football team. He returned to Japan in 2015 and coached at the JFA Academy.
- Club
- JEF United Chiba (1980–1993)
- Club
- Japan men's national football team (1980–1981)
Clubs
- JEF United Chiba1980–1993
- Japan men's national football team1980–1981
Played together with
Ado OnaiwuJEF United Chiba · 2014- Akihiro HyodoJEF United Chiba · 2012–2014
- Akihiro TabataJEF United Chiba · 2001–2002
- Akira TakeuchiJEF United Chiba · 2011–2014
- Alex Antônio de Melo SantosJEF United Chiba · 2009–2010
An Byong-junJEF United Chiba · 2015–2015
Andrew KumagaiJEF United Chiba · 2017
Arnold ScholtenJEF United Chiba · 1997–1998- Atsuhiko EjiriJEF United Chiba · 1990–1998
- Atsushi ItoJEF United Chiba · 2006–2008
- Atsushi ShiraiJEF United Chiba · 1997–1998
- Atsuto TataraJEF United Chiba · 2016
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Yoshio Kato is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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