Thespa Gunma facts for kids
| Nickname(s) | Thespa (ザスパ, Zasupa) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1995 (as Liaison Kusatsu) | ||
| Ground | Shoda Shoyu Stadium Gunma Maebashi, Gunma |
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| Capacity | 15,253 | ||
| Owner | Kusatsu Onsen Football Club | ||
| Chairman | Hajime Hosogai | ||
| Manager | Masaru Okita | ||
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Thespa Gunma (ザスパ群馬, Zasupa Gunma), also known as Thespakusatsu Gunma (ザスパクサツ群馬, Zasupakusatsu Gunma) in the past, is a professional football (soccer) club from Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture in Japan. The team plays in the J3 League, which is the third level of professional football in Japan.
Contents
History of Thespa Gunma
How the Club Started
The club began in 1995 in Kusatsu, a famous hot spring resort in Japan. It was first called Liaison Kusatsu Football Club. The players were students from a special soccer school called Higashi Nihon Soccer Academy.
Keeping the Club Alive
In 1999, the school had money problems and closed down. But the players really loved their club and decided to stay in Kusatsu to keep it going. In 2002, the club officially became a company called K.K. Kusatsu Onsen Football Club. They wanted to join the J. League, Japan's top football league. At this time, they changed their team name to Thespa Kusatsu (ザスパ草津, zasupa kusatsu). "Thespa" means "The Spa," referring to the hot springs in Kusatsu.
Moving Stadiums and Name Changes
Because of rules in the J. League about stadiums, Thespa Kusatsu started playing their home games at Shoda Shoyu Stadium Gunma in nearby Maebashi. This happened when they moved up to J. League Division 2 in the 2005 season.
On February 1, 2013, the club changed its name again to "Thespakusatsu Gunma." This new name was chosen to show that the club represented the whole Gunma Prefecture, not just Kusatsu. However, they kept "Kusatsu" in the name and kept their original logo.
Ups and Downs in the Leagues
Thespakusatsu Gunma played in the J2 League for 12 years. But in the 2017 J2 League season, they finished last and were moved down to the J3 League for the first time. After two years in J3, they were promoted back to the J2 League for the 2020 season.
On October 5, 2023, the club announced another name change. From the 2024 season, they became Thespa Gunma, dropping "Kusatsu" from their name.
On September 29, 2024, Thespa Gunma was moved down to J3 again for the 2025 season. This happened after they lost a game to Roasso Kumamoto at home. This ended their four years in the second-tier league.
Home Stadium and Training Ground
The team's home stadium is Shoda Shoyu Stadium Gunma, located in Maebashi, Gunma. The stadium can hold 15,253 people. The players train at GCC The Park, which is also in Maebashi.
Club Achievements
Thespa Gunma has won several honors throughout its history, especially in the earlier years as they climbed up the leagues.
| Honour | Number of Wins | Years Won | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gunma Prefecture Division 4 | 1 | 1995 | as Liaison Kusatsu |
| Gunma Prefecture Division 3 | 1 | 1996 | |
| Gunma Prefecture 2nd Division A | 1 | 1997 | |
| Gunma Prefecture Division 2 B | 1 | 2001 | |
| Gunma Prefecture Division 1 | 1 | 2002 | as Thespa Kusatsu |
| Kantō Division 2 | 1 | 2003 | |
| Gunma Prefectural Football Association President's Cup Soccer Tournament |
3 | 2003, 2018, 2019 |
Current Squad
This is the list of players currently on the team.
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Coaching Staff
Here are the people who coach and support the team for the 2025 season.
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager |  Masaru Okita |
| Coach | Kentaro Yoshida |
| Assistant coach | Ryo Ishibashi |
| Goalkeeping coach | Hidetoyo Watanabe |
| Analyst | Yota Sakuma |
| Physical coach | Yutaka Aoki |
| Physiotherapist | Koki Katakai |
| Trainer | Ryo Murakami Ryoji Sejino |
| Chief secretary | Ryo Suzuki |
| Team secretary | Ryota Osawa |
| Kitman | Riku Takahashi |
Team Uniforms Over the Years
Home Kits
| Home kits - 1st | ||||
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Away Kits
| Away kits - 2nd | |||||
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See also
In Spanish: Thespa Gunma para niños
