Tokyo Verdy 1969
Encyclopedia
, is a Japanese professional football club, based in Tokyo
, Japan
, that plays in J. League Division 2
.
Founded as Yomiuri F.C. in 1969, Tokyo Verdy is one of the most decorated teams in the J. League, with honours including 7 league titles (a record shared with Kashima Antlers
), 5 Emperor's Cups
, 6 JSL Cup / J. League Cups
and an Asian Club Championship title.
Verdy's plays its home games at the 50,000 capacity Ajinomoto Stadium, which it shares with F.C. Tokyo, although many home matches are played in other stadiums in Tokyo, including Tokyo National Stadium
.
In October 1968, following Japan's bronze medal triumph at the 1968 Summer Olympics
in Mexico City
and the massive interest in football that ensued, Japan Football Association
president Ken Nozu visited Yomiuri Giants
chairman Matsutaro Shoriki
to ask him if Yomiuri was willing to ride on the wave of the game by establishing their own football club. Shoriki died a year later, in 1969, but not before signing his name to the plans to establish Yomiuri Soccer Club.
Backed by the Yomiuri Group and NTV
, Yomiuri Soccer Club began gaining promotions from the local leagues to the Kanto
Football League, and in 1972 they were chosen to co-found the new Japan Soccer League
Second Division. They were promoted to First Division in 1978, starting a long career of success in the top flight. Their first major title was the Japan Soccer League Cup
in 1979
.
, Ruy Ramos
and Tsuyoshi Kitazawa
.
The team immediately met expectations, winning a domestic double
in 1986-87, (winning the First Division and Emperor's Cup
), winning the Asian Club Championship in 1988, the last two JSL championships as Yomiuri F.C. in 1990-91 and 1991-92, and then winning the first two championships as Verdy Kawasaki in 1993 and 1994, effectively winning four straight Japanese league titles making a total of seven overall
; the highest in the Japanese system. Verdy also won the 1996 Emperor's Cup
and three consecutive J. League Cup
s from 1992 to 1994.
The JSL disbanded and reformed as the professional J. League in 1993. At this time the team professionalized and renamed itself Verdy Kawasaki, "Verdi" is the plural for Green in the Italian language
(as is common use in Japan to call a team with an Italian suffix or prefix, like Gamba Osaka
, Fagiano Okayama and Kawasaki Frontale
). Although Yomiuri was dropped from the name as the club spun off from the company, the team remained under Yomiuri's ownership until 1997, when it was acquired by Nippon Television Network, the broadcast arm of the Yomiuri Group.
The 1996 J. League season saw Verdy Kawasaki finish 7th place overall, the lowest standing in the league's existence at that point, and would fall further in the 1997 season, finishing 16th and 12th, in the 1st Stage and 2nd Stage, respectively, and 15th overall out of 17 teams. Although Verdy looked to return to prominence in 1999, finishing 2nd in the 1st Stage, the resurgence was short-lived as it fell to 10th in the 2nd Stage.
Meanwhile, the team's efforts to become "Japan's Team" alienated local fans in Kawasaki
. The expensive salaries and struggling attendance caused the club's debts to mount. Struggling to compete with the newly professionalized crosstown rival Kawasaki Frontale and the nearby Yokohama Marinos and Yokohama Flugels
, Verdy made the decision to leave Kawasaki.
and was re-named Tokyo Verdy 1969 to reflect the new hometown and the club's origins as Yomiuri F.C. Although Verdy made the move to increase its fan base and distance itself from its rivals, by this time Tokyo was already home to a J1 club in F.C. Tokyo. Despite a sharp increase in crowd numbers for Verdy, this was still well below those of F.C. Tokyo. Their new local rivals had been promoted to J1 in 2000 and had already captured a vast number of the supporters Verdy had been hoping to acquire.
In its first year in Tokyo, Tokyo Verdy 1969 found itself trailing F.C. Tokyo in the standings as well, and finished last in the division at 16th in the first stage of the 2001 season. Only the play of midseason acquisition Edmundo and a win in the final match of the second stage saved the club from relegation to J2
. Tokyo Verdy 1969 was back at the bottom of the table in the first stage of the 2002 season, but again finished the season strong, placing 4th in the second stage.
Two mid-table finishes followed in 2003 and 2004, before Tokyo Verdy 1969, under Osvaldo Ardiles
, won the Emperor's Cup
on January 1, 2005, its first major title in 9 years and the first in Tokyo. Winning the cup earned Verdy a spot in the 2006 AFC Champions League.
However, the 2005 season saw Tokyo Verdy 1969 fall to its worst finish of its history, finishing 17th out of 18. This was the first season after the scrapping of the two-stage season format, and Tokyo Verdy 1969 were relegated to J2, after 28 years of top flight football. The season was marked by three huge losses in July: 1-7 to Gamba Osaka on July 2, 0-7 to Urawa Red Diamonds
on July 6 and a 6-0 loss to Jubilo Iwata
on July 17. Tokyo Verdy then sacked Ardiles two days later. At the time of his sacking, Ardiles team had conceded 23 goals in their last 5 matches and had a 9 match winless streak. However, the struggling Verdy upset European giant Real Madrid
(who were in Asia on a preseason tour), 3-0 on July 25.
, the club appointed former Verdy Kawasaki legend, Ruy Ramos, as manager on December 22, 2005. Tokyo Verdy 1969 found itself in the odd position of competing in the AFC Champions League while playing in the second tier of the national league system. After Tokyo Verdy 1969 was relegated, the club released many of the veteran players, leaving a core of young players, most notably Takayuki Morimoto
, who became the youngest player to score in the J. League at age 15 in 2004.
