Ventforet Kofu facts for kids
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| Full name | Ventforet Kofu Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Ventforet | ||
| Short name | VFK | ||
| Founded | 1965 as Kofu Club | ||
| Stadium | JIT Recycle Ink Stadium, Kōfu | ||
| Stadium capacity |
15,853 | ||
| Chairman | Kazuyuki Umino | ||
| Manager | Shinji Otsuka | ||
| League | J2 League | ||
| 2022 | J2 League, 18th of 22 | ||
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Ventforet Kofu (ヴァンフォーレ甲府, Vanfōre Kōfu) is a professional football team from Kōfu, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. They play in the J2 League, which is Japan's second-highest football division. Their home games are held at the JIT Recycle Ink Stadium in Kōfu.
Ventforet Kofu has won one J2 League title and one Emperor's Cup. They are known for their exciting history and dedicated fans.
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What Does "Ventforet" Mean?
The name "Ventforet" comes from two French words: "vent" (meaning wind) and "forêt" (meaning forest). This name is a nod to a famous saying, Fū-rin-ka-zan. This phrase was used by Takeda Shingen, a powerful leader from Kōfu long ago.
The saying describes four qualities:
- As swift as the wind.
- As silent as a forest.
- As fierce as fire.
- As unmoving as a mountain.
These words show the spirit of the team!
Team History
Early Days as Kofu Club (1965–1994)
The club started in 1965 as the Kofu Club. It was formed by former students from Kofu Dai-ichi High School. They wanted to create a strong team that could join Japan's top football league. Unlike many teams back then, Kofu Club was run by volunteers, not big companies.
They joined the JSL Division 2 in 1972. They played there until 1992, when the league changed. Kofu Club then became a founding member of the new Japan Football League.
Becoming Ventforet Kofu (1995–Present)
In 1995, the club changed its name to Ventforet Kofu. They joined the J.League Division 2 when it was created in 1999. The team faced tough times between 1999 and 2001. They had money problems and lost many games, including 25 in a row! People even called them "Excess baggage of J2."
But Ventforet Kofu kept fighting. They got much better in 2002. In 2005, they finished third in J2. This earned them a chance to play in the promotion play-offs. They won against Kashiwa Reysol and moved up to Japan's top division!
They were relegated (moved down) in 2007. But they were promoted again at the end of 2010. Even with a great striker like Mike Havenaar, they were relegated again in 2011. However, they bounced back quickly! In 2012, Ventforet Kofu won the J2 League championship for the first time ever. They stayed in J.League 1 until 2017.
Winning the Emperor's Cup (2022)
In 2022, Ventforet Kofu had an amazing run in the 2022 Emperor's Cup. This is a big knockout tournament in Japan. They started strong, beating International Pacific University 5–1. After that, they only played against teams from the top division, J1 League.
They won tough away games against Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo and Sagan Tosu. This helped them reach the quarter-finals, a stage they had never passed before. In another away game, they tied 1–1 with Avispa Fukuoka. Yoshiki Torikai scored in extra time, sending Kofu to their first Emperor's Cup semi-final! There, they beat Kashima Antlers with a goal from Jumma Miyazaki. This meant they reached their first-ever Emperor's Cup Final!
In the final, Ventforet Kofu played against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, a strong J1 team. Kazushi Mitsuhira scored first for Kofu. Sanfrecce tied the game late, and it went to a penalty shootout. After Sanfrecce missed a penalty, 42-year-old Hideomi Yamamoto scored the winning penalty for Kofu! They became Emperor's Cup champions for the first time. This was a huge win, as they were only a J2 team. Because they won, they earned a spot in the AFC Champions League!
Playing in the AFC Champions League (2023)
On September 20, 2023, Ventforet Kofu played their first-ever 2023–24 AFC Champions League match. They played against Melbourne City from Australia. The game ended in a 0–0 draw, giving Kofu their first point in the competition.
On October 4, 2023, Ventforet Kofu got their first Champions League win! Motoki Hasegawa scored a late goal against Buriram United from Thailand, winning 1–0 at home. On December 12, 2023, Ventforet Kofu made history. They won 3–2 away against Buriram United. This win meant they reached the Round of 16. They were the first team ever to reach the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League while playing in their country's second division! In the Round of 16, they played against Ulsan Hyundai from Korea. Ventforet Kofu was knocked out after losing 5–1 over two games.
