Kawasaki Frontale
Encyclopedia
is a J. League Division 1 association football club. The team is located in Kawasaki
, Kanagawa Prefecture
, south of Tokyo
. Their home stadium is Todoroki Athletics Stadium
, in Nakahara
Ward, in the central area of Kawasaki.
football club. The club was one of many city clubs that comprised the Japan Soccer League
, including Yomiuri FC (later Tokyo Verdy 1969
), Toshiba
(later Consadole Sapporo
) and NKK F.C.
(now defunct
). They first made the JSL First Division in 1977, only to be relegated the next season afterwards and would not return to the top flight until 2000, when they were first promoted to the rebranded J1.
The club co-founded the Japanese second tier three times under its three names: JSL Second Division (1972
), Japan Football League Division 1
(1992
) and J. League Division 2
(1999
).
Fujitsu's club became professional in 1997, and changed its name – "Frontale" means "frontal" in Italian
. The club old crest and colours are based on those of Brazilian side Grêmio
, because both clubs have cooperated since 26 March 1997. The club joined the second division of the J. League in 1999, and became the champion of the division. But in the next season, it sank to the bottom of division one, and was relegated. In 2004, they were champions of J2 and won promotion to J1 for the second time. With the former rival city clubs out of the way due to relocation or liquidation, Frontale began building its power base in the city.
In 2006 they achieved runner-up position in J1, their highest league position to date. In 2007, this club attended the AFC Champions League
, and made important success, as the first Japanese club for qualifying its group stage, before Urawa Red Diamonds
. But Kawasaki lost in the quarter finals, against Iranian Sepahan F.C., in a penalty shoot-out after two scoreless games.
Kawasaki has advanced steadily, and provides players for the Japan national football team
. At first, defender Yoshinobu Minowa was selected in 2005. After the 2006 FIFA World Cup
, midfielder Kengo Nakamura
and forward Kazuki Ganaha
became new internationals, especially Kengo Nakamura found his position, and played both in his club and national team till now. Then goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima
debuted in East Asian Cup 2008
, but he allowed one goal for his J. League teammate, Chong Tese
, who plays in the Korea DPR national football team
. In May, Shuhei Terada
was also selected for the Japan national team.
Key
Junichi Inamoto
Eiji Kawashima
Kengo Nakamura
Jong Tae-Se
Total (as of 2011): 10 seasons in the top tier, 30 seasons in the second tier and 5 seasons in the Regional Leagues.
Clasico (using the Spanish
word "Clasico" as used in derbies in Spain and Latin America). The two clubs first met in 1991
in the old Japan Soccer League
Second Division and were rivals for promotion to the J. League in the 1990s. They co-founded the new J2 in 1999
and were promoted together the same year, and although Frontale were immediately relegated, they were promoted again in 2005 and have regularly met since then.
Frontale also has a Tamagawa rivalry with Tokyo Verdy 1969
, which was originally also based in Kawasaki and moved to Chofu, Tokyo in 2000. The two were co-founders of the JSL Second Division in 1972
and, although spent 20 seasons (1979 to 1999) in separate tiers, rekindled the rivalry in the late 1990s as Kawasaki fans deserted Verdy to support Frontale, seen as a more community-focused club, and since then their fortunes have reversed as Frontale is a top flight mainstay while Verdy sunk into the second tier beginning in 2005.
Kawasaki, Kanagawa
is a city located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, between Tokyo and Yokohama. It is the 9th most populated city in Japan and one of the main cities forming the Greater Tokyo Area and Keihin Industrial Area....
, Kanagawa Prefecture
Kanagawa Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the southern Kantō region of Japan. The capital is Yokohama. Kanagawa is part of the Greater Tokyo Area.-History:The prefecture has some archaeological sites going back to the Jōmon period...
, south of Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. Their home stadium is Todoroki Athletics Stadium
Todoroki Athletics Stadium
is a multi-purpose stadium located in Todoroki ryokuchi in Kawasaki, Japan. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Kawasaki Frontale. Until the early 2000s it also hosted major clubs in the city, such as Verdy Kawasaki , Toshiba and NKK F.C.. The stadium...
, in Nakahara
Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki
is one of the 7 wards of the city of Kawasaki in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010, the ward had an estimated population of 229,867 and a density of 15,640 persons per km²...
