Sagan Tosu

History

In February 1997, Sagan was established as a new club which virtually took over Tosu Futures, which became insolvent in the previous month. They were admitted to participate in the Japan Football League from 1997 to 1998, as well as the J. League Cup in 1997 as a preferential measure, although J. League Associate Membership status was not awarded to Sagan. In 1999, they were admitted to the new J. League Division 2 (J2) as one of the "Original Ten," which were the ten first members of the J2. They remained at that league until their promotion to J1 at the end of the 2011 season. Little by little, Sagan Tosu started to establish itself as one of the top clubs in the country with the new President & Chief Operating Officer Minoru Takehara, who is also part owner of the club.

In their first season at the J1 League in 2012, confounding the prediction of many critics about their immediate relegation to J2, they maintained their position between 5th and 11th place all the way through the season, except on matchweek 2, in which they were ranked 13th. They were ranked third after the 33rd week, having a chance to qualify for the 2013 AFC Champions League if they hadn't lost to Yokohama F. Marinos in the last match of the season. However, they only lost to Yokohama by 0–1, wrapping up the season in 5th place, while Urawa Red Diamonds defeated Nagoya Grampus and were ranked 3rd. They also became the first club in Asia to sign a partnership with Warrior Sports, who sponsor many overseas clubs, including English side Liverpool.

In 2013, they made it to the semi-finals of the Emperor's Cup for the first time in the club's history, becoming the first club based in Kyushu to make it to the semi-finals of the Emperor's Cup since Nippon Steel Yawata had done so in the 1981 edition. In 2013, they invited the A-League team Sydney FC along with the former Italian international player Alessandro Del Piero for a Japan Tour for the first time.

In 2014, the club had their most successful season in the J1 League, being ranked on the top of the 2014 J1 League on the 1st, 2nd, 13th, and 18th matchweek. However, the club suddenly made an announcement on the 8th of August which announced the termination of the contract with the head coach Yoon Jung-Hwan, despite the apparently good season. During the course of the year, they continued on their international expansion and started a partnership with the Italian side Juventus for its Juventus Under-16 Japan Tour 2014. On 10 July 2018, the club reached an agreement with former FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League winner, Fernando Torres. The aging star would play 35 games for the side, netting 5 goals before finally hanging up his boots on his star-studded career.

On 19 October 2024, Sagan Tosu officially relegated to J2 League after defeat from Kyoto Sanga 2-0 and return to second tier after 13 years absence with four games left, ended in top tier at 13 years stint.

Kit and colours

Kit evolution

Current squad

Out on loan

Retired number

• 17 Japan Sakata Michitaka – A former professor of Saga University and the person which backed up in both the establishment of Tosu Futures and the team's revival as Sagan Tosu. He died due to kidney cancer on 7 January 2000. The number 17 indicates his day of death.

Club officials

Club official for 2025 season.

Managerial history

League & cup record

;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
• Attendance/G = Average home league attendance
• OTW / PKW = Overtime wins / Penalty kicks win 1997 & 1998 seasons – 1999, 2000, 2001 & 2002 Overtime wins only
• OTL / PKL = Overtime losses / Penalty kicks losses 1997 and 1998 seasons – 1999, 2000 & 2001 Overtime losses only
• † 2020 & 2021 seasons attendances were reduced by COVID-19 worldwide pandemic
• Source: J.League Data Site

References

References

1. [サガン、竹原氏が社長就任 「J1昇格と健全な経営」 http://www1.saga-s.co.jp/news/saga.0.1913106.article.html {{Webarchive. link. (2018-07-12 ])
2. [http://www.warriorfootball.com/teams/sagan-tosu Warrior Football – Sagan Tosu]
3. [https://www.sbnation.com/2013/7/24/4551614/sydney-sagan-tosu-j-league Sagan Tosu outlast Sydney FC in J-League friendly]
4. link
5. The Bianconeri Allievi fly to Japan [https://web.archive.org/web/20141021182836/http://www.juventus.com/juve/en/news/18%20june%202014%20allievi%20japan]
6. "TOP TEAM PLAYERS". Sagan Tosu.