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Tokyo Verdy

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Tokyo Verdy
東京ヴェルディ
Logo
Full nameTokyo Verdy 1969 Football Club
Nickname(s)Verdy
Founded1969; 55 years ago (1969), as Yomiuri FC[1]
GroundAjinomoto Stadium
Chōfu, Tokyo
Capacity49,970
OwnerTokyo Verdy Holdings
ChairmanYasuo Shimada
ManagerHiroshi Jofuku
LeagueJ2 League
2021J2 League, 12th of 22
Websitehttp://www.verdy.co.jp
Current season

Tokyo Verdy (東京ヴェルディ, Tōkyō Verudi) is a Japanese professional football club based in Inagi, Tokyo, but play their home games at Ajinomoto Stadium in Chōfu, Tokyo. The club plays in the J2 League, the second tier of football in the country.

Founded as Yomiuri FC in 1969, Tokyo Verdy is one of the most decorated clubs in the J.League, with honours including 2 J.League titles, 5 Emperor's Cups, 6 JSL Cup / J.League Cups and an Asian Club Championship title, and the most successful team in Japanese football history with 25 titles. The club was an original member[a]of the J.League in 1993.

Verdy's plays its home games at the 50,000 capacity Ajinomoto Stadium, which it shares with FC Tokyo, although occasional home matches are played in other stadiums in Tokyo, such as Ajinomoto Field, Nishigaoka.

History

Early years and rise to the top (1969–1983)

In October 1968, following Japan's bronze medal triumph at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City and the interest in football that ensued,[1] Japan Football Association president Yuzuru Nozu visited Yomiuri Giants chairman Matsutaro Shoriki to ask him if Yomiuri was willing to ride on the wave of the game by establishing their own football club. Shoriki died a year later, in 1969, but not before signing his name to the plans to establish Yomiuri Football Club.[2] Backed by the Yomiuri Group and NTV, Yomiuri Football Club firstly launched at Tokyo Local League B (5th tier) in 1969. They began gaining promotions from the Tokyo Local League to the Kanto Football League (3rd tier) in 1971. In 1971, Yomiuri marked 3rd place and promoted Japan Soccer League Second Division.[3]

They were promoted to First Division in 1978, starting a long career of success in the top flight. Their first major title was the Japan Soccer League Cup in 1979.

Golden Era (1983–1994)

Ruy Ramos

From its days as Yomiuri FC, the ownership had visions of a football equivalent of the baseball Yomiuri Giants – a star-studded powerhouse with fans across Japan. As Japanese football began its transition from the JSL to the J.League in the early 1990s, it invested heavily in stars and featured Japan internationals Kazuyoshi Miura, Ruy Ramos and Tsuyoshi Kitazawa.[1]

The last two JSL championships as Yomiuri FC in 1990–91 and 1991–92, and then winning the first two championships as Verdy Kawasaki in 1993 and 1994, effectively winning four straight Japanese league titles making a total of seven overall; the highest in the Japanese system. Verdy also won the 1996 Emperor's Cup and three consecutive J.League Cups from 1992 to 1994.[4][5]

The JSL disbanded and reformed as the professional J.League in 1993. At this time the team professionalized and renamed itself Verdy Kawasaki, "Coined from the Portuguese "VERDE" meaning "Green" probably named after their green jersey colour "Tokyo Greens/Tokyo Verdi" .[6] Although Yomiuri was dropped from the name as the club spun off from the company, the team remained under Yomiuri's ownership until 1997, when it was acquired by Nippon Television Network, the broadcast arm of the Yomiuri Group.[7]

Lack of success and support (1995–2000)

This early success did not last, however, and as the stars aged, the team's performance suffered. Verdy's 1st-place finish in the 2nd stage of the 1995 season would be its last stage victory and the 1996 Emperor's Cup would be its last major title of the decade. A downturn in the national economy and the cooling of the J.League fad meant all teams had to cut expenses. This meant Verdy could no longer buy expensive replacements for its aging stars.

The 1996 J.League season saw Verdy Kawasaki finish 7th place overall, the lowest standing in the league's existence at that point, and would fall further in the 1997 season, finishing 16th and 12th, in the 1st stage and 2nd stage, respectively, and 15th overall out of 17 teams. Although Verdy looked to return to prominence in 1999, finishing 2nd in the 1st Stage, the resurgence was short-lived as it fell to 10th in the 2nd stage.

