Sanfrecce Hiroshima facts for kids
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| Full name | Sanfrecce Hiroshima Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Sanfrecce, Sanfre, Viola | ||
| Founded | 1938 as Toyo Kogyo SC | ||
| Ground | Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima | ||
| Capacity | 28,520 | ||
| Owner | EDION Mazda |
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| Chairman | Shingo Senda | ||
| Manager | Michael Skibbe | ||
| League | J1 League | ||
| 2022 | J1 League, 3rd of 18 | ||
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Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Japanese: サンフレッチェ広島, romanized: Sanfuretche Hiroshima) is a professional football club from Hiroshima, Japan. They play in the J1 League, which is the top football league in Japan. Sanfrecce is known as one of the most successful clubs in the country. They have won the J1 League title three times. They also hold the record for the most top-flight titles overall, with eight wins, including the older Japan Soccer League. The club has reached the Emperor's Cup final 15 times, more than any other team.
Sanfrecce has won 3 J1 League titles, 3 Emperor's Cup trophies, 1 J.League Cup, and 4 Japanese Super Cup titles. They have also played in the FIFA Club World Cup twice, most recently in 2015.
Contents
Club History and Achievements
Early Days as Mazda Team
The club started in 1938 as the Toyo Kogyo Soccer Club. It was a company team for Mazda. They played in the semi-professional Japan Soccer League. In 1965, they were one of the first eight teams to form this league. They were very strong in the early years, winning the title four times in a row. This was a big achievement! The club changed its name to Mazda SC in 1981.
When the Japan Soccer League became the J.League in 1992, the club dropped the company name. It became "Sanfrecce Hiroshima." They were one of the original ten teams in the new J.League. In 1969, they played in the Asian Club Cup, which is now called the AFC Champions League. They finished in third place, being the first Japanese club to play in this big Asian tournament.
Success in the 1960s
The Toyo Industries team was the first to win both the Japan Soccer League and the Emperor's Cup in the same year. This is called a "double." They were also one of only three Japanese clubs to win the league without losing a single game. Several players from the team, like Matsumoto, Ogi, and Yasuyuki Kuwahara, won a bronze medal at the 1968 Olympic Games with the Japanese national team.
The 2000s and Beyond
In 2002, Sanfrecce was moved down to the second division, J2. But they quickly bounced back! They finished second in J2 the next year and returned to the top league. In 2007, they were relegated again. However, in 2008, they won the J2 title easily and were promoted back to J1.
In 2012, Sanfrecce won their first ever J1 League title. This was a huge moment for the club! They won again in 2013, becoming only the second club to win two titles in a row. The year 2015 was also amazing for Sanfrecce. They won the J1 League title for the third time. This allowed them to represent Japan in the FIFA Club World Cup. They finished in an impressive third place in that global tournament.
In 2018, Sanfrecce was close to winning the J1 title again. They led the league for a long time but finished in second place. In 2022, under their new German coach Michael Skibbe, the team had another great season. They finished third in the J1 League. They were also runners-up in the Emperor's Cup final. Most excitingly, they won the J.League Cup in a very dramatic final match against Cerezo Osaka. They scored two late goals to win! Coach Skibbe won the J.League Manager of the Year award for his great work.
In 2024, Sanfrecce will play in the new 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two tournament. This is their first time in a second-tier Asian club competition.
Club Name and Meaning
The name "Sanfrecce Hiroshima" is special. It combines the Japanese word San, meaning 'three', with the Italian word frecce, meaning 'arrows'. This name comes from an old Japanese story about a feudal lord named Mōri Motonari. He taught his three sons that one arrow can be easily broken, but three arrows held together are strong and cannot be broken. He wanted them to work together. The club's name reminds the players to work as a strong team!
Past Names of the Club
- 1938–1970: Toyo Kogyo Shukyu Club
- (Football was paused from 1943–1946 due to the war.)
- 1971–1980: Toyo Kogyo Soccer Club
- 1981–1983: Mazda Sports Club Toyo Kogyo Soccer Club
- 1984–1985: Mazda Sports Club Soccer Club
- 1986–1992: Mazda Soccer Club
Home Stadium
Sanfrecce Hiroshima plays its home games in Hiroshima. Their current stadium is called Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima. It opened in 2024 and can hold 28,520 fans. Before this, they played at EDION Stadium Hiroshima. The first game at the new stadium was on February 23, 2024, against Urawa Red Diamonds. Over 27,000 people came to watch!
Club Colours
The main colour of Sanfrecce Hiroshima is purple.
Players and Staff
Current Squad
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Players on Loan
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Sanfrecce Hiroshima U-18 Team
The Sanfrecce Hiroshima U-18 team plays in the Prince Takamado U-18 Premier League. This is the top league for youth football clubs in Japan.
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Club Officials
| Position | Name |
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| Manager |  Michael Skibbe |
| Assistant manager |  Serhat Umar Kenji Arima |
| First-team coach | Shinya Sakoi Masaru Misuno Yoshifumi Matsuo |
| Goalkeeping coach | Shinkichi Kikuchi Takuto Hayashi |
| Physical coach | Minekazu Isobe |
Club Honours and Awards
Sanfrecce Hiroshima has won many titles over the years, both as Toyo Kogyo SC and Mazda SC, and as Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
| Honour | No. | Years |
|---|---|---|
| All Japan Works Football Championship | 1 | 1956, 1962 |
| Japan Soccer League Division 1 | 5 | 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970 |
| Emperor's Cup | 3 | 1965, 1967, 1969 |
| NHK Super Cup | 1 | 1967 |
| J2 League | 1 | 2008 |
| Japanese Super Cup | 4 | 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 |
| J1 League | 3 | 2012, 2013, 2015 |
| J.League Cup | 1 | 2022 |
Individual Player Awards
Many players and coaches from Sanfrecce Hiroshima have won special awards:
- J.League Player of the Year
- Hisato Satō (2012)
- Toshihiro Aoyama (2015)
- J.League Top Scorer
- Hisato Satō (2012)
- J.League Best Eleven (Top 11 players in the league)
- Players like Hisato Satō, Toshihiro Aoyama, and Tsukasa Shiotani have been chosen multiple times.
- J.League Rookie of the Year
- Kazuyuki Morisaki (2000)
- Takuma Asano (2015)
- J.League Cup New Hero Award
- Yojiro Takahagi (2010)
- J.League Manager of the Year
- Hajime Moriyasu (2012, 2013, 2015)
- Michael Skibbe (2022)
- FIFA Club World Cup Top Scorer
- Hisato Satō (2012)
League History Overview
Sanfrecce Hiroshima has spent most of its history in the top football league in Japan.
- Top Division (Japan Soccer League Div. 1): 1965–1983, 1986–1988, 1991–1992 (as Toyo/Mazda)
- Top Division (J.League Div. 1): 1993–2002, 2004–2007, 2009–present (as Sanfrecce Hiroshima)
- Second Division (Japan Soccer League Div. 2 / J.League Div. 2): 1984–1985, 1988–1991, 2003, 2008
In total, as of 2022, the club has played 51 seasons in the top league and 7 seasons in the second league.
Images for kids
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Sanfrecce Hiroshima logo
See also
In Spanish: Sanfrecce Hiroshima para niños