After a disappointing 2006 season in J2, Coach Ramos stated that if his team did not win the first game of the 2007 season
, he would step down as head coach. Tokyo Verdy 1969 managed to beat Thespa Kusatsu
5-0 on the first day. After a brief scuffle with Consadole Sapporo
over the J2 title, Tokyo Verdy 1969 had to settle for runner-up - which was enough to earn promotion back into the top flight for 2008. At this time the club renamed itself for the second time, dropping 1969 from its team name, but the management corporation name remained as Tokyo Verdy 1969.
Verdy would once again be relegated after finishing in second last place in 2008.
On September 17, 2009, NTV announced it would divest itself of shares in the club and transfer it to a new holding company, Tokyo Verdy Holdings, closing 40 years of Yomiuri/NTV direct financial support. The J. League approved the transfer, but made it a condition that Verdy find a new sponsor by November 16 or risk not being able to play J2 football for the 2010 season
.
In October 2010, Tokyo Verdy signed a five-year sponsorship deal with sports retail store and apparel company Xebio.
The sponsorship deal saw the Xebio logo placed on Tokyo Verdy's kit and includes naming rights for two regular season home games. Xebio also produces the clubs football kit, although under their sports brand "Ennerre". After talks with Xebio, several companies decided to invest in the company and the new Xebio led administration was announced in November.
Bismarck
Edmundo Gil
Hulk Pereira Washington Argel
Magrao Patrick Mboma
Osama Elsamni
Shinji Fujiyoshi Tetsuji Hashiratani
Toshihiro Hattori Yuji Hironaga Ko Ishikawa
Seiichiro Maki
Shinkichi Kikuchi
Tsuyoshi Kitazawa
Daigo Kobayashi
Takaya Kurokawa Masakiyo Maezono
Atsuhiro Miura Kazuyoshi Miura
Yasutoshi Miura Takayuki Morimoto
Hideki Nagai Yuji Nakazawa
Takafumi Ogura Masashi Oguro
Ruy Ramos
Hiroyuki Shirai Naoki Soma
Takuya Takagi
Daijiro Takakuwa Nobuhiro Takeda
Hayuma Tanaka
Kazuyuki Toda
Satoshi Tsunami
Kenichi Uemura
Takahiro Yamada
Takuya Yamada
Hennie Meijer
Ryang Gyu-Sa
Steve Paterson Kim Hyun-Seok Kim Do-Keun
Lee Gang-Jin
Key
and also fields teams in women's football, volleyball
, and triathlon
. Tokyo Verdy's women's football team is the 12 time L. League
champion and 10 time All-Japan Women's Football Championship winners, NTV Beleza
.
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, that plays in J. League Division 2
J. League Division 2
The or is the second division of and is the second-tier professional association football league in Japan. Currently, J. League Division 2 is the second level of the Japanese association football league system. The first tier is represented by J...
.
Founded as Yomiuri F.C. in 1969, Tokyo Verdy is one of the most decorated teams in the J. League, with honours including 7 league titles (a record shared with Kashima Antlers
Kashima Antlers
are a Japanese professional association football club playing in the J. League Division 1. Antlers is derived from the city name, Kashima, which literally means "deer island"....
), 5 Emperor's Cups
Emperor's Cup
, commonly known as or , is a Japanese association football competition. It has the longest tradition of any football tournament in Japan, dating back to 1921, before the formation of the J. League, Japan Football League and their predecessor, Japan Soccer League...
, 6 JSL Cup / J. League Cups
J. League Cup
J. League Cup is a Japanese football competition organized by J. League. It is also known as Yamazaki Nabisco Cup or Nabisco Cup because confectionery/bakery company Yamazaki Nabisco have sponsored the competition since its inception in 1992.It is generally regarded as the Japanese equivalent to...
and an Asian Club Championship title.
Verdy's plays its home games at the 50,000 capacity Ajinomoto Stadium, which it shares with F.C. Tokyo, although many home matches are played in other stadiums in Tokyo, including Tokyo National Stadium
Olympic Stadium (Tokyo)
or National Stadium is a stadium in Kasumigaoka, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan that served as the main stadium for the 1964 Summer Olympics. It currently serves as the stadium where the Japan national football teams home matches and major football club cup finals are held.-History:The stadium was...
.
Early years and rise to the top (1969—1983)
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
and the massive interest in football that ensued, Japan Football Association
Japan Football Association
The Japan Football Association, sometimes known as the Japan Soccer Association , is the governing body responsible for the administration of association football in Japan. It is responsible for the national team as well as club competitions....
president Ken Nozu visited Yomiuri Giants
Yomiuri Giants
The are a professional baseball team based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. The team competes in the Central League in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level of professional play in Japan. They play their home games in the Tokyo Dome, opened in 1988. The English-language press occasionally calls the...
chairman Matsutaro Shoriki
Matsutaro Shoriki
was the father of Japanese professional baseball. Born in Daimon, Toyama, he was a media mogul, owned the Yomiuri Shimbun, one of Japan's major daily newspapers, and founded Japan's first commercial television station, Nippon Television Network Corporation...
to ask him if Yomiuri was willing to ride on the wave of the game by establishing their own football club. Shoriki died a year later, in 1969, but not before signing his name to the plans to establish Yomiuri Soccer Club.
Backed by the Yomiuri Group and NTV
Nippon Television
is a television network based in the Shiodome area of Minato, Tokyo, Japan and is controlled by the Yomiuri Shimbun publishing company. Broadcasting terrestrially across Japan, the network is commonly known as , contracted to , and abbreviated as "NTV" or "AX".-Offices:*The Headquarters : 6-1,...
, Yomiuri Soccer Club began gaining promotions from the local leagues to the Kanto
Kanto region
The is a geographical area of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. The region includes the Greater Tokyo Area and encompasses seven prefectures: Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba, and Kanagawa. Within its boundaries, slightly more than 40 percent of the land area is the Kantō Plain....
