Rihei Sano

Japanese footballer

Rihei Sano
佐野理平
Personal information
Full name	Rihei Sano
Date of birth	(1912-09-21)September 21, 1912
Place of birth	Shizuoka, Empire of Japan
Date of death	March 26, 1992(1992-03-26) (aged 79)
Place of death	Japan
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Youth career
	Waseda University
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	Waseda WMW
International career
1936	Japan	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Rihei Sano (佐野理平, Sano Rihei, September 21, 1912 – March 26, 1992) was a Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.

Club career

Sano was born in Shizuoka Prefecture on September 21, 1912. He played for Waseda WMW was consisted of his alma mater Waseda University players and graduates.

National team career

Sano

Horie

Oita

Takeuchi

Tatsuhara

Kim

Ukon

T. Kamo

Matsunaga

Kawamoto

S. Kamo

Miracle of Berlin (1936 Olympics 1st round v Sweden on August 4)

In 1936, when Sano was a Waseda University student, he was selected Japan national team for 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin.^[1] At this competition, on August 4, he debuted against Sweden. Japan completed a come-from-behind victory against Sweden. The first victory in Olympics for the Japan and the historic victory over one of the powerhouses became later known as "Miracle of Berlin" (ベルリンの奇跡) in Japan. In 2016, this team was selected Japan Football Hall of Fame. On August 7, he also played against Italy. He played 2 games for Japan in 1936.^[2]

Sano died on March 26, 1992, at the age of 79.

National team statistics

^[2]

Japan national team
Year	Apps	Goals
1936	2	0
Total	2	0

References

^ "Rihei Sano". Olympedia. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
^ ^a ^b Japan National Football Team Database

External links

Rihei Sano – FIFA competition record (archived)
Rihei Sano at National-Football-Teams.com
Japan National Football Team Database
Japan Football Hall of Fame (Japan team at 1936 Olympics) at Japan Football Association
Rihei Sano's profile at Sports Reference.com