Avispa Fukuoka facts for kids
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Full name | Avispa Fukuoka | ||
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Nickname(s) | Avi, Hachi (Hornet, in Japanese), Meishu | ||
Founded | 1982 | as Chūō Bōhan SC||
Stadium | Best Denki Stadium Hakata-ku, Fukuoka |
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Stadium capacity |
22,563 | ||
Chairman | Takashi Kawamori | ||
Manager | Kim Myung-hwi | ||
League | J1 League | ||
2022 | J1 League, 14th of 18 | ||
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Avispa Fukuoka (アビスパ福岡, Abisupa Fukuoka) is a professional football club from Hakata, Fukuoka, Japan. They play in the J1 League, which is the highest level of football in Japan. The name "Avispa" means "wasp" in Spanish, which is why their nickname is "Hachi" (Hornet in Japanese).
Contents
- Club History
- Early Days in Fujieda
- Moving to Fukuoka (1994)
- Winning the JFL (1995)
- First Years in J.League (1996–1998)
- Staying in J1 (1999–2001)
- Years in J2 (2002–2005)
- Back to J1 (2006)
- More Time in J2 (2007–2009)
- Promotion to J1 (2010)
- Back in J1 (2011)
- Struggles in J2 (2012–2014)
- Another Promotion (2015)
- Back to J1 and Relegation (2016)
- J2 Play-offs (2017)
- Recent Years (2021–Present)
- Current Players
- Club Staff
- Managers Through the Years
- Team Kits and Colours
- League and Cup Records
- Club Achievements
- Partner Clubs
- See also
Club History
Early Days in Fujieda
The club started in 1982 as Chūō Bōhan SC in Fujieda, Shizuoka. It was formed by workers from a security company. They moved up to the Japan Soccer League Division 2 in 1991. In 1992, they joined the new Japan Football League Division 2 and were promoted to Division 1 in 1993. The club changed its name to Fujieda Blux, hoping to join the J.League. However, it was hard to find a stadium that met the J.League rules. Also, there were already many football fans in Shizuoka, supporting teams like Júbilo Iwata and Shimizu S-Pulse.
Moving to Fukuoka (1994)
Because of these challenges, the club decided to move to Fukuoka in 1994. The people in Fukuoka were very excited to have a J.League team. The club changed its name again to Fukuoka Blux. They became a partner club of the J.League.
Winning the JFL (1995)
In their first year in Fukuoka, the team won the Japan Football League championship. They had help from Argentine player Hugo Maradona. This win meant they were promoted to the J.League for the 1996 season.
First Years in J.League (1996–1998)
Fukuoka Blux changed its name one more time to Avispa Fukuoka. This was to avoid any problems with a clothing brand called Brooks Brothers. They brought in experienced players like Satoshi Tsunami and Hideaki Mori. Even with new players, they finished 15th in 1996.
For the next two seasons (1997 and 1998), they finished at the very bottom of the league. But they were lucky and avoided being sent down to a lower league. This was because the J.League was creating a new second division, J.League 2, for 1999. So, no teams were relegated directly. Avispa had to play in special play-off games to stay up. During this time, players like Yoshiteru Yamashita and Chikara Fujimoto were chosen to play for the Japanese national team.
Staying in J1 (1999–2001)
In 1999, Avispa added more strong players, including former national team members Nobuyuki Kojima and Yasutoshi Miura, and Yugoslavian player Nenad Maslovar. They fought hard and managed to stay in the top league. In 2000, Argentine player David Bisconti and Romanian player Pavel Badea joined the team. Avispa had their best finish ever in the second half of the season, coming in 6th place. In 2001, they signed former Korean international Noh Jung-Yoon and Yoshika Matsubara. However, they finished 15th and were moved down to J2.
Years in J2 (2002–2005)
After being relegated, Avispa kept their experienced players but let go of some younger ones in 2002. They finished 8th out of 10 teams. In 2003, with new manager Hiroshi Matsuda, the team decided to focus on finding and training young players from local high schools. They struggled at first but improved and finished 4th. In 2004, they finished 3rd and got to play in the promotion play-offs. But Kashiwa Reysol beat them twice, stopping their chance to go back to J1. In 2005, they finished 2nd and automatically moved up to J1. Two Avispa players, Hokuto Nakamura and Tomokazu Nagira, played for Japan in the 2005 World Youth Championship.
