Name: Ryūichi Sugiyama




Country: Japan
Club: Mitsubishi Motors F.C.
Position: *WF, SS, AMF
Side: RF/LS
Age: 23-28 years (04/07/1941)

Height: 169 cm
Weight: 67 kg


Attack: 79
Defence: 35
Balance: 69
Stamina: 73
Top Speed: 88
Acceleration: 90
Response: 76
Agility: 85
Dribble Accuracy: 84
Dribble Speed: 88
Short Pass Accuracy: 74
Short Pass Speed: 70
Long Pass Accuracy: 81
Long Pass Speed: 70
Shot Accuracy: 81
Shot Power: 77
Shot Technique: 78
Free Kick Accuracy: 63
Curling: 67
Header: 60
Jump: 66
Technique: 82
Aggression: 84
Mentality: 73
Goalkeeper Skills: 50
Team Work: 77

Injury Tolerance: C
Condition: 4
Weak Foot Accuracy: 8
Weak Foot Frequency: 8
Consistency: 5
Growth type: Standard

CARDS:
P10 - Incisive Run
S19 - Scissors Skills

SPECIAL ABILITIES: Dribbling - Side

Attack/Defence Awareness Card: Attack Minded


INFO:
Sugiyama is a former left-winger and inside forward. He spent his entire career at Mitsubishi Motors (later known as Urawa Red Diamonds) from 1966 to 1973, scoring 41 goals in 115 appearances. A member of Japan national team since 1961, he capped 56 times and scored 15 goals. He retired in 1973. He was named Japanese Footballer of the Year in 1964, 1969 and 1973. He was also included in the Japan Soccer League Best XI for eight consecutive years from 1966 to 1973.
Originally an inside forward who was turned into a left-winger by Hidetatsu Takahashi during his youth days, Sugiyama was often compared to Kunishige Kamamoto. Sugiyama had though a shorter time as a top player because he suffered many injuries, probably due to his style of play which was focused on high pace and quick dribbling. The short winger even ran 100 meters in 11 seconds in 1963 (his previous records were 11.2 when he entered high school and 12.5 when he was in middle school). His explosive power and acceleration in the first two or three meters were outstanding. During a friendly match against Brazilian giants Palmeiras, he managed to dribble past noneother than right-back Djalma Santos. Sugiyama was also known for his golden left foot and great ability to create chances after breaking through the side. He won the Japan Soccer League Silver Ball three times as assist leader in 1968, 1969 and 1971. While he was extremely accurate with his left foot, he was a natural right-footed. As he always trained to use his non-dominant foot after the team practice, he learned to use the left to the point that he seemed a natural left-footed. He also practiced crosses alone ─ he wasn't too good at it right after the transition to winger ─ and tried around 200 times per session, preferring accuracy over speed as he would get angry if the cross was faster than he wanted it to be.