Football League, and in 1972 they were chosen to co-found the new Japan Soccer League
Japan Soccer League
, or JSL, was the top flight soccer league in Japan between 1965 and 1992, and was the precursor to the current professional league, the J. League. JSL was the second national league of a team sport in Japan after the professional Japanese Baseball League that was founded in 1936...
Second Division. They were promoted to First Division in 1978, starting a long career of success in the top flight. Their first major title was the Japan Soccer League Cup
Japan Soccer League Cup
The Japan Soccer League Cup was the original league cup for clubs in the top levels of Japanese football before the creation of the J. League and its cup. The cup was first played in 1973, but did not become an annual tournament until 1976....
in 1979
1979 Japan Soccer League Cup
-1st Round:*Yanmar Diesel 5-0 Toshiba Horikawa*Nippon Steel 2-1 Kofu*Mitsubishi Motors 2-1 Toyo Industries*Furukawa Electric 2-0 Nippon Kokan-2nd Round:*Yamaha Motors 3-1 Nissan Motors*Yanmar Diesel 1-2 Yomiuri*Toyota Motors 1-1 Nippon Steel...
.
Golden Era (1983—1994)
From its days as Yomiuri F.C., the ownership had visions of a football equivalent of the baseball Yomiuri Giants - a star-studded powerhouse with fans across Japan. As Japanese football began its transition from the JSL to the J. League in the early 1990s, it invested heavily in stars and featured Japan internationals Kazuyoshi MiuraKazuyoshi Miura
----Kazuyoshi Miura , often known simply as Kazu, is a Japanese football striker. He has played for the Japanese national team and was the first Japanese recipient of the Asian Player of the Year award in 1993, an award presented annually by the Asian Football Confederation. He is currently with...
, Ruy Ramos
Ruy Ramos
, formerly Ruy Gonçalves Ramos Sobrinho , is a Brazilian-born football player, who became a naturalized Japanese citizen in 1989. He was one of the first foreign players in Japanese professional soccer, joining Yomiuri in 1977 at the age of 20...
and Tsuyoshi Kitazawa
Tsuyoshi Kitazawa
is a retired Japanese football player. He was a midfielder known for his tireless work load and was capped 58 times for Japan. He is currently working on television as a football commentator.-Club:...
.
The team immediately met expectations, winning a domestic double
The Double
The Double is a term in association football which refers to winning a country's top tier division and its primary cup competition in the same season...
in 1986-87, (winning the First Division and Emperor's Cup
1987 Emperor's Cup
-1st Round:*Yomiuri 5-0 Doshisha University*NTT Shikoku 0-2 西濃運輸*Honda 2-0 Fujitsu*Niigata Eleven 0-9 Fujita Industries*Nissan Motors 3-1 Cosmo Oil*Hitachi 1-0 Yamaha Motors*TDK 1-0 Tokai University...
), winning the Asian Club Championship in 1988, the last two JSL championships as Yomiuri F.C. in 1990-91 and 1991-92, and then winning the first two championships as Verdy Kawasaki in 1993 and 1994, effectively winning four straight Japanese league titles making a total of seven overall
Japanese football champions
The Japanese football champions are the winners of the top league in Japan, the Japan Soccer League from 1965 to 1992 and the J. League since then....
; the highest in the Japanese system. Verdy also won the 1996 Emperor's Cup
1996 Emperor's Cup
-1st Round:*Denso 3-1 Juntendo University*ブレイズ熊本 2-1 関西学院大学*ワールドブリッツ小山 0-7 Vissel Kobe*日本文理大学 1-3 Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima*海邦クラブ 0-4 Montedio Yamagata*ルネス学園甲賀SC 1-1 北海道教育大函館校*盛岡ゼブラ 0-5 Fujitsu*Fukuoka University 2-2 Albireo Niigata...
and three consecutive J. League Cup
J. League Cup
J. League Cup is a Japanese football competition organized by J. League. It is also known as Yamazaki Nabisco Cup or Nabisco Cup because confectionery/bakery company Yamazaki Nabisco have sponsored the competition since its inception in 1992.It is generally regarded as the Japanese equivalent to...
s from 1992 to 1994.
The JSL disbanded and reformed as the professional J. League in 1993. At this time the team professionalized and renamed itself Verdy Kawasaki, "Verdi" is the plural for Green in the Italian language
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
(as is common use in Japan to call a team with an Italian suffix or prefix, like Gamba Osaka
Gamba Osaka
is a Japanese professional association football club, currently playing in the J. League Division 1. The team's name comes from the Italian word "gamba" meaning "leg" and the Japanese , meaning "to do your best" or "to stand firm". Located in Suita, Osaka, the team's home stadium is Osaka Expo '70...
, Fagiano Okayama and Kawasaki Frontale
Kawasaki Frontale
is a J. League Division 1 association football club. The team is located in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo. Their home stadium is Todoroki Athletics Stadium, in Nakahara Ward, in the central area of Kawasaki.-History:...
). Although Yomiuri was dropped from the name as the club spun off from the company, the team remained under Yomiuri's ownership until 1997, when it was acquired by Nippon Television Network, the broadcast arm of the Yomiuri Group.
Lack of success and support (1995–2000)
This early success did not last, however, and as the stars aged, the team's performance suffered. Verdy's 1st place finish in the 2nd Stage of the 1995 season would be its last stage victory and the 1996 Emperor's Cup would be its last major title of the decade. A downturn in the national economy and the cooling of the J. League fad meant all teams had to cut expenses. This meant Verdy could no longer buy expensive replacements for its aging stars.The 1996 J. League season saw Verdy Kawasaki finish 7th place overall, the lowest standing in the league's existence at that point, and would fall further in the 1997 season, finishing 16th and 12th, in the 1st Stage and 2nd Stage, respectively, and 15th overall out of 17 teams. Although Verdy looked to return to prominence in 1999, finishing 2nd in the 1st Stage, the resurgence was short-lived as it fell to 10th in the 2nd Stage.