Back to J1 (2006)
In 2006, Avispa was in a tough fight to avoid relegation from the start of the season. They finished 16th and were sent back to J2 after losing in the play-offs against Vissel Kobe.
More Time in J2 (2007–2009)
After being relegated, the team got a new manager, Pierre Littbarski, a former German international player. He brought in some experienced players, but Avispa didn't have much success. They finished 7th in 2007. Because they weren't doing well near the top of the league, Littbarski was replaced by former Avispa player Yoshiyuki Shinoda in 2008.
In 2009, many of the Australian players left, and the club brought in younger players from universities. After a good start, Avispa's performance dropped. They finished in the lower half of the J2 table, and their hopes for promotion were gone for another year.
Promotion to J1 (2010)
Manager Yoshiyuki Shinoda added more players from local universities for the 2010 season. They also signed midfielders Kosuke Nakamachi and Genki Nagasato. The season started slowly, but then the team improved a lot. They won 17 of their next 25 games, including a comeback win against rivals JEF United. Avispa secured their promotion back to J1 with two games left in the season.
Back in J1 (2011)
Moving up to J1 meant some big changes to the team. New players joined to help with defense and scoring goals. Many experts thought the team would finish last. The players struggled to work together and didn't earn any points in their first 13 games. Even though they improved a bit later, manager Shinoda left and was replaced by Tetsuya Asano.
Results got better, including a big 6–0 away win. But the club couldn't get out of the relegation zone. They finished 17th and were sent back to J2. At the end of the season, Koji Maeda became the new manager.
Struggles in J2 (2012–2014)
In 2012, the team hoped to return to J1 right away. Instead, they had their worst season ever, finishing 18th. They won only 9 games and let in 68 goals. Manager Koji Maeda left the club, and they planned to rebuild for 2013.
In 2013, Slovenian manager Marijan Pusnik joined the team. He focused on helping young players grow. Rookies Yuta Mishima and Takeshi Kanamori got chances to play. The team's performance got better, and they were competing for play-off spots. However, they had a slump, and the club needed money to keep going. They finished 14th but found the money to stay afloat. Pusnik agreed to stay for another season. In 2014, Avispa finished 16th, and Pusnik's contract was not renewed.
Another Promotion (2015)
The club hired a new coach, Masami Ihara. He had previously coached Kashiwa Reysol. Avispa finished third in J2 and won the promotion play-offs, moving back up to J1.
Back to J1 and Relegation (2016)
In 2016, Avispa finished 18th in J1 and was relegated back to J2.
J2 Play-offs (2017)
In 2017, Avispa finished fourth in J2. They won their semi-final play-off game against Tokyo Verdy 1–0. However, in the final game, they had a 0-0 draw with Nagoya Grampus. This meant Nagoya Grampus finished higher and Avispa could not be promoted to J1.
Recent Years (2021–Present)
Avispa finished second in the 2020 J2 League, which meant they returned to the J1 League for the first time since 2016.
On November 4, 2023, Avispa won the J.League Cup! They beat Urawa Red Diamonds 2–1 in the final. This was the first major trophy in the club's history, a huge achievement!
On October 31, 2024, it was announced that head coach Shigetoshi Hasebe, who led Avispa for five years, would be leaving the club at the end of the season.