Ward, in the central area of Kawasaki.
History
Founded in 1955 as FujitsuFujitsu
is a Japanese multinational information technology equipment and services company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It is the world's third-largest IT services provider measured by revenues....
football club. The club was one of many city clubs that comprised the Japan Soccer League
Japan Soccer League
, or JSL, was the top flight soccer league in Japan between 1965 and 1992, and was the precursor to the current professional league, the J. League. JSL was the second national league of a team sport in Japan after the professional Japanese Baseball League that was founded in 1936...
, including Yomiuri FC (later Tokyo Verdy 1969
Tokyo Verdy 1969
, is a Japanese professional football club, based in Tokyo, Japan, that plays in J. League Division 2.Founded as Yomiuri F.C. in 1969, Tokyo Verdy is one of the most decorated teams in the J. League, with honours including 7 league titles , 5 Emperor's Cups, 6 JSL Cup / J...
), Toshiba
Toshiba
is a multinational electronics and electrical equipment corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It is a diversified manufacturer and marketer of electrical products, spanning information & communications equipment and systems, Internet-based solutions and services, electronic components and...
(later Consadole Sapporo
Consadole Sapporo
is a Japanese professional football club, currently playing in the J. League Division 2. The team is located in Sapporo, on the island of Hokkaidō....
) and NKK F.C.
NKK F.C.
Nippon Kokan Soccer Club, or NKK Soccer Club was a Japanese football club which operated from 1912 to 1994. It played in the old Japan Soccer League since 1967 until its closing...
(now defunct
NKK F.C.
Nippon Kokan Soccer Club, or NKK Soccer Club was a Japanese football club which operated from 1912 to 1994. It played in the old Japan Soccer League since 1967 until its closing...
). They first made the JSL First Division in 1977, only to be relegated the next season afterwards and would not return to the top flight until 2000, when they were first promoted to the rebranded J1.
The club co-founded the Japanese second tier three times under its three names: JSL Second Division (1972
Japan Soccer League 1972
The 1972 season in Japanese football introduced a Second Division to the Japan Soccer League. 9 clubs were chosen from the Japanese Regional Leagues from the previous season, but as Nagoya Mutual Bank resigned from the League, a tenth club was chosen from the Kansai League.-JSL First Division:No...
), Japan Football League Division 1
Japan Football League (former)
The former was an association football league that existed from 1992 to 1998. Also known as the JFL, it was the 2nd tier of the Japanese football hierarchy following J...
(1992
Japan Football League 1992
-First Division:-Second Division:Seino Unyu and Osaka Gas had been promoted automatically after winning the Regional Playoffs....
) and J. League Division 2
J. League Division 2
The or is the second division of and is the second-tier professional association football league in Japan. Currently, J. League Division 2 is the second level of the Japanese association football league system. The first tier is represented by J...
(1999
J. League 1999
The 1999 season was the 7th season of the J-League Division 1. The league began in March and ended in November.For this year, the division was contested by 16 teams following the folding of Yokohama Flügels and the relegation of Consadole Sapporo to the newly formed Division 2...
).
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
. The club old crest and colours are based on those of Brazilian side Grêmio
Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense
Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense, commonly known as just Grêmio , is a Brazilian professional association football team based in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul founded by English and German immigrants on September 15, 1903. Major titles captured by Grêmio include one Intercontinental Cup, two Copa...
, because both clubs have cooperated since 26 March 1997. The club joined the second division of the J. League in 1999, and became the champion of the division. But in the next season, it sank to the bottom of division one, and was relegated. In 2004, they were champions of J2 and won promotion to J1 for the second time. With the former rival city clubs out of the way due to relocation or liquidation, Frontale began building its power base in the city.
In 2006 they achieved runner-up position in J1, their highest league position to date. In 2007, this club attended the AFC Champions League
AFC Champions League
The AFC Champions League is the premier Asian club football competition hosted annually by Asian Football Confederation . The tournament is contested among the top thirty-two clubs from the top 10 Asian leagues, two of which must qualify through the playoffs...
, and made important success, as the first Japanese club for qualifying its group stage, before Urawa Red Diamonds
Urawa Red Diamonds
are a professional association football club playing in Japan's football league, J. League Division 1. One of Japan and Asia's best supported teams, the club has been able to boast the highest average crowds for thirteen of the J-League's twenty season history...
