Renofa Yamaguchi FC

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Renofa Yamaguchi FC
レノファ山口FC
Renofa Yamaguchi F.C. Crest
Full nameRenofa Yamaguchi Football Club
Nickname(s)Renofa
Founded1949; 75 years ago (1949) (as Yamaguchi Teachers)
2006; 18 years ago (2006) (as Renofa Yamaguchi FC)
GroundIshin Me-Life Stadium
Capacity20,000
Managing
Organisation
Renofa Yamaguchi Co,.Ltd.
ChairmanFumihiko Koyama
ManagerRyo Shigaki
LeagueJ2 League
2023J2 League, 20th of 22
WebsiteClub website
Current season

Renofa Yamaguchi FC (レノファ山口FC, Renofa Yamaguchi Efu Shī) is a Japanese professional football club based in Yamaguchi, the capital of Yamaguchi Prefecture. They currently play in the J2 League, the second tier of professional football in Japan's football league system.

History

The original football team consisted of a group of teaching staff who were based within Yamaguchi prefecture, a team called Yamaguchi Prefecture Teachers Football Club (山口県サッカー教員団, Yamaguchi-ken sakkā kyōin dan), often abbreviated to Yamaguchi Teachers or Yamaguchi KFC (compare Tochigi S.C. and Gainare Tottori, who started as teachers' clubs and are now members of the J.League).

In February 2006, the Yamaguchi Football Association eyed the placement of a team from Yamaguchi in the J.League. Setting its heart of operations at Yamaguchi Teachers, a new football club was established.[1] At the same time, a public appeal was made to name the new club, with Renofa Yamaguchi F.C. being decided in March of the same year. The word renofa is a wasei-eigo, a combination of three English words: renovation, fight and fine.[2][3]

Without a specified home ground, the team played Chūgoku league matches across a number of different venues within the prefecture, including Yamaguchi Ishin Park Stadium, Yamaguchi Kirara Expo Memorial Park, Onoda Football Park, Shunan City Athletic Stadium and Yamaguchi Football Park. Now however, home games are played at Yamaguchi Ishin Park Stadium.

Though structured with a hometown manager and local players, sponsored by local business and enterprises, and local action plans within the local community, Renofa Yamaguchi F.C. is aiming for a national future in the J.League.[4]

In the days of Yamaguchi Teachers, the team frequently finished mid to low table in the Chūgoku league. However, since the establishing of the new club in 2006, the team had consistently improved their final league position. This culminated in the 2008 season where they achieved their first league win. In the All Japan Regional Football Promotion League Series of that year the team finished fourth in the final round, missing the opportunity for promotion to the Japan Football League. The 2009 season saw them win their first Emperor's Cup match, beating Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima F.C. in a penalty shoot out.[5]

Since the team's formation it had operated as a private organisation, however when the Nonprofit organization Yamaguchi Athletics Club was established on 24 May 2011, managing control of the team changed hands putting the new NPO in charge.[6]

After the club finished on 4th-place in 2014 Japan Football League and passed the necessary licensing, J.League officially admitted Renofa Yamaguchi to participate in J3 League, starting from the 2015 season.[7] Their J.League debut came in 2015 season. On 23 November 2015, Renofa earned their first and successful promotion from the JFL after winning the J3 League. The club was promoted for the J2 League ahead of the 2016 season. The club was guaranteed promotion after a 2–2 draw against Gainare Tottori in the closing rounds of the season, as Renofa were working towards J2 licensing before the season ended, for the promotion to be actually earned.

On 26 September 2023, Renofa Yamaguchi announcement officially granted J1 License.[8]

The club will play their 8th consecutive season at the J2 League on 2023.

Changes in club name

  • Yamaguchi Prefecture Teachers Football Club (山口県サッカー教員団, Yamaguchi-ken sakkā kyōin dan) (Yamaguchi Teachers, Yamaguchi KFC) (1949–2005)
  • Renofa Yamaguchi FC (レノファ山口FC, Renofa Yamaguchi Efu Shī) (2006–)

Team results and managers

(Note that prior to the 1991 season a team would earn two points for a win)
(From 1997 to 2006 when a match ended in a draw, a penalty shoot-out would occur. The winning team were awarded 2 points, and the losing team 1 point)