Kawasaki, Kanagawa
is a city located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, between Tokyo and Yokohama. It is the 9th most populated city in Japan and one of the main cities forming the Greater Tokyo Area and Keihin Industrial Area....
. The expensive salaries and struggling attendance caused the club's debts to mount. Struggling to compete with the newly professionalized crosstown rival Kawasaki Frontale and the nearby Yokohama Marinos and Yokohama Flugels
Yokohama Flügels
was a Japanese football club that played in the J. League between 1993 and 1998. In 1999 the club was officially merged with local rivals Yokohama Marinos and the two teams became known together as Yokohama F. Marinos.- History :...
, Verdy made the decision to leave Kawasaki.
Move to Tokyo (2001–2005)
In 2001, the club moved from Kawasaki to Chōfu, TokyoChofu, Tokyo
is a city located in the western end of Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 224,878 and a population density of 10,440 persons per km². The total area was 21.53 km². Tokyo Stadium in Chōfu hosts soccer games for two J. League teams: F.C...
and was re-named Tokyo Verdy 1969 to reflect the new hometown and the club's origins as Yomiuri F.C. Although Verdy made the move to increase its fan base and distance itself from its rivals, by this time Tokyo was already home to a J1 club in F.C. Tokyo. Despite a sharp increase in crowd numbers for Verdy, this was still well below those of F.C. Tokyo. Their new local rivals had been promoted to J1 in 2000 and had already captured a vast number of the supporters Verdy had been hoping to acquire.
In its first year in Tokyo, Tokyo Verdy 1969 found itself trailing F.C. Tokyo in the standings as well, and finished last in the division at 16th in the first stage of the 2001 season. Only the play of midseason acquisition Edmundo and a win in the final match of the second stage saved the club from relegation to J2
J. League Division 2
The or is the second division of and is the second-tier professional association football league in Japan. Currently, J. League Division 2 is the second level of the Japanese association football league system. The first tier is represented by J...
. Tokyo Verdy 1969 was back at the bottom of the table in the first stage of the 2002 season, but again finished the season strong, placing 4th in the second stage.
Two mid-table finishes followed in 2003 and 2004, before Tokyo Verdy 1969, under Osvaldo Ardiles
Osvaldo Ardiles
Osvaldo César Ardiles , often referred to in Britain as Ossie Ardiles, is a football coach, pundit and former midfielder who won the 1978 World Cup as part of the Argentine national team...
, won the Emperor's Cup
2004 Emperor's Cup
-1st Round:*Hiroshima Keizai University 4-0 三洋電機徳島*Tottori 3-2 TDK*Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima 3-2 ルネス学園甲賀*Alouette Kumamoto 5-2 三菱重工長崎*Oita TrinitaU-18 1-0 富士大学*Hachinohe University 3-1 Central Kobe...
on January 1, 2005, its first major title in 9 years and the first in Tokyo. Winning the cup earned Verdy a spot in the 2006 AFC Champions League.
However, the 2005 season saw Tokyo Verdy 1969 fall to its worst finish of its history, finishing 17th out of 18. This was the first season after the scrapping of the two-stage season format, and Tokyo Verdy 1969 were relegated to J2, after 28 years of top flight football. The season was marked by three huge losses in July: 1-7 to Gamba Osaka on July 2, 0-7 to Urawa Red Diamonds
Urawa Red Diamonds
are a professional association football club playing in Japan's football league, J. League Division 1. One of Japan and Asia's best supported teams, the club has been able to boast the highest average crowds for thirteen of the J-League's twenty season history...
on July 6 and a 6-0 loss to Jubilo Iwata
Júbilo Iwata
is a professional Japanese association football team currently playing in the J. League Division 1 . The team name Júbilo means 'joy' in Portuguese and Spanish. The team's home town is Iwata, Shizuoka prefecture and they play at Yamaha Stadium...
on July 17. Tokyo Verdy then sacked Ardiles two days later. At the time of his sacking, Ardiles team had conceded 23 goals in their last 5 matches and had a 9 match winless streak. However, the struggling Verdy upset European giant Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
(who were in Asia on a preseason tour), 3-0 on July 25.
Back in the second tier (2006–present)
For the 2006 season2006 J. League Division 2
The 2006 J. League Division 2 season is the 35th season of the second-tier club football in Japan and the 8th season since the establishment of J2 League....
, the club appointed former Verdy Kawasaki legend, Ruy Ramos, as manager on December 22, 2005. Tokyo Verdy 1969 found itself in the odd position of competing in the AFC Champions League while playing in the second tier of the national league system. After Tokyo Verdy 1969 was relegated, the club released many of the veteran players, leaving a core of young players, most notably Takayuki Morimoto
Takayuki Morimoto
is a Japanese footballer who plays for Novara in the Serie A, in a co-ownership bid with Catania.Morimoto holds the record for the youngest Japanese player to make his professional debut and the youngest scorer in J. League history...
, who became the youngest player to score in the J. League at age 15 in 2004.
After a disappointing 2006 season in J2, Coach Ramos stated that if his team did not win the first game of the 2007 season
2007 J. League Division 2
The 2007 J. League Division 2 season is the 36th season of the second-tier club football in Japan and the 9th season since the establishment of J2 League. The season began on March 3 and ended on December 1....
, he would step down as head coach. Tokyo Verdy 1969 managed to beat Thespa Kusatsu
Thespa Kusatsu
is a professional football club based in Gunma Prefecture in Japan. The club plays in J. League Division 2. J. League Division 2 is the second professional football league in Japan....