Meanwhile, the team's efforts to become "Japan's Team" alienated local fans in Kawasaki. The expensive salaries and struggling attendance caused the club's debts to mount. Struggling to compete with the newly professionalized crosstown rival Kawasaki Frontale and the nearby Yokohama Marinos and Yokohama Flügels, Verdy made the decision to leave Kawasaki.

Return to Tokyo (2001–2005)

In 2001, the club returned from Kawasaki to Chōfu, Tokyo and was renamed Tokyo Verdy 1969 to reflect the new hometown and the club's origins as Yomiuri FC Although Verdy made the move to increase its fan base and distance itself from its rivals, by this time Tokyo was already home to a J1 club in FC Tokyo. Despite a sharp increase in crowd numbers for Verdy, this was still well below those of FC Tokyo. Their new local rivals had been promoted to J1 in 2000 and had already captured a vast number of the supporters Verdy had been hoping to acquire.

In its first year in Tokyo, Tokyo Verdy 1969 found itself trailing FC Tokyo in the standings as well, and finished last in the division at 16th in the first stage of the 2001 season. Only the play of midseason acquisition Edmundo and a win in the final match of the second stage saved the club from relegation to J2. Tokyo Verdy 1969 was back at the bottom of the table in the first stage of the 2002 season, but again finished the season strong, placing 4th in the second stage.

Two mid-table finishes followed in 2003 and 2004, before Tokyo Verdy 1969, under Osvaldo Ardiles, won the Emperor's Cup on 1 January 2005, its first major title in 9 years and the first in Tokyo. Winning the cup earned Verdy a spot in the 2006 AFC Champions League.[8]

However, the 2005 season saw Tokyo Verdy 1969 fall to its worst finish of its history, finishing 17th out of 18. This was the first season after the scrapping of the two-stage season format, and Tokyo Verdy 1969 were relegated to J2, after 28 years of top flight football. The season was marked by three huge losses in July: 1–7 to Gamba Osaka on 2 July, 0–7 to Urawa Red Diamonds on 6 July and a 6–0 loss to Júbilo Iwata on 17 July. Tokyo Verdy then sacked Ardiles two days later.[9] At the time of his sacking, Ardiles' team had conceded 23 goals in their last 5 matches and had a 9 match winless streak.[9] However, the struggling Verdy upset European giant Real Madrid (who were in Asia on a preseason tour), 3–0 on 25 July.[10]

Back in the second tier (2006)

For the 2006 season, the club appointed former Verdy Kawasaki legend, Ruy Ramos, as manager on 22 December 2005.[11] Tokyo Verdy 1969 found itself in the odd position of competing in the AFC Champions League while playing in the second tier of the national league system. After Tokyo Verdy 1969 was relegated, the club released many of the veteran players, leaving a core of young players, most notably Takayuki Morimoto, who became the youngest player to score in the J.League at age 15 in 2004.[12]

In the 2007 season, Tokyo Verdy 1969 managed to beat Thespa Kusatsu 5–0 on the first day. After a brief scuffle with Consadole Sapporo over the J2 title, Tokyo Verdy 1969 had to settle for runner-up – which was enough to earn promotion back into the top flight for 2008. At this time the club renamed itself for the second time, dropping 1969 from its team name, but the management corporation name remained as Tokyo Verdy 1969.

Verdy would once again be relegated after finishing in 17th place (second to last) in 2008.

On 17 September 2009, NTV announced it would divest itself of shares in the club and transfer it to a new holding company, Tokyo Verdy Holdings, closing 40 years of Yomiuri/NTV direct financial support.[13] The J.League approved the transfer, but made it a condition that Verdy find a new sponsor by 16 November or risk not being able to play J2 football for the 2010 season.[14]

In October 2010, Tokyo Verdy signed a five-year sponsorship deal with sports retail store and apparel company Xebio.[15] The sponsorship deal saw the Xebio logo placed on Tokyo Verdy's kit and included naming rights for two regular season home games.[15] Xebio also produced the clubs football kit, although under their sports brand "Ennerre". After talks with Xebio, several companies decided to invest in the company and the new Xebio led administration was announced in November.