League & cup record

Champions Runners-up Third place Promoted Relegated
Season League Pos. P W D L F A GD Pts J. League Cup Emperor's Cup Notes
Yamaguchi Teachers
1976 Not eligible 1st round
1980 Chūgoku
League
6th 14 4 3 7 27 30 −3 11
1981 7th 14 3 4 7 29 31 −2 10
1982 2nd 14 8 3 3 34 21 13 19 1st round
1983 2nd 14 8 3 3 35 23 12 19
1984 4th 14 8 5 1 38 27 11 17
1985 5th 14 6 1 7 30 29 1 13
1986 3rd 14 7 3 4 34 24 10 17
1987 3rd 12 6 2 4 18 16 2 14
1988 3rd 16 7 3 6 34 26 8 17
1989 2nd 12 7 3 2 28 15 13 17
1990 4th 16 7 3 6 32 25 7 17
1991 4th 14 7 1 6 31 28 3 22
1992 6th 14 4 1 9 19 28 −9 13
1993 3rd 14 6 4 4 23 18 5 22
1994 6th 14 4 5 5 27 23 4 17
1995 8th 14 2 5 7 26 30 −4 11
1996 6th 14 3 6 5 17 35 −18 15
1997 8th 14 1 3 10 14 31 −17 7 1 match won, 2 matches lost on penalties.
Relegated to Yamaguchi Prefecture League.
1998 Yamaguchi
Prefecture
League
1999 1st round Promoted to Chūgoku League.
2000 Chūgoku League 5th 14 6 1 7 20 34 −14 20 1 match won on penalties.
2001 7th 12 3 2 7 17 30 −13 12 1st round 1 match won, 1 match lost on penalties.
2002 4th 10 3 2 5 17 31 −14 12 1 match won, 1 match lost on penalties.
Winners of the Chūgoku League fair play award.
2003 8th 14 1 5 8 8 22 −14 11 1st round 3 matches won, 2 matches lost on penalties.
Winners of the Chūgoku League fair play award.
Relegated to Yamaguchi Prefecture League.
2004 Yamaguchi
Prefecture
League
1st 10 8 0 2 24 1st round Promoted to Chūgoku League.
2005 Chūgoku League 7th 12 1 4 7 11 23 −12 9 2 matches won, 2 matches lost on penalties.
Renofa Yamaguchi FC
2006 Chūgoku League 4th 14 7 3 4 25 28 −3 25 Not eligible
2007 3rd 17 6 4 7 33 46 −13 22 1st round
2008 1st 16 11 5 0 45 15 30 38 Finalist in the Promotional Series
2009 2nd 18 13 1 4 53 21 32 40 2nd round
2010 1st 18 14 1 3 51 17 34 43 2nd round
2011 2nd 18 13 2 3 54 17 37 41 2nd round
2012 4th 18 9 5 4 47 22 25 32
2013 1st 18 13 3 2 53 13 40 42 1st round Promoted to JFL
2014 JFL 4th 26 16 3 7 51 27 24 51 Promoted to J3
2015 J3 1st 36 25 3 8 96 36 60 78 1st round Promoted to J2
2016 J2 12th 42 14 11 17 55 63 -8 53 3rd round
2017 20th 42 11 5 26 48 69 -21 38 2nd round
2018 8th 42 16 13 13 63 64 -1 61 3rd round
2019 15th 42 13 8 21 54 70 -16 47 3rd round
2020 22nd 42 9 6 27 43 74 -31 33 Did not qualify
2021 15th 42 10 13 19 37 51 -14 43 1st round
2022 16th 42 13 11 18 51 54 -3 50 3rd round
2023 20th 42 10 14 18 37 67 -30 44 2nd round
2024 TBA 38 1st round TBC
Key
  • Pos. = Position in league; P = Games played; W = Games won; D = Games drawn; L = Games lost; F = Goals scored; A = Goals conceded; GD = Goals difference; Pts = Points gained
  • Source: J.League Data Site

Honours

As Yamaguchi Teachers

  • Chūgoku League
    • Runners-up (3): 1982, 1983, 1989
  • Yamaguchi Prefectural Championship
    • Winners (4): 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004
  • Yamaguchi Prefectural League
    • Winners (1): 2004

As Renofa Yamaguchi FC

  • Chūgoku League
    • Winners (3): 2008, 2010, 2013
  • Yamaguchi Prefectural Championship
    • Winners (3): 2007, 2009, 2010
  • Noue Cup
    • Winners (1): 2008
  • Shakaijin Cup
    • Winners (1): 2013
  • J3 League

Players

Current squad

As of 1 February 2024.[9] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK South Korea KOR Choi Hyung-chan
2 DF Japan JPN Hidenori Takahashi
3 DF Brazil BRA Renan
4 MF Japan JPN Riku Kamigaki
6 DF South Korea KOR Kim Byeom-yong
7 MF Japan JPN Junya Kato
8 MF Japan JPN Kensuke Sato
9 FW Japan JPN Yamato Wakatsuki
10 MF Japan JPN Joji Ikegami
11 MF Japan JPN Toshiya Tanaka
13 DF Japan JPN Takeru Itakura
14 DF Japan JPN Keigo Numata
15 DF Japan JPN Takayuki Mae
16 MF Japan JPN Masakazu Yoshioka
17 MF Japan JPN Hiroto Ishikawa
18 MF Japan JPN Yuki Aida
19 FW Japan JPN Shunsuke Yamamoto
No. Pos. Nation Player
20 FW Japan JPN Kota Kawano
21 GK Japan JPN Kentaro Seki
22 GK Japan JPN Koshiro Itohara
24 FW Japan JPN Tsubasa Umeki
26 GK Japan JPN Junto Taguchi
27 MF Japan JPN Hiro Mizuguchi
28 MF Japan JPN Seigo Kobayashi
33 MF Japan JPN Koji Yamase
37 MF Japan JPN Kohei Tanabe
38 FW Japan JPN Toua Suenaga
40 DF Japan JPN Dai Hirase (on loan from Sagan Tosu)
48 DF Japan JPN Kaili Shimbo
50 DF Japan JPN Naiki Imai
55 FW Japan JPN Taiyo Igarashi
68 FW Japan JPN Kazuya Noyori
94 FW Brazil BRA Sílvio