5-0 on the first day. After a brief scuffle with Consadole Sapporo
Consadole Sapporo
is a Japanese professional football club, currently playing in the J. League Division 2. The team is located in Sapporo, on the island of Hokkaidō....
over the J2 title, Tokyo Verdy 1969 had to settle for runner-up - which was enough to earn promotion back into the top flight for 2008. At this time the club renamed itself for the second time, dropping 1969 from its team name, but the management corporation name remained as Tokyo Verdy 1969.
Verdy would once again be relegated after finishing in second last place in 2008.
On September 17, 2009, NTV announced it would divest itself of shares in the club and transfer it to a new holding company, Tokyo Verdy Holdings, closing 40 years of Yomiuri/NTV direct financial support. The J. League approved the transfer, but made it a condition that Verdy find a new sponsor by November 16 or risk not being able to play J2 football for the 2010 season
2010 J. League Division 2
The 2010 J. League Division 2 season was the 39th season of the second-tier club football in Japan and the 12th season since the establishment of J2 League. The season began on March 6 and ended on December 4....
.
In October 2010, Tokyo Verdy signed a five-year sponsorship deal with sports retail store and apparel company Xebio.
The sponsorship deal saw the Xebio logo placed on Tokyo Verdy's kit and includes naming rights for two regular season home games. Xebio also produces the clubs football kit, although under their sports brand "Ennerre". After talks with Xebio, several companies decided to invest in the company and the new Xebio led administration was announced in November.
Current squad
As of January 2011Out on loan
Notable players
Claudio UbedaClaudio Ubeda
Claudio Úbeda is a former football player. He was a participant at the 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship in Saudi Arabia....
Bismarck
Bismarck Barreto Faria
Bismarck Barreto Faria, best known as Bismarck is a former Brazilian football player.-Career:...
Edmundo Gil
Gilberto Ribeiro Gonçalves
Gilberto Ribeiro Gonçalves , commonly known as Gil is a Brazilian footballer. He was formally a Brazilian international.-Early years:...
Hulk Pereira Washington Argel
Argelico Fucks
Argélico Fucks , aka Argel, is a retired Brazilian footballer who played as a central defender, and a current coach.-Club career:...
Magrao Patrick Mboma
Osama ElsamniOsama Elsamni
Osama Elsamni is an Egyptian-Japanese footballer who plays as a striker for Japanese side Montedio Yamagata....
Shinji Fujiyoshi Tetsuji Hashiratani
Tetsuji Hashiratani
is a retired Japanese football player. He was a defender and a defensive midfielder.-Playing career:He was educated at and played for Kyoto Commercial High School and Kokushikan University. He joined Japan Soccer League side Nissan Motor in 1987. He moved to Verdy Kawasaki in 1992 when professional...
Toshihiro Hattori Yuji Hironaga Ko Ishikawa
Ko Ishikawa
Ko Ishikawa is a former Japanese-Bolivian football defender .-Career:Ko Ishikawa established himself as one of the most unflappable defenders in the league as a wing back at Verdy Kawasaki in the early 1990s, and he maintained that reputation for almost ten years...
Seiichiro Maki
Seiichiro Maki
is a Japanese professional football player. He is a forward and currently plays for Tokyo Verdy, and has been a member of the Japanese national football team since 2005.-Personal life:...
Shinkichi Kikuchi
Shinkichi Kikuchi
Shinkichi Kikuchi is a former Japanese football player.Kikuchi finished his playing career with Tokyo Verdy....
Tsuyoshi Kitazawa
Tsuyoshi Kitazawa
is a retired Japanese football player. He was a midfielder known for his tireless work load and was capped 58 times for Japan. He is currently working on television as a football commentator.-Club:...
Daigo Kobayashi
Daigo Kobayashi
Daigo Kobayashi is a Japanese football player who last played for Shimizu S-Pulse.-Career:He started up his professional career at Tokyo Verdy where he won the Emperor's Cup in 2004 and the Japanese Super Cup in 2005. In the same year they got relegated from the J-League which marked his end in...
Takaya Kurokawa Masakiyo Maezono
Masakiyo Maezono
is a retired Japanese football player. and Beach Soccer player.-Career:Maezono was a member of the Japanese Squad at the 1996 Summer Olympics and the 1996 AFC Asian Cup. He played Starting with Yokohama Flügels afterSantos, Goiás. in Brazil...
Atsuhiro Miura Kazuyoshi Miura
Kazuyoshi Miura
----Kazuyoshi Miura , often known simply as Kazu, is a Japanese football striker. He has played for the Japanese national team and was the first Japanese recipient of the Asian Player of the Year award in 1993, an award presented annually by the Asian Football Confederation. He is currently with...
Yasutoshi Miura Takayuki Morimoto
Takayuki Morimoto
is a Japanese footballer who plays for Novara in the Serie A, in a co-ownership bid with Catania.Morimoto holds the record for the youngest Japanese player to make his professional debut and the youngest scorer in J. League history...
Hideki Nagai Yuji Nakazawa
Yuji Nakazawa
is a Japanese football player who currently plays for J. League side Yokohama F. Marinos. He is a centre back. He is captain of both Yokohama F. Marinos and the Japan national football team. His nickname is "Bomber" because of his distinctive hairstyle...
Takafumi Ogura Masashi Oguro
Masashi Oguro
is a Japanese football player from Toyonaka in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. He plays the forward position.-Club career:Oguro joined the J-league in 1999, with Gamba Osaka...
Ruy Ramos
Ruy Ramos
, formerly Ruy Gonçalves Ramos Sobrinho , is a Brazilian-born football player, who became a naturalized Japanese citizen in 1989. He was one of the first foreign players in Japanese professional soccer, joining Yomiuri in 1977 at the age of 20...
Hiroyuki Shirai Naoki Soma
Naoki Soma
Naoki Soma is a former Japanese football defender .He was capped 58 times and scored 4 goals for the Japanese national team between 1995 and 1999, including three games at the 1998 FIFA World Cup...
