Sanfrecce Hiroshima

History

1938–1991

The club was a former company team of Toyo Kogyo, Toyo Kogyo Soccer Club in 1938 and played in the semi-professional Japan Soccer League.

The club was an original founder ("Original Eight") of the now-disbanded Japan Soccer League (JSL) in 1965. They dominated the JSL's early years, winning the title 4 times in a row – a feat that was later equaled by Yomiuri SC/Verdy Kawasaki. The name change was made at Mazda SC in 1981.

During the 1969 season, they participated in the Asian Club Cup, forerunner to today's AFC Champions League; at the time, the tournament was done in a single locale (in that year it was Bangkok, Thailand), and they ended up in third place, the first participation of a Japanese club in the continental tournament. This also cost them the league title to Mitsubishi/Urawa, and although they won another title in 1970, since then the club has been out of the running for the title, with exceptional seasons such as 1994 when they won runner-up.

The Toyo Industries that became the first JSL champions also completed the first double by taking the Emperor's Cup. They were also the first of three "Invincibles", undefeated champion clubs in Japan (the others were Mitsubishi in 1969 and Yamaha in 1987–88), although only Toyo completed a double.

Ogi Matsumoto and Yasuyuki Kuwahara went on to win the 1968 Olympic bronze medal for the Japan national team.

1992–present

When JSL disbanded and became the J.League in 1992, it dropped the company name and became Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Alongside JEF United Ichihara Chiba and Urawa Red Diamonds they co-founded both leagues ("Original Ten").

First league title

In 2002, Sanfrecce became the first former stage winner (first stage, 1994) to be relegated to the lower division, J2 League. But it only spent a year there, finishing second the very next season to regain promotion back to J1. The club finished 16th in the 2007 season and were relegated to J2 League after they were beaten by Kyoto Sanga in the promotion/relegation play-off. In the following season in 2008, Sanfrecce nevertheless won the J2 League title at the first attempt, having 84 points (a difference of 25 points with the runner-up clubs) with six matches left.

By virtue of earning fourth place in the 2009 season and Gamba Osaka retaining the Emperor's Cup, Sanfrecce qualified for the 2010 AFC Champions League where they were knocked out in the group stage.

Back-to-back league title

On 24 November 2012, Sanfrecce defeated Cerezo Osaka 4–1 to seal their first ever J1 league title with 64 points thus qualifying to the 2012 FIFA Club World Cup as host and also qualifying to the 2013 AFC Champions League. Three individual awards was given individually with Hajime Moriyasu winning the 'Manager of the Year' award and Hisato Satō winning both the 'Most Valuable Player' award and the 'Top Scorer' award with 22 goals. Sanfreece players Shusaku Nishikawa, Hiroki Mizumoto, Toshihiro Aoyama, Yojiro Takahagi and Hisato Satō was included in the 2012 'Best Eleven' of the season. Sanfreece then played in the FIFA Club World Cup play-off in December where Toshihiro Aoyama scored the only goal against OFC Champions League winners Auckland City to send the team to the quarter-finals. However, Sanfreece suffered a 2–1 defeat to CAF Champions League winners Al Ahly thus failing to qualified to the semi-finals and having the need to play for a 5th place where Sanfreece face AFC Champions League winners Ulsan Hyundai where the team won 3–2.

Sanfrecce then started off the 2013 season in the Japanese Super Cup on 23 February 2013 against 2012 Emperor's Cup winners Kashiwa Reysol. where Hisato Satō scored the only goal in the match to lift the cup. However, in the 2013 AFC Champions League, Sanfrecce suffered a rock bottom group stage finished with only 3 points thus being knock out. On 7 December 2013, Sanfrecce defeated Kashima Antlers 2–0, securing their second J1 League title with 63 points following a thrilling finish to the season which saw first-place Yokohama F. Marinos losing their final league game ending with 62 points, handing Sanfrecce the title. With their second consecutive title win, Sanfrecce became the second club to successfully defend their crown since Kashima Antlers in 2009. Sanfreecce then qualified to the 2014 AFC Champions League.

Sanfrecce started off the 2014 season on 22 February 2014 during the Japanese Super Cup against 2013 Emperor's Cup winners Yokohama F. Marinos where Gakuto Notsuda and Takuma Asano went on to score the goal to secure a 2–0 win. In the 2014 AFC Champions League, Sanfrecce finished as runners-up in the group stage thus seeing the club advance to the round of 16 for the first time in the club history. Sanfreecce was drawn against Australian club Western Sydney Wanderers where the match ended up in a 3–3 aggerate however, due to away goal rules, the club was knocked out to the eventual cup winners.