Ever since staying in J2, Verdy has been trying to stay competitive, but unfortunately suffered mere heartbreak during the 2018 season, when they finished 6th, good enough for the promotion/relegation playoffs. They shut out Omiya Ardija, 1-0 in the 1st round, and also did the same to Yokohama FC in the 2nd semi final. They came just 1 game short of promotion back to J1 facing Júbilo Iwata, but got shut out, 2-0, ending their promotion hopes once again.

Other sports

Verdy is a polideportivo and also fields teams in women's football, volleyball, and triathlon. Tokyo Verdy's women's football team is the 12 time Nadeshiko League champions, 14 time Empress's Cup winners and 1 time AFC Women's Club Championship champions.

League and cup record

Champions Runners-up Third place Promoted Relegated
Season Div. Teams Pos. Attendance/G J.League
Cup		 Emperor's
Cup		 Asia
1992 – – – – Winner Runners-up CC 2nd round
1993 J1 10 1st 25,235 Winner Quarter final CC 4th place
1994 12 1st 24,926 Winner 2nd round CC 3rd place
1995 14 2nd 20,834 – Quarter final CC Quarter final
1996 16 7th 17,653 Runners-Up Winner CC Quarter final
1997 17 15th 10,933 Group stage 3rd round – –
1998 18 12th 13,338 Group stage Quarter-final CWC Quarter final
1999 16 7th 9,379 2nd round Semi-final – –
2000 16 10th 7,609 Quarter final 4th round
2001 16 14th 19,396 1st round Quarter final
2002 16 10th 15,128 Group stage 3rd round
2003 16 8th 17,563 Group stage Quarter final
2004 16 9th 15,059 Semi-final Winner
2005 18 17th 14,716 Group stage 4th round
2006 J2 13 7th 5,705 – 3rd round CL Group stage
2007 13 2nd 7,327 3rd round – –
2008 J1 18 17th 14,837 Group stage 4th round
2009 J2 18 7th 5,521 – 2nd round
2010 19 5th 5,572 2nd round
2011 20 5th 5,710 3rd round
2012 22 7th 5,341 3rd round
2013 22 13th 6,343 3rd round
2014 22 20th 5,430 2nd round
2015 22 8th 5,655 2nd round
2016 22 18th 5,402 3rd round
2017 22 5th 6,206 2nd round
2018 22 6th 5,936 4th round
2019 22 13th 5,371 2nd round
2020 † 22 12th 2,429 Did not qualify
2021 † 22 12th 3,246 2nd round
2022 22 TBA
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

Honours

With 7 league titles, 5 Emperor's Cups and 6 League Cups, Tokyo Verdy is one of the most decorated football clubs in Japan, although most of its titles came during their stay at Tokyo in the semi-professional era before the inception of the professional league - J.League.

Domestic

Asia

Worldwide


Players

Current squad

Updated for the last time on 5 June 2022.[16]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Brazil BRA Matheus Vidotto
2 DF Japan JPN Daiki Fukazawa
3 DF Japan JPN Boniface Nduka
4 MF Japan JPN Ryota Kajikawa
5 DF Japan JPN Tomohiro Taira (captain)
6 MF Japan JPN Rihito Yamamoto
7 MF Japan JPN Koki Morita
8 MF Japan JPN Haruya Ide
9 MF Japan JPN Ryuji Sugimoto
10 MF Japan JPN Mizuki Arai
11 FW Japan JPN Jin Hanato
13 FW Japan JPN Toyofumi Sakano
14 MF Japan JPN Taiga Ishiura
15 DF Japan JPN Seiya Baba
16 DF Japan JPN Kohei Yamakoshi
17 MF Japan JPN Koken Kato
18 MF Chile CHI Byron Vásquez
19 MF Japan JPN Junki Koike
No. Pos. Nation Player
20 MF Japan JPN Mahiro Ano
21 GK Japan JPN Yuya Nagasawa
22 DF Japan JPN Maaya Sako
23 DF Japan JPN Hiroto Taniguchi
24 MF Japan JPN Yuta Narawa
25 MF Japan JPN Tetsuyuki Inami
26 DF Japan JPN Ren Kato
27 FW Japan JPN Ryoga Sato
28 DF Japan JPN Tatsuya Yamaguchi
29 FW Japan JPN Keito Kawamura
31 GK Japan JPN Toru Takagiwa
32 DF Japan JPN Yu Miyamoto
33 MF Japan JPN Rikuto Hashimoto
34 MF Japan JPN Ryo Nishitani
38 DF Indonesia IDN Pratama Arhan
41 GK Japan JPN Hisaya Sato
42 GK Japan JPN Akimichi Ono Type 2
43 GK Japan JPN Ryoma Imai Type 2

