Renofa Yamaguchi FC

Summary

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.

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)
StadiumIshin Me-Life Stadium
Capacity20,000
Managing
Organisation
Renofa Yamaguchi Co,.Ltd.
ChairmanFumihiko Koyama
ManagerRyo Shigaki
LeagueJ2 League
2023J2 League, 20th of 22
Websiterenofa.com
Current season

History

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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 has 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

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  • 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

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(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

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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 11th 38 15 8 15 43 44 -1 53 1st round TBC
2025 TBD 38 TBD TBD
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

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Renofa Yamaguchi honours
Honour No. Years
Yamaguchi Prefectural Championship 7 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010
Yamaguchi Prefectural League 1 2004
Chūgoku League 3 2008, 2010, 2013
Noue Cup 1 2008
Shakaijin Cup 1 2013
J3 League 1 2015

Players

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Current squad

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As of 2 August 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   KOR Choi Hyung-chan
2 DF   JPN Hidenori Takahashi
3 DF   BRA Renan
4 MF   THA Sarach Yooyen (on loan from BG Pathum United)
6 DF   KOR Kim Byeom-yong
8 MF   JPN Kensuke Sato
9 FW   JPN Yamato Wakatsuki
10 MF   JPN Joji Ikegami
11 MF   JPN Toshiya Tanaka
13 DF   JPN Takeru Itakura
14 DF   JPN Keigo Numata
15 DF   JPN Takayuki Mae
16 MF   JPN Masakazu Yoshioka
17 MF   JPN Hiroto Ishikawa
18 MF   JPN Yuki Aida
19 FW   JPN Shunsuke Yamamoto
20 FW   JPN Kota Kawano
No. Pos. Nation Player
21 GK   JPN Kentaro Seki
22 GK   JPN Koshiro Itohara
26 GK   JPN Junto Taguchi
28 MF   JPN Seigo Kobayashi
30 MF   JPN Yohei Okuyama (on loan from Machida Zelvia)
33 MF   JPN Koji Yamase
37 MF   JPN Kohei Tanabe
38 FW   JPN Toua Suenaga
40 DF   JPN Dai Hirase (on loan from Sagan Tosu)
41 DF   JPN Ryusei Shimodo
43 DF   JPN Shun Isotani DSP
48 DF   JPN Kaili Shimbo
49 DF   JPN Yuya Mineda DSP
51 FW   JPN Noriyoshi Sakai (on loan from Nagoya Grampus)
55 FW   JPN Taiyo Igarashi (on loan from Kawasaki Frontale)
68 FW   JPN Kazuya Noyori
94 FW   BRA Sílvio

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
27 MF   JPN Hiro Mizuguchi (at Atletico Suzuka)
50 DF   JPN Naiki Imai (at Kochi United)
No. Pos. Nation Player
GK   JPN Genki Yamada (at Kataller Toyama)

Club officials

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Position Staff
Manager   Ryo Shigaki
Assistant manager   Genki Nakayama
First-team coach   Hideo Yoshizawa
Goalkeeper coach   Kenji Yamada
Assistant fitness coach   Tsutomu Okabayashi
  Atsushi Noto
Fitness coach   Tomoyuki Sato
Physical coach   Junichi Matsumoto
Technical coach   Yuhei Anbe
Doctor   Toru Moriwaki
Physiotherapist   Takashi Sasaki
Competent   Kenta Nakatsuka
Side affairs   Taiyo Kodama
  Rui Nagao
Interpreter   Leandro Yusuke Saito
  Nanon Sringamchoi

Managerial history

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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
  • Source: J.League Data Site

Kit evolution

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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

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  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.
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  • Official Site (in Japanese)
  • Chūgoku League Official Site (in Japanese)