During the 2015 season proved to be a great year for Sanfrecce, finishing 1st in the 2nd half of the season, then finishing 1st overall, just 2 points above Urawa Red Diamonds, to win their third J1 League title thus qualifying and representing Japan in that year's FIFA Club World Cup. The club started off playing in the play-off round where they won against OFC Champions League winners Auckland City 2–0 thus qualifying to the quarter-finals facing off against CAF Champions League winners TP Mazembe where Sanfrecce won them 3–0 advancing to the semi-finals to play against the Copa Libertadores winners River Plate. The club ended up losing the match 1–0 where they would ended up playing for a 3rd placing match against Chinese side Guanzhou Evergrande where Sanfrecce won 2–1 to finished in third place.

After the three-year reign

In the 2018 season, after Sanfrecce progressively trailing towards a J1 League title, as it led the standings after Round 5, the club fell down to 2nd-place at the end of the season. The club saw Kawasaki Frontale win the league as Sanfrecce lost four of their last five league matches.

In 2022, the club was relieved to experience another good season, under the management of newly appointed German coach Michael Skibbe. Underrated by many because of the previous season, the club fought for the title at every competition it played until the very end. The Violas finished 3rd place at the J1 League, as runners-up to J2 club Ventforet Kofu in the Emperor's Cup final, and as J.League Cup champions. The J.League Cup was won in dramatic fashion against Cerezo Osaka, as the club managed to comeback from a 1–0 loss with two goals scored by mid-season Cypriot signing Pieros Sotiriou. Both goals came very late in the match, being scored at the 96th and 101st minute of the match, during the added time of the second half. For his efforts to make the team competitive at every competition Sanfrecce partook in, Skibbe won J.League Manager of the Year, the club's 4th 'Manager of the Year' award.

On 20 June 2024, AFC confirmed Sanfrecce would participate in the inaugural 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two group stage, marking their first appearance in a second-tier continental competition. Sanfrecce was drawn in Group E alongside Australian Sydney FC, Philippines Kaya–Iloilo and Hong Kong Eastern. On 19 September Sanfreece made their debut in the tournament by playing Kaya–Iloilo at home, winning 3–0. Sanfrecce went on to top the group stage with five wins and a draw. In the round of 16, Sanfrecce faced Vietnamese Nam Định, defeating them by 7–0 on aggregate. In the quarter-finals, they were paired with another Southeast Asia side, Singaporean Lion City Sailors. Playing at home, Sanfrecce won the first leg by 6–1. However, the AFC decided to declare a 3–0 win to Lion City Sailors and a US$1,000 fine to Sanfrecce. The punishment came as Sanfrecce fielded their newly signed player Valère Germain, who was supposed to be serving a three-match suspension while playing for his previous club. Away in Singapore, Sanfrecce drew 1–1, being consequently knocked out of the competition by a 4–1 loss on aggregate. In the 2024 season, Sanfrecce finished the league as runners-up with 4 points short away from league winners but the club sees themselves qualifying to the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite.

Affiliated clubs

• GER 1.FC Köln

On 15 August 2021, Sanfrecce Hiroshima signed partnership with German Bundesliga side, 1.FC Köln where both club are building up their international relations and have entered a co-operation with J.League club Sanfrecce for the coming two-and-a-half years. The partnership will centre on Sport and Management. The co-operation sees the Germany side continue its internationalisation strategy, which is an important part of the Matchplan.

In the sporting sector, the co-operation includes coaching courses, training camp and intensive discussions surrounding the youth academy and scouting at both clubs have set themselves the goal that they should be amongst the best clubs in the league at academy level. As for the management side of the partnership, seminars are planned in Hiroshima and Köln, where those in charge of departments from both clubs will come together to work on a strategy going forward.

Club name

The club name is a portmanteau of the Japanese word for three, San and the Italian word frecce, which means 'arrows'. This is based on the story of the feudal lord Mōri Motonari who told his three sons that while a single arrow might be easily snapped, three arrows held together would not be broken and urged them to work for the good of the clan and its retainers.