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF Japan JPN Kanya Fujimoto (on loan at Gil Vicente until 30 June 2022)
— MF Japan JPN Kyota Mochii (on loan at SC Sagamihara until 31 January 2023)
— MF Japan JPN Yuan Matsuhashi (on loan at SC Sagamihara until 31 January 2023)

Club officials

Position Staff
Sporting Director Brazil Ruy Ramos
Manager Japan Hiroshi Jofuku
Head coach Japan Tsutomu Ogura
Coach Japan Hiroaki Nagashima
Japan Nobuyuki Hosaka
Goalkeeper coach Japan Takeaki Yuhara
Fitness coach Japan Takanori Ishii
Physical coach Japan Takanori Ishii
Analytical coach Japan Hiroki Yamamoto
Japan Daiki Yamamoto
Interpreter Japan Genta Iwauchi
Team Doctor Japan Kenta Uemura
Japan Yu Taniguchi
Athletic trainer Japan Jun Yamamoto
Japan Ryo Kogen
Japan Ryo Takahara
Japan Shunpei Kawamura
Physiotherapist Japan Masanari Hira
Head of Scouting Japan Mikio Manaka
Equipment manager Japan Jun Yamato
Japan Takashi Sato
Technical director Japan Atsuhiko Ejiri

Manager history

Manager Nationality Tenure
Start Finish
Jujiro Narita  Japan 1 February 1970 30 June 1973
Frans van Balkom  Netherlands 1 February 1973 31 January 1976
Shoichi Nishimura  Japan 1 February 1976 31 January 1981
Ryoichi Aikawa  Japan 1 February 1981 30 June 1983
Susumu Chiba  Japan 1 July 1983 31 January 1984
Rudi Gutendorf  Germany 1 January 1984 30 June 1986
George Yonashiro  Japan 1 July 1986 30 June 1989
Carlos Alberto Silva  Brazil 1 July 1990 30 June 1991
José Macia "Pepe"  Brazil 1 January 1991 31 December 1992
Yasutarō Matsuki  Japan 1 February 1993 31 January 1995
Nelsinho Baptista  Brazil 1 February 1995 25 April 1996
Yasuyuki Kishino  Japan 26 April 1996 9 May 1996
Émerson Leão  Brazil 10 May 1996 31 January 1997
Hisashi Katō  Japan 1 February 1997 1 June 1997
Valdir Espinosa  Brazil 2 June 1997 30 October 1997
Ryōichi Kawakatsu  Japan 1 November 1997 31 January 1998
Nicanor  Brazil 1 February 1998 7 September 1998
Ryōichi Kawakatsu  Japan 8 September 1998 31 January 1999
Hideki Matsunaga  Japan 1 February 1999 31 January 2000
Chang Woe-ryong  South Korea 1 February 2000 1 January 2001
Yasutarō Matsuki  Japan 1 February 2001 16 July 2001
Yukitaka Omi  Japan 17 July 2001 9 April 2002
Lori Paulo Sandri  Brazil 1 January 2002 30 June 2003
Osvaldo Ardiles  Argentina 16 May 2003 18 July 2005
Nobuhiro Ishizaki  Japan 19 July 2005 31 July 2005
Vadão  Brazil 1 August 2005 14 December 2005
Ruy Ramos  Japan 1 February 2006 31 January 2008
Tetsuji Hashiratani  Japan 1 February 2008 31 January 2009
Takuya Takagi  Japan 1 February 2009 14 October 2009
Takeo Matsuda  Japan 14 October 2009 31 January 2010
Ryōichi Kawakatsu  Japan 1 February 2010 6 September 2012
Shinichiro Takahashi  Japan 6 September 2012 31 January 2013
Yasutoshi Miura  Japan 1 February 2013 15 September 2014
Kōichi Togashi  Japan 1 September 2014 31 December 2016
Miguel Ángel Lotina  Spain 1 February 2017 31 January 2019
Gary White  England 1 February 2019 17 July 2019
Hideki Nagai  Japan 17 July 2019 1 September 2021
Takafumi Hori  Japan 2 September 2021 13 June 2022
Hiroshi Jofuku  Japan 14 June 2022 current

Kits and crests

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tokyo Verdy kits.