Takuya Takagi
Takuya Takagi
is a former Japanese football player and a current football coach. He is currently the manager at Roasso Kumamoto. He was a physical forward and the Japanese media and fans dubbed him as the Cannon of Asia.-Club:...
Daijiro Takakuwa Nobuhiro Takeda
Nobuhiro Takeda
is a former Japanese football player. He was a forward and known as a superb opportunistic goal-scorer, making most of his quick thinking and canny positioning. He currently works at Nippon Television and belongs to an entertainment agency Horipro as a sportscaster -Club:He was educated at and...
Hayuma Tanaka
Hayuma Tanaka
Hayuma Tanaka is a Japanese football player. He is famed for his fantastic stamina.He made his senior national team debut on August 9, 2006, in a friendly match against Trinidad and Tobago.- Club Team Career Statistics :Last update: 4 February 2010...
Kazuyuki Toda
Kazuyuki Toda
is a Japanese football player who has recently played for J. League Division 2 side Thespa Kusatsu.He played in 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship, 2000 Olympic football tournament and the 2002 FIFA World Cup for Japan....
Satoshi Tsunami
Satoshi Tsunami
is a former Japanese international football player. He was a left full back.-Playing career:Tsunami was a product of Yomiuri Club's youth system. He played for Japan Soccer League side Yomiuri Club, which was transformed to Verdy Kawasaki when J. League was founded, between 1980 and 1996...
Kenichi Uemura
Kenichi Uemura
is a former Japanese football player. He is a defender and was capped 4 times for Japan national football team.-Playing career:After graduating from Matsunaga High Schook, he joined J. League Division 1 side Sanfrecce Hiroshima in 1993. He broke into the first team in the first season. His first...
Takahiro Yamada
Takahiro Yamada
is a retired Japanese football player. He was a skillful attacking midfielder.-Career:Yamada was educated at and played for Shimizu Commercial High School. At the high school, he won the national high school championship and the national youth championship with his team mates including Hiroshi...
Takuya Yamada
Takuya Yamada
Takuya Yamada is a Japanese footballer currently playing for FC Tampa Bay in the North American Soccer League.-Club:Yamada attended Toin Gakuen High School, where he led the school to the final 4 in the National Championship...
Hennie Meijer
Hennie Meijer
Hennie Meijer is a retired Dutch football player.Meijer was born in Paramaribo, Suriname. He is known for scoring the first ever J. League goal in the 19th minute of a game against Yokohama Marinos on 15 May 1993.-Club statistics:...
Ryang Gyu-Sa
Ryang Gyu-Sa
Ryang Gyu-Sa is a retired Zainichi Korean footballer who played for North Korea in 2000 AFC Asian Cup qualification.Ryang recently opined on the Japanese abducted to the North by being shocked and stating "there are some strange aspects of North Korea".-Club career statistics:Last update: 1 Dec...
Steve Paterson Kim Hyun-Seok Kim Do-Keun
Kim Do-Keun
Kim Do-Keun is a South Korean football player.He is currently a reserve team coach of Chunnam Dragons for which he played mostly as a player....
Lee Gang-Jin
Lee Gang-Jin
Lee Gang-Jin is a South Korean footballer who currently plays as Centre back for Júbilo Iwata in the J. League. His previous club is Suwon Bluewings, Busan I'Park and Japanese club Tokyo Verdy....
Managers
| Manager | Nat. | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Yasutaro Matsuki | 1993-94 | |
| Nelsinho Baptista Nelsinho Baptista Nélson Baptista Júnior, usually known as Nelsinho Baptista , is a former association football right back and is currently a manager... |
1995-96 | |
| Yasuyuki Kishino Yasuyuki Kishino Yasuyuki Kishino is a former Japanese football player. He currently coaches Japanese club Yokohama FC.- References :... |
1996 | |
| Émerson Leão Émerson Leão Émerson Leão is a Brazilian manager and former football player. He is one of the all-time best Brazilian goalkeepers. A documentary video produced by FIFA, FIFA Fever, called him the third-most impressive defense player of all time. He was born in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo.-Playing career:He was... |
1996 | |
| Hisashi Kato Hisashi Kato Hisashi Kato is a Japanese football manager and former player. He most recently managed Japanese club Kyoto Sanga F.C..... |
1997 | |
| Valdir Espinosa Valdir Espinosa Valdir Ataualpa Ramirez Espinosa, usually known as Valdir Espinosa is a Brazilian football manager.-Titles:Grêmio... |
1997 | |
| Ryoichi Kawakatsu | 1997 | |
| Nicanor Nicanor de Carvalho Nicanor de Carvalho Júnior, best known as Nicanor is a Brazilian football manager.Nicanor managed several Brazilian clubs during the 1990s, including Guarani Futebol Clube.-External links:*... |
1998 | |
| Ryoichi Kawakatsu | 1998 | |
| Hideki Matsunaga Hideki Matsunaga Hideki Matsunaga is a former Japanese football player.-References:*... |
1999 | |
| Chang Woe-Ryong Chang Woe-Ryong Chang Woe-Ryong is a South Korean football manager, who is at present the official manager of Chinese Super League club Qingdao Jonoon.He was confirmed as permanent manager of Incheon United in January 2005, after taking over as caretaker manager in September 2004 following the resignation of... |
2000 | |
| Yasutaro Matsuki | 2001 | |
| Yukitaka Omi | 2001-02 | |
| Lori Paulo Sandri | 2002-03 | |
| Leandro Leandro Altair Machado Leandro Machado is a Brazilian football manager.-References:*... |
2003 | |