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK Japan JPN Genki Yamada (at Kataller Toyama)

Club officials

From the 2024 season.

Position Staff
Manager Japan Ryo Shigaki
Assistant manager Japan Genki Nakayama
Japan Koji Seki
Goalkeeper coach Japan Kenji Yamada
Technical coach Japan Yuhei Abe
Conditioning coach Japan Daiki Makino
Chief doctor Japan Toru Moriwaki
Chief trainer Japan Tomoyuki Sato
Trainer Japan Tsutomu Okabayashi
Japan Atsushi Noto
Physiotherapist Japan Shohei Sasaki
Competent Japan Kenta Nakatsuka
Side affairs Japan Taiyo Kodama
Japan Rui Nagao

Managerial history

League matches only.

Manager Nationality Tenure Managerial Record
From To P W D L W%
Takashi Yamamoto  Japan 1990 31 January 2006
Takashi Miyanari  Japan 1 February 2006 31 January 2010
Takashi Kawamura  Japan 1 February 2012 31 January 2013
Genki Nakayama  Japan 1 February 2013 31 January 2014
Nobuhiro Ueno  Japan 1 February 2014 23 May 2017 119 57 21 41 047.90
Shinji Sarusawa  Japan 24 May 2017 5 June 2017 2 0 0 2 000.00
Carlos Mayor  Argentina 6 June 2017 31 December 2017 25 9 1 15 036.00
Masahiro Shimoda  Japan 1 February 2018 31 January 2021 130 40 27 63 030.77
Susumu Watanabe  Japan 1 February 2021 28 September 2021 31 8 8 15 025.81
Yoshihiro Natsuka  Japan 29 September 2021 9 May 2023 67 18 21 28 026.87
Genki Nakayama  Japan 10 May 2023 7 June 2023 4 0 1 3 000.00
Juan Esnáider  Argentina 8 June 2023 13 November 2023 23 6 7 10 026.09
Ryo Shigaki  Japan 1 December 2023 present 0 0 0 0 !
Key

Kit evolution

Home Kits - 1st
2006 - 2007
2008 - 2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024 -
Away Kits - 2nd
2006 - 2007
2008 - 2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024 -

References

  1. ^ Chugoku Shimbun. "出場チーム 第90回天皇杯全日本サッカー選手権大会 (Participating teams – The 90th Emperor Cup All Japan Championship Series) (in Japanese)". Japan Football Association. Retrieved 2012-08-02.
  2. ^ "チーム概要 (Team Outline) (in Japanese)". Renofa Yamaguchi F.C. Archived from the original on 2016-08-26. Retrieved 2012-08-02.
  3. ^ Chugoku Shimbun. "出場チーム 第91回天皇杯全日本サッカー選手権大会 (Participating teams – The 91st Emperor Cup All Japan Championship Series) (in Japanese)". Japan Football Association. Retrieved 2012-08-02.
  4. ^ "チーム概要 (Team Outline) (in Japanese)". Renofa Yamaguchi F.C. Archived from the original on 2016-08-26. Retrieved 2012-07-30.
  5. ^ "Match No. 9 第89回天皇杯全日本サッカー選手権大会 (Match 9 – The 89th Emperor Cup All Japan Championship Series) (in Japanese)". Japan Football Association. Retrieved 2012-08-02.
  6. ^ "NPO法人「山口アスレチック・クラブ」誕生 プロスポーツチーム空白県からの脱却を (The Birth of the NPO "Yamaguchi Athletics Club" – Growing out of a Prefecture with no Pro-Sports Team) (in Japanese)". Sunday Yamaguchi. Archived from the original on 2013-02-19. Retrieved 2012-08-02.
  7. ^ J3入会承認! [Approval of J3 membership!] (in Japanese). Renofa Yamaguchi. 19 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  8. ^ "[レノファ山口FC OfficialSite] 2024シーズン J1クラブライセンスの交付について". レノファ山口FC岐 OfficialSite (in Japanese). 26 September 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  9. ^ "PLAYER2024". RENOFA YAMAGUCHI FC. Retrieved 1 February 2024.

External links