Tokyo Verdy's main colors are green.

The club's name was coined from the Portuguese, or Spanish, or Italian, or Esperanto "verde" meaning "green", probably named after their green jersey colour, so the meaning is "Tokyo Greens/Tokyo Verdi".[6] In Italian, the form "verdi" indicates the plural form "the greens".

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

Period Kit supplier Shirt sponsor
1992 Puma Coca-Cola
1993 Mizuno
1994
1995
1996 MALT'S
1997 Nike
1998
1999 KONAMI
2000
2001
2002 楽天
ICHIBA
2003
2004 LEOC
2005 CyberAgent
2006 CyberAgent（J2）
日テレ（ACL）
2007 Kappa Ameba
2008
2009 -
2010 - /
XEBIO
2011 ennerre 飯田産業
2012 Athleta
2013 - /
GAGA MILANO
2014 - /
緑の心臓
2015 緑の心臓
2016 Create
2017 ISPS HANDA
2018
2019 Akatsuki
2020
2021 NICIGAS
2022

Kit evolution

FP 1st
1993 - 1994
1995 - 1996
1997
1998
1999 - 2000
2001 - 2002
2003 - 2004
2005 - 2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021 -
FP 2nd
1993 - 1994
1995 - 1996
1997
1998
1999 - 2000
2001 - 2002
2003 - 2004
2005 - 2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2012 3rd
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021 -

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The Original Ten of the J.League in 1992 were Kashima Antlers, Urawa Red Diamonds, JEF United Ichihara, Verdy Kawasaki, Yokohama Marinos, Yokohama Flügels, Shimizu S-Pulse, Nagoya Grampus Eight, Gamba Osaka and Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

References

  1. ^ a b c "FIFA Classic Clubs – Tokyo Verdy 1969". FIFA. Archived from the original on 1 October 2009.
  2. ^ クラブサッカーの始祖鳥 読売クラブ [The archaeopteryx of club soccer -Yomiuri Club] (in Japanese). Tokyo Verdy. 2010. p. 302.
  3. ^ 日本サッカーリーグ全史 [The complete history of Japan Soccer League] (in Japanese). Japan Soccer League. 1993.
  4. ^ "Ten-man Tokyo Verdy lift Emperor's Cup". ESPN FC. 1 January 2005.
  5. ^ "Tokyo Verdy: Trophies". Soccerway. 1 January 2005. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Club guide: Tokyo Verdy" (in Japanese). J.League. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  7. ^ Ossie Ardiles (2010). Ossie's Dream: My Autobiography. Random House. p. 283. ISBN 0552159182.
  8. ^ "Tokyo Verdy to play in AFC Champions League". AFC. 21 November 2005.
  9. ^ a b "J-League club Tokyo Verdy sack coach Ardiles". AFC. 21 July 2005.
  10. ^ "Real Madrid humiliated in Tokyo". Rediff.com. 25 July 2005.
  11. ^ "Verdy appoints Ramos as boss". The Japan Times. 23 December 2005.
  12. ^ "Morimoto, 15, breaks J-League record". ESPN Soccernet. 5 May 2004.
  13. ^ "Weak ad income prompts Japan`s Nipon TV to sell pro soccer club". Antara. 17 September 2009.
  14. ^ "J.League to run Tokyo Verdy". The Japan Times. 30 January 2010.
  15. ^ a b "Japan's Tokyo Verdy secure much needed sponsorship". SportsPro. 20 October 2010.
  16. ^ "選手・スタッフ". Tokyo Verdy. 12 May 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
Achievements
Preceded by Champions of Asia
1987–88 		Succeeded by
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