Current Players
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Players on Loan
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Club Staff
Position | Staff |
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Manager | ![]() |
Assistant manager | ![]() |
Coaches | ![]() ![]() |
Goalkeeping coach | ![]() |
Conditioning coach | ![]() |
Interpreter | ![]() ![]() |
Chief trainer | ![]() |
Athletic trainer | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Kit manager | ![]() ![]() |
Competent | ![]() |
Managers Through the Years
Manager | Nationality | Tenure | |
---|---|---|---|
Start | Finish | ||
Yoshio Kikugawa | ![]() |
1 January 1982 | 31 December 1994 |
Jorge Olguín | ![]() |
1 July 1993 | 31 December 1995 |
Hidehiko Shimizu | ![]() |
1 February 1996 | 31 January 1997 |
Carlos Pachamé | ![]() |
1 January 1997 | 31 December 1997 |
Takaji Mori | ![]() |
1 February 1998 | 31 January 1999 |
Yoshio Kikugawa | ![]() |
1 January 1999 | 31 December 1999 |
Nestor Omar Piccoli | ![]() |
1 January 2000 | 31 December 2001 |
Masataka Imai | ![]() |
1 February 2002 | 28 July 2002 |
Tasuya Mochizuki | ![]() |
29 July 2002 | 14 August 2002 |
Shigekazu Nakamura | ![]() |
15 August 2002 | 31 January 2003 |
Hiroshi Matsuda | ![]() |
1 February 2003 | 7 May 2006 |
Ryōichi Kawakatsu | ![]() |
8 May 2006 | 31 January 2007 |
Hitoshi Okino | ![]() |
11 December 2006 | 31 January 2007 |
Pierre Littbarski | ![]() |
1 February 2007 | 11 July 2008 |
Yoshiyuki Shinoda | ![]() |
15 July 2008 | 3 August 2011 |
Tetsuya Asano | ![]() |
3 August 2011 | 31 December 2011 |
Kōji Maeda | ![]() |
1 January 2012 | 28 October 2012 |
Futoshi Ikeda | ![]() |
29 October 2012 | 31 January 2013 |
Marijan Pušnik | ![]() |
1 January 2013 | 31 December 2014 |
Masami Ihara | ![]() |
1 February 2015 | 31 January 2019 |
Fabio Pecchia | ![]() |
1 February 2019 | 3 June 2019 |
Kiyokazu Kudō | ![]() |
4 June 2019 | 31 January 2020 |
Shigetoshi Hasebe | ![]() |
1 February 2020 | 31 January 2025 |
Kim Myung-hwi | ![]() |
1 February 2025 | Current |
Team Kits and Colours
Season(s) | Main Shirt Sponsor | Collarbone Sponsor | Additional Sponsor(s) | Kit Manufacturer | |||||
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2018 | FJ. Fukuoka Estate |
Hakata Green Hotel (Left) | - | Shin Nihon Seiyaku | PIETRO | Hakata Nakasu Fukuya | BIKEN TECHNO | Before the ban is lifted | YONEX |
2019 | |||||||||
2020 | Plantel EX | PIETRO | |||||||
2021 | Shin Nihon Seiyaku | Japan Park (Right) | DMM Hoken | Yupiesu | -/ BYBIT |
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2022 | DMM Hoken | BYBIT | KIRIN Beverage | ||||||
2023 | Agekke | DMM TV | Hakata Nakasu Fukuya | ||||||
2024 | APAMAN |
Kit Evolution
Home 1st | ||||
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Away 2nd | ||||
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Alternate 3rd / Special | ||||
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 20th Anniversary |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Bee Festival Memorial |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Bee Festival Memorial |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Hachimatsuri Memorial |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 25th Anniversary |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Autumn Formation |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() SP |
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League and Cup Records
Champions | Runners-up | Third place | Promoted | Relegated |
League | J.League Cup | Emperor's Cup |