. But Kawasaki lost in the quarter finals, against Iranian Sepahan F.C., in a penalty shoot-out after two scoreless games.
Kawasaki has advanced steadily, and provides players for the Japan national football team
Japan national football team
The Japan national football team represents Japan in association football and is operated by the Japan Football Association, the governing body for association football in Japan...
. At first, defender Yoshinobu Minowa was selected in 2005. After the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
, midfielder Kengo Nakamura
Kengo Nakamura
is a Japanese football midfielder who currently plays for Kawasaki Frontale of the J. League.-Playing style:K.Nakamura is a playmaking midfielder usually employed by Kawasaki Frontale on the central midfield. His view can supply pass very widely over the wide range.Besides passing, Nakamura is...
and forward Kazuki Ganaha
Kazuki Ganaha
Kazuki Ganaha is an Japanese football player who currently plays for F.C. Ryūkyū. He is a right-footed forward.-Playing career:...
became new internationals, especially Kengo Nakamura found his position, and played both in his club and national team till now. Then goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima
Eiji Kawashima
is a Japanese goalkeeper currently playing for Lierse S.K..-Career:During his time at Omiya, Kawashima went overseas to train with Serie A club Parma, and also trained in Italy in January 2010....
debuted in East Asian Cup 2008
East Asian Cup 2008
The 2008 East Asian Football Championship was held between 17 February and 23 February in 2008. The preliminary competitions were held from 25 March to 24 June in 2007....
, but he allowed one goal for his J. League teammate, Chong Tese
Chong Tese
Jong Tae-Se born March 2, 1984 in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan) is a North Korean football player currently playing for Bochum. He is a member of the North Korea national team...
, who plays in the Korea DPR national football team
Korea DPR national football team
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea national football team represents the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in international association football and is controlled by the DPR Korea Football Association, the governing body for football in North Korea.North Korea surprised with a...
. In May, Shuhei Terada
Shuhei Terada
is a former Japanese international football player.-Career:He started playing football at the junior youth setup of Japan Soccer League side Nissan F.C. . Then he played for and was educated at Kanagawa Prefectural Yokosuka High School and Tōkai University...
was also selected for the Japan national team.
Record as J. League member
| Season | Div. | Tms. | Pos. | Attendance/G | J. League Cup J. League Cup J. League Cup is a Japanese football competition organized by J. League. It is also known as Yamazaki Nabisco Cup or Nabisco Cup because confectionery/bakery company Yamazaki Nabisco have sponsored the competition since its inception in 1992.It is generally regarded as the Japanese equivalent to... |
Emperor's Cup Emperor's Cup , commonly known as or , is a Japanese association football competition. It has the longest tradition of any football tournament in Japan, dating back to 1921, before the formation of the J. League, Japan Football League and their predecessor, Japan Soccer League... |
Asia | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | J2 | 10 | 1 | 5,396 | 1st Round | 4th Round | - | - |
| 2000 | J1 | 16 | 16 | 7,439 | Runners-up | 4th Round | - | - |
| 2001 | J2 | 12 | 7 | 3,784 | Quarter-final | Semi-final | - | - |
| 2002 | J2 | 12 | 4 | 5,247 | - | Quarter-final | - | - |
| 2003 | J2 | 12 | 3 | 7,258 | - | 4th Round | - | - |
| 2004 | J2 | 12 | 1 | 9,148 | - | 5th Round | - | - |
| 2005 | J1 | 18 | 8 | 13,658 | Group Stage | Quarter-final | - | - |
| 2006 | J1 | 18 | 2 | 14,340 | Semi-final | 5th Round | - | - |
| 2007 | J1 | 18 | 5 | 17,338 | Runners-up | Semi-final | CL | Quarter-final |
| 2008 | J1 | 18 | 2 | 17,565 | Group Stage | 5th Round | - | - |
| 2009 | J1 | 18 | 2 | 18,847 | Runners-up | Quarter-final | CL | Quarter-final |
| 2010 | J1 | 18 | 5 | 18,562 | Semi-final | 4th Round | CL | Group Stage |
Key
- Tms. = Number of teams
- Pos. = Position in league
- Attendance/G = Average league attendance
Current Squad
As of July 19, 2011Out on loan
International Players
|
Shen Xiangfu Shen Xiangfu is a Chinese football coach and a former international football player. -Playing career:... Jong Tae-Se  EmersonMarcio Emerson Passos Márcio Passos de Albuquerque , also known as Emerson or Emerson Sheik, is a Brazilian-Qatari football striker, who plays for Corinthians Paulista.-Controversy:... |
