Matsumoto Yamaga FC facts for kids
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| Full name | Matsumoto Yamaga Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Ptarmigans, Gans | ||
| Founded | 1965 as Yamaga Club 2004 as Matsumoto Yamaga |
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| Stadium | Matsumoto Stadium (Alwin) Matsumoto, Nagano |
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| Stadium capacity |
20,396 | ||
| Chairman | Fumiyuki Kanda | ||
| Manager | Masahiro Shimoda | ||
| League | J3 League | ||
| 2022 | J3 League, 4th of 18 | ||
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Matsumoto Yamaga Football Club (松本山雅フットボールクラブ, Matsumoto Yamaga Futtobōru Kurabu) is a Japanese football (soccer) team. They are based in the city of Matsumoto in Nagano Prefecture. The club plays in the J3 League, which is the third level of professional football in Japan.
Contents
Club History
The club started in 1965. It was founded by players who played for Nagano Prefecture. These players often met at a cafe called Yamaga near the Matsumoto railway station. Because of this, they were first called Yamaga Club.
In 2004, the club changed its name to Matsumoto Yamaga. This happened when a group called Alwin Sports Project was formed to help the club. Their goal was to help the team get promoted to the J. League, which is Japan's top football league. The original coffee shop where the club began is no longer there, but the club opened a new one in 2017.
Climbing the Ranks
In 2007 and 2008, Matsumoto Yamaga played in the Hokushin'etsu First Division. They finished 1st in 2007 and 4th in 2008. However, they couldn't get promoted to the Japan Football League (JFL) yet.
In 2008, they had an exciting run in the Emperor's Cup. They beat a strong team, Shonan Bellmare, in a penalty shootout. This was a big surprise! But they were later knocked out by Vissel Kobe.
The 2009 season was a mix of good and bad results. They finished 4th in their regional league. But they caused a huge upset in the Emperor's Cup. They beat Urawa Red Diamonds, one of Japan's biggest clubs!
Later in 2009, they won the Shakaijin Cup. This win helped them get into the Regional League promotion series. They won this series at home and were finally promoted to the Japan Football League for the 2010 season. In their first year in the JFL, they finished in 7th place.
Reaching the Top League
In 2011, even with challenges from the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, Yamaga finished 4th. This was good enough to get them promoted to the J. League Division 2.
After playing three seasons in J2, they achieved their biggest dream. They were promoted to the J1 League, Japan's top football league, for the first time! However, they were relegated back to J2 after just one season in J1.
They tried to get promoted again in 2016 and 2017 but didn't quite make it. Finally, in 2018, Yamaga finished at the very top of the J2 table. They won their first league title and earned automatic promotion back to J1!
Recent Seasons
After their promotion, the club faced some tough times. Before the 2020 J2 League season, many players left and new ones joined. This led to a difficult start in 2020. The team had many games without a win, including five losses in a row. This was a record for the club in J2. Their manager, Keiichiro Nuno, was replaced in September 2020. The team finished 13th that season.
Things continued to be challenging in 2021 J2 League. More players left, and new ones arrived. The new manager, Kei Shibata, was also replaced in June. Hiroshi Nanami took over, but he couldn't stop the team from being relegated. They finished last in J2 that season.
In 2022, Matsumoto Yamaga played in the J3 League for the first time. They hoped to get promoted back to J2. They finished fourth in the 2022 J3 League season. They had the same number of points as Kagoshima United, but Kagoshima had a better goal difference. This meant Matsumoto Yamaga missed out on promotion. The club will play its third season in J3 in 2024.
Club Rivalry
Matsumoto Yamaga has a big rivalry with their neighbors, Nagano Parceiro. These two teams are from the same prefecture. Their matches are called the "Shinshū derby." These games are very exciting for fans in both cities! In 2011, Nagano Parceiro joined Matsumoto Yamaga in the JFL, bringing their derby to a national level.
Home Stadium
Matsumoto Yamaga plays their home games at Matsumoto Stadium. People often call it Alwin. It's located in the Kambayashi area of Matsumoto city. The stadium can hold 20,000 people. It is the third largest sports stadium in Nagano Prefecture.
Club Mascot
The club's mascot is named "Gans-kun" (ガンズくん). He is a Ptarmigan (ターミガン, Tāmigan). The ptarmigan is a special bird and the symbol of Nagano Prefecture.
Club Theme Song
The team's theme song is "wanna be a superstar." It's performed by a local rock band called ASIAN2.
Affiliated Clubs
Geylang International (since 2016)
Matsumoto Yamaga has a partnership with Geylang International FC from Singapore. This partnership helps both clubs share ideas and knowledge to improve football. They can exchange players and coaches for training.
Club Honours
Matsumoto Yamaga FC has won several titles:
| Honour | No. | Years |
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| Hokushin'etsu Football League Div. 1 | 2 | 1985, 2007 |
| Hokushin'etsu Football League Div. 2 | 1 | 2005 |
| Shakaijin Cup | 1 | 2009 |
| Regional League promotion series | 1 | 2009 |
| J2 League | 1 | 2018 |
Current Squad
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Players on Loan
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Images for kids
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Matsumoto Stadium (Alwin)
See also
In Spanish: Matsumoto Yamaga F. C. para niños