| Osvaldo Ardiles Osvaldo Ardiles Osvaldo César Ardiles , often referred to in Britain as Ossie Ardiles, is a football coach, pundit and former midfielder who won the 1978 World Cup as part of the Argentine national team... |
2003-05 | |
| Nobuhiro Ishizaki | 2005 | |
| Vadão Vadão Oswaldo Fumeiro Alvarez, more commonly known as Vadão is a Brazilian football manager.-References:... |
2005 | |
| Ruy Ramos Ruy Ramos , formerly Ruy Gonçalves Ramos Sobrinho , is a Brazilian-born football player, who became a naturalized Japanese citizen in 1989. He was one of the first foreign players in Japanese professional soccer, joining Yomiuri in 1977 at the age of 20... |
2006-07 | |
| Tetsuji Hashiratani Tetsuji Hashiratani is a retired Japanese football player. He was a defender and a defensive midfielder.-Playing career:He was educated at and played for Kyoto Commercial High School and Kokushikan University. He joined Japan Soccer League side Nissan Motor in 1987. He moved to Verdy Kawasaki in 1992 when professional... |
2008 | |
| Takuya Takagi Takuya Takagi is a former Japanese football player and a current football coach. He is currently the manager at Roasso Kumamoto. He was a physical forward and the Japanese media and fans dubbed him as the Cannon of Asia.-Club:... |
2009 | |
| Takeo Matsuda Takeo Matsuda Takeo Matsuda is a Japanese football manager.-References:**... |
2009 | |
| Ryoichi Kawakatsu | 2010- |
Team Record as J. League member
| Season | Div. | Tms. | Pos. | Attendance/G | J. League Cup J. League Cup J. League Cup is a Japanese football competition organized by J. League. It is also known as Yamazaki Nabisco Cup or Nabisco Cup because confectionery/bakery company Yamazaki Nabisco have sponsored the competition since its inception in 1992.It is generally regarded as the Japanese equivalent to... |
Emperor's Cup Emperor's Cup , commonly known as or , is a Japanese association football competition. It has the longest tradition of any football tournament in Japan, dating back to 1921, before the formation of the J. League, Japan Football League and their predecessor, Japan Soccer League... |
Asia | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | - | - | - | - | Winner | Runners-Up | CC | 2nd Round |
| 1993 | J1 | 10 | 1 | 25,235 | Winner | Quarter-final | CC | 4th Place |
| 1994 | J1 | 12 | 1 | 24,926 | Winner | 2nd Round | CC | 3rd Place |
| 1995 | J1 | 14 | 2 | 20,834 | - | Quarter-final | CC | Quarter-final |
| 1996 | J1 | 16 | 7 | 17,653 | Runners-Up | Winner | CC | Quarter-final |
| 1997 | J1 | 17 | 15 | 10,933 | Group Stage | 3rd Round | - | - |
| 1998 | J1 | 18 | 12 | 13,338 | Group Stage | Quarter-final | CWC | Quarter-final |
| 1999 | J1 | 16 | 7 | 9,379 | 2nd Round | Semi-final | - | - |
| 2000 | J1 | 16 | 10 | 7,609 | Quarter-final | 4th Round | - | - |
| 2001 | J1 | 16 | 14 | 19,396 | 1st Round | Quarter-final | - | - |
| 2002 | J1 | 16 | 10 | 15,128 | Group Stage | 3rd Round | - | - |
| 2003 | J1 | 16 | 8 | 17,563 | Group Stage | Quarter-final | - | - |
| 2004 | J1 | 16 | 9 | 15,059 | Semi-final | Winner | - | - |
| 2005 | J1 | 18 | 17 | 14,716 | Group Stage | 4th Round | - | - |
| 2006 2006 J. League Division 2 The 2006 J. League Division 2 season is the 35th season of the second-tier club football in Japan and the 8th season since the establishment of J2 League.... |
J2 | 13 | 7 | 5,705 | - | 3rd Round | CL | Group Stage |
| 2007 2007 J. League Division 2 The 2007 J. League Division 2 season is the 36th season of the second-tier club football in Japan and the 9th season since the establishment of J2 League. The season began on March 3 and ended on December 1.... |
J2 | 13 | 2 | 7,327 | - | 3rd Round | - | - |
| 2008 | J1 | 18 | 17 | 14,837 | Group Stage | 4th Round | - | - |
| 2009 2009 J. League Division 2 The 2009 J. League Division 2 season was the 38th season of the second-tier club football in Japan and the 11th season since the establishment of J2 League. The season started on March 7 and ended on December 5.... |
J2 | 18 | 7 | 5,521 | - | 2nd Round | - | - |
| 2010 2010 J. League Division 2 The 2010 J. League Division 2 season was the 39th season of the second-tier club football in Japan and the 12th season since the establishment of J2 League. The season began on March 6 and ended on December 4.... |
J2 | 19 | 5 | 5,572 | - | 2nd Round | - | - |
Key
- Tms. = Number of teams
- Pos. = Position in league
- Attendance/G = Average league attendance
Honours
With 7 league titles, 5 Emperor's Cups and 6 League Cups, Tokyo Verdy is the most decorated football club in Japan, although most of its titles came during their stay at Kawasaki.Domestic
- JSLJapan Soccer League, or JSL, was the top flight soccer league in Japan between 1965 and 1992, and was the precursor to the current professional league, the J. League. JSL was the second national league of a team sport in Japan after the professional Japanese Baseball League that was founded in 1936...
Division 1 (until 1993) and J. League Division 1:
- Winners (7): 1983, 1984, 1986-87, 1990-91, 1991-92, 1993, 1994
- Runners-up (4): 1979, 1981, 1989-90, 1995
- JSL Division 2:
- Winners (2): 1974, 1977
- JSL Cup / J. League CupJ. League CupJ. League Cup is a Japanese football competition organized by J. League. It is also known as Yamazaki Nabisco Cup or Nabisco Cup because confectionery/bakery company Yamazaki Nabisco have sponsored the competition since its inception in 1992.It is generally regarded as the Japanese equivalent to...
