Kyoto Sanga FC facts for kids
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| Full name | Kyoto Sanga Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Sanga | ||
| Founded | 1922, as Kyoto Shiko Club (京都紫光クラブ) |
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| Ground | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera Kameoka, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan |
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| Capacity | 21,600 | ||
| Owner | Kyoto Purple Sanga Co., Ltd. | ||
| Chairman | Masaaki Ito | ||
| Manager | Cho Kwi-jae | ||
| League | J1 League | ||
| 2022 | J1 League, 13th of 18 | ||
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| Public | |
| Industry | Sports |
| Founded | January 13, 1994 in Kyoto, Japan |
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Key people
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Hiroshi Imai (Chairman) Kazuo Inamori (Honorary President) |
| Products | Football club |
| Revenue |  ¥ 2140 million (2014) |
| Owners | Kyocera (55.4%) Nintendo (16.6%) |
Kyoto Sanga (京都サンガ) is a professional football club from Kyoto, Japan. They play in the J1 League, which is the top football league in Japan. The name "Sanga" comes from a Sanskrit word meaning "group" or "club." It also connects the team to Kyoto's many Buddhist temples.
The club used to be called Kyoto Purple Sanga. "Purple" was chosen because it is the color of their uniforms. It is also an important imperial color, showing Kyoto's history as Japan's old capital city. In 2007, the team changed its name to "Kyoto Sanga." They are the oldest club that plays in the J.League.
Kyoto Sanga has won the J2 League title two times. They have also won the Emperor's Cup once.
Contents
Club History
The club started in 1922 as Kyoto Shiko Club. It was one of the few Japanese football clubs that focused only on football, not being part of a company. In 1993, after the J.League began, Kyoto Shiko Club became a professional team. This happened with help from new local sponsors like Kyocera and Nintendo. The club then joined the Japan Football League and changed its name to Kyoto Purple Sanga.
Kyoto Purple Sanga joined the J.League in 1996. They have been moved down to a lower league (relegated) three times. This happened at the end of the 2000, 2003, and 2006 seasons. The 2003 relegation was surprising because they had many national team players. Famous players like Park Ji-sung and Daisuke Matsui were on their team then.
In December 2007, the club moved up to the J1 League for the fourth time. They did this through a special playoff game. At this time, they shortened their name to Kyoto Sanga. However, in November 2010, they were moved back down to J2. This ended their three years in the top league.
In the 2021 season, Kyoto Sanga returned to the J1 League after 11 years. They finished as the second-best team that year. In 2022, Kyoto Sanga stayed in the J1 League. They achieved this by drawing 1–1 against Roasso Kumamoto in a special playoff game.
Team Colors and Kits
Why Purple?
Kyoto Sanga is known for its purple color. The original club, Kyoto Shiko Club, also wore purple. The word "Shiko" (紫光) means "brilliant purple." This color has always been part of the team's identity.
Home Stadium
Kyoto Sanga used to play most of their home games at the Takebishi Stadium Kyoto. This stadium can hold up to 20,588 fans and was built in 1942.
Sanga Stadium by Kyocera
In 2019, Kyoto Sanga announced plans for a new stadium. They moved to their new home, the Sanga Stadium by Kyocera, on January 11, 2020. This is the first stadium in Kyoto built just for professional football. A company called Kyocera bought the rights to name the stadium. They signed a 20-year deal for ¥2 billion.
Current Squad
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Players on Loan
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Club Achievements
Kyoto Sanga has won several important titles:
- Kansai Soccer League: 4 times (1969, 1971, 1979, 1988)
- Shakaijin Cup: 1 time (1988)
- J2 League: 2 times (2001, 2005)
- Emperor's Cup: 1 time (2002)
League History
Kyoto Sanga has played in different leagues throughout its history:
- Kansai Soccer League: 1966–1971 (as Kyoto Shiko Club)
- Division 2 (JSL Division 2): 1972–1978 (as Kyoto Shiko Club)
- Kansai Soccer League: 1979–1988 (as Kyoto Shiko Club)
- Division 2 (JSL Division 2): 1989–1991 (as Kyoto Shiko Club)
- Division 3 (Old JFL Division 2): 1992 (as Kyoto Shiko Club)
- Division 2 (Old JFL Division 1): 1993–1995 (as Kyoto Shiko Club 1993; Kyoto Purple Sanga afterwards)
- Division 1 (J1 League): 1996–2000 (as Kyoto Purple Sanga)
- Division 2 (J2 League): 2001 (as Kyoto Purple Sanga)
- Division 1 (J1 League): 2002–2003 (as Kyoto Purple Sanga)
- Division 2 (J2 League): 2004–2005 (as Kyoto Purple Sanga)
- Division 1 (J1 League): 2006 (as Kyoto Purple Sanga)
- Division 2 (J2 League): 2007
- Division 1 (J1 League): 2008–2010
- Division 2 (J2 League): 2011–2021
- Division 1 (J1 League): 2022–present
As of 2025, the club has spent 15 seasons in the top league, 28 seasons in the second league, 1 season in the third league, and 16 seasons in regional leagues.
See also
In Spanish: Kyoto Sanga FC para niños