|
Jorge Dely Valdés Jorge Luis Dely Valdés is a Panamanian football player. He is a twin brother of Julio Dely Valdés and younger brother of Armando Dely Valdés.... |
Francismar Carioca de Oliveira Francismar Carioca de Oliveira is an association footballer who currently plays for Agremiação Sportiva Arapiraquense.- Career :... Hulk Magnum Magnum Rafael Farias Tavares Magnum Rafael Farias Tavares or simply Magnum is a Brazilian professional footballer, who plays as left-sided attacking midfielder.Magnum previously played for Paysandu, Vitória Santos and Kawasaki Frontale.... Marcos Ricardo Scheidt Rafael Scheidt Rafael Felipe Scheidt is a Brazilian footballer. He was signed by the John Barnes/Kenny Dalglish management of Celtic from Grêmio for £5m and failed to make an impact... Tinga Guido Alvarenga |
World Cup players
World Cup 20102010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
Junichi Inamoto
Junichi Inamoto
is a Japanese footballer who plays as a midfielder for Kawasaki Frontale.-Playing career:Inamoto played for Japanese club Gamba Osaka during his last year of high school, signing with the club in 1998. He was then one of many high profile transfers of Asian players to Europe, signing with Arsenal...
Eiji Kawashima
Eiji Kawashima
is a Japanese goalkeeper currently playing for Lierse S.K..-Career:During his time at Omiya, Kawashima went overseas to train with Serie A club Parma, and also trained in Italy in January 2010....
Kengo Nakamura
Kengo Nakamura
is a Japanese football midfielder who currently plays for Kawasaki Frontale of the J. League.-Playing style:K.Nakamura is a playmaking midfielder usually employed by Kawasaki Frontale on the central midfield. His view can supply pass very widely over the wide range.Besides passing, Nakamura is...
Jong Tae-Se
Managers (1997– )
| Manager | Nat. | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Kazuo Saito | 1997 (resigned in halfway) | |
| Jose | 1997 (till the season end) | |
| Beto Roberto de Almeida Roberto de Almeida is a former Brazilian football manager.-References:*... |
1998–99 (resigned in halfway) | |
| Ikuo Matsumoto | 1999 (till the season end) | |
| Zeca Jose Luiz Ferreira Rodrigues Jose Luiz Ferreira Rodrigues is a former Brazilian football manager.-References:*... |
2000 (resigned in halfway) | |
| Toshiaki Imai Toshiaki Imai is a Japanese football manager and former player. He currently manages Waseda University.In November 2005, Imai was appointed by Japan Football Association to coach Chinese Taipei national football team and to help the football development in Taiwan. It was his first international assignment... |
2000 (after Zeca, resigned) | |
| Hiroshi Kobayashi Hiroshi Kobayashi (soccer manager) Hiroshi Kobayashi is a former Japanese soccer player, coach, and manager.- Biography :Hiroshi Kobayashi first played soccer in the JSL for the Furukawa Electric soccer club... |
2000 (till the season end) | |
| Yoshiharu Horii Yoshiharu Horii Yoshiharu Horii is a former Japanese football player.-References:*... |
2001 (resigned in halfway) | |
| Nobuhiro Ishizaki | 2001–03 (after Horii) | |
| Takashi Sekizuka Takashi Sekizuka is a Japanese association football manager and a former player.-Awards:* Japan Soccer League Rookie of the Year: 1984* Japan Soccer League Best Eleven: 1984-References:*... |
2004–08 (resigned in halfway, by sickness) | |
| Tsutomu Takahata Tsutomu Takahata Tsutomu Takahata is a Japanese football manager.-References:*... |
2008 (till the season end) | |
| Takashi Sekizuka Takashi Sekizuka is a Japanese association football manager and a former player.-Awards:* Japan Soccer League Rookie of the Year: 1984* Japan Soccer League Best Eleven: 1984-References:*... |
2009 (returned) | |
| Tsutomu Takahata Tsutomu Takahata Tsutomu Takahata is a Japanese football manager.-References:*... |
2010 (returned) | |
| Naoki Soma Naoki Soma Naoki Soma is a former Japanese football defender .He was capped 58 times and scored 4 goals for the Japanese national team between 1995 and 1999, including three games at the 1998 FIFA World Cup... |
2011~ |
League history
- Kanto Football League: 1967–71 (as Fujitsu)
- Division 2 (Japan Soccer LeagueJapan Soccer League, or JSL, was the top flight soccer league in Japan between 1965 and 1992, and was the precursor to the current professional league, the J. League. JSL was the second national league of a team sport in Japan after the professional Japanese Baseball League that was founded in 1936...