:
- Winners (6): 1979, 1985, 1991, 19921992 J. League CupThe J. League Cup 1992, officially the Yamasaki Nabisco Cup 1992, was the 18th edition of Japan soccer league cup tournament and the first edition under the current J. League Cup format. The championship started on September, and finished on November 23, 1992....
, 19931993 J. League CupThe 1993 J. League Cup, officially the Yamasaki Nabisco Cup 1993, was the 19th edition of Japan soccer league cup tournament and the second edition under the current J. League Cup format. The championship started on September 10, and finished on November 23, 1993.-Group A:-Group B:-Knockout...
, 19941994 J. League CupThe 1994 J. League Cup, officially the Yamasaki Nabisco Cup 1994, was the 20th edition of Japan soccer league cup tournament and the third edition under the current J. League Cup format. The championship started on July 27, and finished on August 6, 1994.... - Runners-up (1): 19961996 J. League Cup-Group A:-Group B:-Semifinals:*Kashiwa Reysol 1-2 Verdy Kawasaki*Shimizu S-Pulse 5-0 Bellmare Hiratsuka-Final:*Verdy Kawasaki 3-3 Shimizu S-PulseShimizu S-Pulse won the championship.-References:*...
- Emperor's CupEmperor's Cup, commonly known as or , is a Japanese association football competition. It has the longest tradition of any football tournament in Japan, dating back to 1921, before the formation of the J. League, Japan Football League and their predecessor, Japan Soccer League...
:
- Winners (5): 19841984 Emperor's Cup-1st Round:*Nissan Motors 6-0 マツダオート広島*電電近畿 0-1 Mazda*九州産業大学 1-2 Tanabe Pharmaceuticals*Fukuoka University 1-1 Mitsubishi Motors*Honda 2-2 Tsukuba University*Toyota Motors 2-3 Hitachi...
, 19861986 Emperor's Cup-1st Round:*Furukawa Electric - Hyogo Teachers*Teijin 0-1 Osaka Gas*Yomiuri 3-1 Fukuoka University*Yawata Steel 1-1 Hitachi*Nissan Motors 3-0 Kawasaki Steel Mizushima*NTT Kansai 0-4 Mazda...
, 19871987 Emperor's Cup-1st Round:*Yomiuri 5-0 Doshisha University*NTT Shikoku 0-2 西濃運輸*Honda 2-0 Fujitsu*Niigata Eleven 0-9 Fujita Industries*Nissan Motors 3-1 Cosmo Oil*Hitachi 1-0 Yamaha Motors*TDK 1-0 Tokai University...
, 19961996 Emperor's Cup-1st Round:*Denso 3-1 Juntendo University*ブレイズ熊本 2-1 関西学院大学*ワールドブリッツ小山 0-7 Vissel Kobe*日本文理大学 1-3 Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima*海邦クラブ 0-4 Montedio Yamagata*ルネス学園甲賀SC 1-1 北海道教育大函館校*盛岡ゼブラ 0-5 Fujitsu*Fukuoka University 2-2 Albireo Niigata...
, 20042004 Emperor's Cup-1st Round:*Hiroshima Keizai University 4-0 三洋電機徳島*Tottori 3-2 TDK*Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima 3-2 ルネス学園甲賀*Alouette Kumamoto 5-2 三菱重工長崎*Oita TrinitaU-18 1-0 富士大学*Hachinohe University 3-1 Central Kobe... - Runners-up (3): 19811981 Emperor's Cup-1st Round:*Teijin 1-3 Toyota Motors*Mazda 1-2 九州産業大学*Dainichi Cable Industries 0-2 Nippon Steel*Yomiuri 2-0 大阪商業大学*Kawasaki Steel Mizushima 1-3 Matsushita Electric*Waseda University 6-0 五戸町役場...
, 1991, 19921992 Emperor's Cup-Overview:It was contested by 32 teams, and Yokohama Marinos won the championship.-1st Round:*Verdy Kawasaki 2-0 Fukuoka University*Yamaha Motors 4-0 東邦チタニウム*Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2-0 Doshisha University...
- Xerox Super Cup:
- Winners (4): 1984, 1994, 1995, 2005
- Runners-up (1): 1997
- Konica CupKonica Cup (football)The Konica Cup was a football cup competition in Japan, run by the Japan Soccer League as a prelude to the 1992 Summer Olympics. Only JSL First Division clubs were allowed to compete. Along with the JSL Cup it was a predecessor to the J. League Cup, but also involving the Japanese Olympic and Youth...
:
- Winners (1): 1990
Asia
- Asian Club Championship / AFC Champions LeagueAFC Champions LeagueThe AFC Champions League is the premier Asian club football competition hosted annually by Asian Football Confederation . The tournament is contested among the top thirty-two clubs from the top 10 Asian leagues, two of which must qualify through the playoffs...
:
- Winners (1): 1988
Other sports
Verdy is a polideportivoSports club
A sports club or sport club, sometimes athletics club or sports association is a club for the purpose of playing one or more sports...
and also fields teams in women's football, volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
, and triathlon
Triathlon
A triathlon is a multi-sport event involving the completion of three continuous and sequential endurance events. While many variations of the sport exist, triathlon, in its most popular form, involves swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances...
. Tokyo Verdy's women's football team is the 12 time L. League
L. League
The L. League is the top flight of women's association football in Japan. It is the women's equivalent of the J. League, but not professional. However, some individual players are professional.The league conssists of two divisions: division 1 has the nickname and division 2...
champion and 10 time All-Japan Women's Football Championship winners, NTV Beleza
NTV Beleza
, is a women's football team which plays in Division 1 of Japan's L. League.-Domestic Competitions:*L. League Division 1**Champions : 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010...
.