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Season | Div. | Teams | Pos. | P | W (OT/PK) | D | L (OT/PK) | F | A | GD | Pts | Attendance/G | ||
1996 | J1 | 16 | 15th | 30 | 9 (–/–) | – | 19 (–/2) | 42 | 64 | –22 | 29 | 9,737 | Group stage | Round of 16 |
1997 | 17 | 17th | 32 | 6 (–/1) | – | 20 ((5/–) | 29 | 58 | –29 | 19 | 8,653 | Group stage | Round of 16 | |
1998 | 18 | 18th | 34 | 6 (1/1) | – | 22 ((2/2) | 29 | 69 | –40 | 21 | 10,035 | Group stage | Round of 16 | |
1999 | 16 | 14th | 30 | 7 (3/–) | 1 | 18 (1/–) | 41 | 59 | –18 | 28 | 11,467 | 2nd round | Round of 16 | |
2000 | 16 | 12th | 30 | 9 (4/–) | 2 | 10 (5/–) | 41 | 48 | –7 | 37 | 13,612 | 2nd round | Round of 16 | |
2001 | 16 | 15th | 30 | 7 (2/–) | 2 | 14 (5/–) | 35 | 56 | –21 | 27 | 13,822 | 2nd round | 3rd round | |
2002 | J2 | 12 | 8th | 44 | 10 | 12 | 22 | 58 | 69 | –11 | 42 | 6,491 | Not eligible | Round of 16 |
2003 | 12 | 4th | 44 | 21 | 8 | 15 | 67 | 62 | 5 | 71 | 7,417 | 3rd round | ||
2004 | 12 | 3rd | 44 | 23 | 7 | 14 | 56 | 41 | 15 | 76 | 8,743 | 4th round | ||
2005 | 12 | 2nd | 44 | 21 | 15 | 8 | 72 | 64 | 8 | 78 | 10,786 | 4th round | ||
2006 | J1 | 18 | 16th | 34 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 32 | 56 | –24 | 27 | 13,780 | Group stage | Round of 16 |
2007 | J2 | 13 | 7th | 48 | 22 | 7 | 19 | 77 | 61 | 16 | 73 | 9,529 | Not eligible | 4th round |
2008 | 15 | 8th | 42 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 55 | 66 | –10 | 58 | 10,079 | 3rd round | ||
2009 | 18 | 11th | 51 | 17 | 14 | 20 | 52 | 71 | –19 | 65 | 7,763 | 3rd round | ||
2010 | 19 | 3rd | 36 | 21 | 9 | 6 | 63 | 34 | 29 | 69 | 8,821 | Quarter-finals | ||
2011 | J1 | 18 | 17th | 34 | 6 | 4 | 24 | 34 | 75 | –42 | 22 | 10,415 | Group stage | 3rd round |
2012 | J2 | 22 | 18th | 42 | 9 | 14 | 19 | 53 | 68 | –15 | 41 | 5,586 | Not eligible | 3rd round |
2013 | 22 | 14th | 42 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 47 | 54 | –7 | 56 | 5,727 | 2nd round | ||
2014 | 22 | 16th | 42 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 52 | 60 | –8 | 50 | 5,062 | 2nd round | ||
2015 | 22 | 3rd | 42 | 24 | 10 | 8 | 63 | 37 | 26 | 82 | 8,736 | 3rd round | ||
2016 | J1 | 18 | 18th | 34 | 4 | 7 | 23 | 26 | 66 | –40 | 19 | 12,857 | Quarter-finals | 2nd round |
2017 | J2 | 22 | 4th | 42 | 21 | 11 | 10 | 54 | 36 | 18 | 74 | 9,550 | Not eligible | 3rd round |
2018 | 22 | 7th | 42 | 19 | 13 | 10 | 58 | 42 | 16 | 70 | 8,873 | 3rd round | ||
2019 | 22 | 16th | 42 | 12 | 8 | 22 | 39 | 62 | –23 | 44 | 6,983 | 3rd round | ||
2020 † | 22 | 2nd | 42 | 25 | 9 | 8 | 51 | 29 | 22 | 84 | 3,289 | Did not qualify | ||
2021 | J1 | 20 | 8th | 38 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 42 | 37 | 5 | 54 | 5,403 | Group stage | 3rd round |
2022 | 18 | 14th | 34 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 29 | 38 | –9 | 38 | 7,150 | Semi-finals | Quarter-finals | |
2023 | 18 | 7th | 34 | 15 | 6 | 13 | 37 | 43 | -6 | 51 | 8,689 | Winners | Semi-finals | |
2024 | 20 | 12th | 38 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 33 | 38 | -5 | 50 | 9,698 | 3rd Round | 3rd round | |
2025 | 20 | TBA | 38 | TBD | TBD |
- Key
- Attendance/G = Average home league attendance
- † 2020 season attendance reduced due to COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
- Source: J.League Data Site
Club Achievements
Honour | No. | Years |
---|---|---|
All Japan Senior Football Championship | 2 | 1989, 1990 |
Japan Football League Division 2 (third tier) | 1 | 1992 |
Japan Football League (second tier) | 1 | 1995 |
J.League Cup | 1 | 2023 |
Partner Clubs
See also
In Spanish: Avispa Fukuoka para niños