Div. 2) : 1972–76 (as Fujitsu) - Division 1 (JSL Div. 1): 1977–78
- Division 2 (JSL Div. 2): 1979–91
- Division 2 (Japan Football League (former)Japan Football League (former)The former was an association football league that existed from 1992 to 1998. Also known as the JFL, it was the 2nd tier of the Japanese football hierarchy following J...
Division 1) : 1992–98 (as Fujitsu : 1992–95; Fujitsu Kawasaki : 1996; Kawasaki Frontale : 1997–98) - Division 2 (J. League Div.2) : 1999
- Division 1 (J. League Div.1) : 2000
- Division 2 (J. League Div.2) : 2001–04
- Division 1 (J. League Div.1) : 2005–
Total (as of 2011): 10 seasons in the top tier, 30 seasons in the second tier and 5 seasons in the Regional Leagues.
Rivalries
Frontale's rivalry with F.C. Tokyo is known as the TamagawaTama River
The is a major river in Yamanashi, Kanagawa and Tokyo Prefectures on Honshū, Japan. It is officially classified as a Class 1 river by the Japanese government....
Clasico (using the Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
word "Clasico" as used in derbies in Spain and Latin America). The two clubs first met in 1991
Japan Soccer League 1991-92
The 1991-92 season in Japanese football was the last of the old Japan Soccer League before the transition period into the J. League.-JSL First Division:-JSL Second Division:-Successor seasons:*1992 Japan Football League*1993 J. League...
in the old Japan Soccer League
Japan Soccer League
, or JSL, was the top flight soccer league in Japan between 1965 and 1992, and was the precursor to the current professional league, the J. League. JSL was the second national league of a team sport in Japan after the professional Japanese Baseball League that was founded in 1936...
Second Division and were rivals for promotion to the J. League in the 1990s. They co-founded the new J2 in 1999
J. League 1999
The 1999 season was the 7th season of the J-League Division 1. The league began in March and ended in November.For this year, the division was contested by 16 teams following the folding of Yokohama Flügels and the relegation of Consadole Sapporo to the newly formed Division 2...
and were promoted together the same year, and although Frontale were immediately relegated, they were promoted again in 2005 and have regularly met since then.
Frontale also has a Tamagawa rivalry with Tokyo Verdy 1969
Tokyo Verdy 1969
, is a Japanese professional football club, based in Tokyo, Japan, that plays in J. League Division 2.Founded as Yomiuri F.C. in 1969, Tokyo Verdy is one of the most decorated teams in the J. League, with honours including 7 league titles , 5 Emperor's Cups, 6 JSL Cup / J...
, which was originally also based in Kawasaki and moved to Chofu, Tokyo in 2000. The two were co-founders of the JSL Second Division in 1972
Japan Soccer League 1972
The 1972 season in Japanese football introduced a Second Division to the Japan Soccer League. 9 clubs were chosen from the Japanese Regional Leagues from the previous season, but as Nagoya Mutual Bank resigned from the League, a tenth club was chosen from the Kansai League.-JSL First Division:No...
and, although spent 20 seasons (1979 to 1999) in separate tiers, rekindled the rivalry in the late 1990s as Kawasaki fans deserted Verdy to support Frontale, seen as a more community-focused club, and since then their fortunes have reversed as Frontale is a top flight mainstay while Verdy sunk into the second tier beginning in 2005.