While Japan was battling to reach the Round of 16 during the recent World Cup, one man was closely watching over the cohost's performance as a coach -- and in some ways like a father.
Dettmer Cramer of Germany, who used to train the Japanese national team as a special coach in the 1960s, helped Japan become a quarterfinalist in the 1964 Olympics and the bronze-medal winner in the '68 Games.
Cramer has been known as the "Father of Japanese soccer" for his contributions to the local game even after returning to Germany. He then coached German League teams, such as Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen. He also looked after the South Korean Olympic team in 1991-92.
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