Thespakusatsu Gunma

Thespakusatsu Gunma (ザスパクサツ群馬, zasupa kusatsu Gunma) is a professional football (soccer) club based in Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture in Japan. The club plays in the J2 League, the second division of professional football in Japan.

Thespakusatsu Gunma
ザスパクサツ群馬
Nickname(s)Thespa (ザスパ, Zasupa)
Founded1995 (1995)
GroundShoda Shoyu Stadium Gunma
Maebashi, Gunma
Capacity15,253
OwnerKusatsu Onsen Football Club
ChairmanTomohiko Nara
ManagerRyosuke Okuno
LeagueJ2 League
2021J2 League, 18th of 22
WebsiteClub website

History

The club was founded in 1995 in Kusatsu, one of the most well-known spa resorts in Japan, in 1995 as Liaison Kusatsu Football Club.[1] The players were the students of specialized training college Higashi Nihon Soccer Academy. When the school was closed in 1999 due to financial difficulties, the players decided to stay in Kusatsu and keep the club alive. In 2002, the club was incorporated as K.K. Kusatsu Onsen Football Club with a future promotion to J. League in mind and adopted new team name Thespa Kusatsu (ザスパ草津, zasupa kusatsu), which name basically meant "The Spa, Kusatsu".[1]

Because of J. League restrictions on stadiums, they play at Shoda Shoyu Stadium Gunma (Shikishima Athletics Stadium) in nearby Maebashi, the prefectural capital since the club was promoted to J. League Division 2 from 2005 season.[2]

From 1 February 2013, the club has adopted the new name as "Thespakusatsu Gunma", to give out the impression of the club as representative of entire Gunma Prefecture, while still leaving the name of "Kusatsu" in it, as well as the logo of the club as is.[3][4]

Current squad

As of 15 July 2021.[5]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  JPN Keiki Shimizu
2 DF  JPN Hayate Shirowa
3 DF  JPN Hiroto Hatao
4 MF  JPN Yuki Kawakami
5 DF  JPN Yuta Fujii
6 MF  JPN Tatsuya Uchida
7 FW  JPN Junya Kato
8 MF  JPN Yuzo Iwakami
9 FW  JPN Shuto Kitagawa
10 FW  JPN Shota Aoki
11 MF  JPN Toshiya Tanaka
13 DF  JPN Hayato Abe
14 DF  JPN So Hirao
15 MF  JPN Justin Toshiki Kinjo
16 MF  JPN Kazune Kubota
17 MF  JPN Atsuki Yamanaka
18 FW  JPN Kohei Shin
No. Pos. Nation Player
19 MF  JPN Tomoyuki Shiraishi
20 MF  JPN Yudai Nakata
21 GK  JPN Shuhei Matsubara
22 DF  JPN Yuriya Takahashi
24 DF  JPN Yuya Mitsunaga
25 DF  JPN Masaya Kojima
26 FW  JPN Ryuichi Ichiki
27 MF  JPN Koji Okumura
32 DF  JPN Kodai Watanabe (captain)
36 DF  JPN Shoi Yoshinaga (On loan from Omiya Ardija)
37 GK  JPN Keita Toyama
38 MF  JPN Taiki Amagasa
39 FW  JPN Akito Takagi
41 MF  JPN Yuto Nakayama
44 GK  JPN Koji Yamada
50 FW  JPN Genki Omae

Record as J. League member
Champions Runners-up Third place Promoted Relegated
SeasonDiv.TeamsPos.Attendance/GEmperor's
Cup
2005 J21212th3,9594th round
2006 1312th3,7364th round
2007 1311th3,8084th round
2008 159th4,2153rd round
2009 1018th4,3303rd round
2010 1912th4,4242nd round
2011 209th3,2112nd round
2012 2217th3,3412nd round
2013 2220th3,5712nd round
2014 2217th3,6894th round
2015 2218th4,0991st round
2016 2217th4,7442nd round
2017 2222nd3,8323rd round
2018 J3175th3,3462nd round
2019 182nd3,5942nd round
2020 † J22220th1,709Did not qualify
2021 † 2218th2,0824th round
Key

  • Pos. = Position in league
  • Attendance/G = Average home league attendance
  • † 2020 & 2021 seasons attendances reduced by COVID-19 worldwide pandemic
    •
  • Source: J. League Data Site

Kit Evolution
FP 1st
2003 - 2004
2005
2006 - 2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021 -
FP 2nd
2003 - 2004
2005
2006 - 2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021 -

Managers

References
  1. "Club guide; Thespa Kusatsu". J. League. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  2. "Two JFL clubs apply for J. League entry". Japan Times. September 30, 2004. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  3. Ken Matsushita (February 12, 2014). "Classifying the J2 teams from top to bottom". ONE World Sports. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  4. チーム名・ロゴ・マスコット [Team name, Emblem, Mascot] (in Japanese). Thespakusatsu Gunma. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  5. "2021 Season Member". Thespakusatsu Gunma. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
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