Team Achievements
Ventforet Kofu has won some important titles:
| Honour | No. | Years |
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| Kantō Soccer League | 2 | 1969, 1970 |
| J2 League | 1 | 2012 |
| Emperor's Cup | 1 | 2022 |
Where Ventforet Kofu Has Played
- Kanto League: 1967–71 (as Kofu Club)
- Division 2 (JSL Div. 2): 1972–91 (as Kofu Club)
- Division 3 (former JFL Div. 2): 1992–93 (as Kofu Club)
- Division 2 (former JFL): 1994–98 (Kofu Club until 1994, Ventforet Kofu since 1995)
- Division 2 (J.League Div. 2): 1999–05
- Division 1 (J.League Div. 1): 2006–07
- Division 2 (J.League Div. 2): 2008–10
- Division 1 (J.League Div. 1): 2011
- Division 2 (J.League Div. 2): 2012
- Division 1 (J.League Div. 1): 2013–2017
- Division 2 (J.League Div. 2): 2018–
Current Players
Here are the players currently on the Ventforet Kofu team:
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Players on Loan
Some players are currently playing for other teams on loan:
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Team Staff
Here are the people who help run the Ventforet Kofu team for the 2025 season:
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager |  Shinji Otsuka |
| Coaches | Katsutomo Oshiba Yuji Yokoyama Nazri Nasir |
| Goalkeeper coach | Yuji Nakagawa |
| Physical coach |  José Fernando |
| Analysis coach | Yoshiki Hara Kanta Yonekura |
| Chief trainer | Hiroaki Maeda |
| Trainers | Masaya Tanaka Yuto Mogi Naoaki Higashi |
| Physiotherapist | Takayuki Ando |
| Athletic trainer | Shigeru Asahina |
| Competent | Yoshiki Tsuruta |
| Deputy officer | Tetsuro Ajisawa |
| Interpreter | Bruno Iwasaki |
Team Managers Over Time
Here's a list of the managers who have led Ventforet Kofu:
| Manager | Nationality | Tenure | |
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| Start | Finish | ||
| Susumu Katsumata |  Japan |
1 January 1994 | 31 January 1995 |
| Yūji Tsukada | Japan |
1 February 1995 | 31 January 1999 |
| Susumu Katsumata | Japan |
1 February 1999 | 31 January 2000 |
| Yūji Tsukada | Japan |
1 February 2000 | 31 January 2001 |
| Luis dos Reis | Brazil |
1 February 2001 | 31 January 2002 |
| Takeshi Ōki | Japan |
1 February 2002 | 31 January 2003 |
| Hideki Matsunaga | Japan |
1 February 2003 | 31 January 2005 |
| Takeshi Ōki | Japan |
1 February 2005 | 31 January 2008 |
| Takayoshi Amma | Japan |
1 February 2008 | 31 January 2010 |
| Kazuo Uchida | Japan |
1 February 2010 | 31 January 2011 |
| Toshiya Miura | Japan |
1 February 2011 | 7 August 2011 |
| Satoru Sakuma | Japan |
8 August 2011 | 31 December 2011 |
| Hiroshi Jōfuku | Japan |
1 February 2012 | 31 January 2015 |
| Yasuhiro Higuchi | Japan |
1 February 2015 | 13 May 2015 |
| Satoru Sakuma | Japan |
13 May 2015 | 31 December 2016 |
| Tatsuma Yoshida | Japan |
1 February 2017 | 30 April 2018 |
| Nobuhiro Ueno | Japan |
1 May 2018 | 31 January 2019 |
| Akira Itō | Japan |
1 February 2019 | 31 January 2022 |
| Tatsuma Yoshida | Japan |
1 February 2022 | 31 January 2023 |
| Yoshiyuki Shinoda | Japan |
1 February 2023 | 1 July 2024 |
| Shinji Otsuka | Japan |
2 July 2024 | Current |
Team Uniforms Over the Years
Here's how Ventforet Kofu's home, away, and third kits (uniforms) have changed over time.
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| Away kits - 2nd | ||||
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| Third kits | ||||
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     Summer |
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     Limited |
     Home |
     Away |
     SUMMER Vivid × Vital |
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See also
In Spanish: Ventforet Kofu para niños