Former names

• 1938–70: Toyo Kogyo Shukyu Club
  • 1943–46: Football was suspended during the period, due to the Pacific War.
• 1971–80: Toyo Kogyo Soccer Club
• 1981–83: Mazda Sports Club Toyo Kogyo Soccer Club
• 1984–85: Mazda Sports Club Soccer Club
• 1986–92: Mazda Soccer Club

Home stadium

The club's home town is Hiroshima and the side plays at Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima. Previously, the side played at EDION Stadium Hiroshima and Hiroshima Prefectural Stadium. It holds training sessions at Yoshida Soccer Park in Akitakata, Hiroshima and Hiroshima 1st Ball Park until 2023. It has a capacity of 36,894.

Sanfrecce moved to a new stadium in 2024, which has been named Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima. Construction started in 2021 and opened in 2024. Sanfrecce's first competitive match at the new stadium was against Urawa Red Diamonds on 23 February 2024, attracted an attendance of 27,545 spectators.

Kit and colours

Colours

The main colour of Sanfrecce Hiroshima is purple.

Kit evolution

Players

Current squad

Out on loan

Club officials

Honours

As Toyo Kogyo SC and Mazda SC (amateur era) as well as Sanfrecce Hiroshima (professional era)

Personnel awards

Domestic

• J.League Player of the Year
  • Japan Hisato Satō (2012)
  • Japan Toshihiro Aoyama (2015)
• J.League Top Scorer
  • Japan Hisato Satō (2012)
• J.League Best Eleven
  • Japan Takuya Takagi (1994)
  • Japan Hisato Satō (2005, 2012)
  • Japan Tomoaki Makino (2010)
  • Japan Hiroki Mizumoto (2012)
  • Japan Shusaku Nishikawa (2012, 2013)
  • Japan Toshihiro Aoyama (2012, 2013, 2015)
  • Japan Yojiro Takahagi (2012)
  • Japan Tsukasa Shiotani (2014, 2015)
  • Brazil Douglas (2015)
  • Japan Keisuke Osako (2024)
  • Japan Sho Sasaki (2024)
• J.League Rookie of the Year
  • Japan Kazuyuki Morisaki (2000)
  • Japan Takuma Asano (2015)
• J.League Manager of the Year
  • Japan Hajime Moriyasu (2012, 2013, 2015)
  • Germany Michael Skibbe (2022, 2024)
• J.League Cup New Hero Award
  • Japan Yojiro Takahagi (2010)
  • Japan Yotaro Nakajima (2025)

International

• FIFA Club World Cup Top Scorer
  • Japan Hisato Satō (2012)
• FIFA Puskás Award nominee
  • Japan Hisato Satō (2014)

Continental record

Managerial history

J.League records

;Key

• Pos. = Position in league
• Attendance/G = Average home league attendance
• † 2020 & 2021 seasons attendances reduced by COVID-19 worldwide pandemic
• Source: J.League Data Site

League history

• Division 1 (Japan Soccer League Div. 1): 1965–1983 (as Toyo 1965–1980, as Mazda 1981–)
• Division 2 (Japan Soccer League Div. 2): 1984–1985
• Division 1 (Japan Soccer League Div. 1): 1986/87–1987/88
• Division 2 (Japan Soccer League Div. 2): 1988/89–1990/91
• Division 1 (Japan Soccer League Div. 1): 1991/92
• Division 1 (J.League/J. League Div. 1): 1993–2002 (as Sanfrecce Hiroshima)
• Division 2 (J.League Div. 2): 2003
• Division 1 (J.League Div. 1): 2004–2007
• Division 2 (J.League Div. 2): 2008
• Division 1 (J.League Div. 1/J1 League): 2009–present

Total (): 51 seasons in the top tier and 7 seasons in the second tier.

Notes

References

References

1. "SOCCER/ Hiroshima capture first J-League title – AJW by The Asahi Shimbun". Ajw.asahi.com.
2. (September 2024). "Hiroshima capture first J-League title | Football". Football.uk.reuters.com.
3. "Lion City Sailors awarded win in AFC Champions League 2 game after Japan's Sanfrecce fielded ineligible player".
4. (9 March 2025). "Lion City Sailors awarded 3-0 first-leg quarter-final win over Sanfrecce Hiroshima in Asian Champions League 2". The Straits Times.
5. Chaudhuri, Arunava. (15 September 2021). "1.FC Köln & Sanfrecce Hiroshima announce new partnership!".
6. [http://www.sanfrecce.co.jp/en/ Club Profile: Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC] {{webarchive. link. (13 March 2010)
7. "Attendance at Urawa game".
8. "トップチーム選手". Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
9. "Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC players". Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
10. "J. League Data Site".