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.

For the club in Kusatsu, Shiga, see MIO Biwako Kusatsu.
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
ManagerKeiichiro Nuno
LeagueJ2 League
2019 2nd in J3 League (promotion)
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 28 June 2020.[5]

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

No. Position Player
1 GK Keiki Shimizu
2 DF Tetsuya Funatsu (captain)
3 DF Junya Suzuki
4 DF Daihachi Okamura
6 MF Nanasei Iino
7 FW Junya Kato
8 MF Yuzo Iwakami
9 FW Shohei Okada
10 FW Shota Aoki
11 MF Toshiya Tanaka
13 FW Ryohei Hayashi
14 DF So Hirao
15 MF Justin Toshiki Kinjo
17 MF Atsuki Yamanaka
18 FW Kohei Shin
No. Position Player
19 MF Tomoyuki Shiraishi
21 GK Shuhei Matsubara
23 MF Go Iwase
24 DF Yuya Mitsunaga
25 DF Masaya Kojima
32 DF Kodai Watanabe
33 GK Hayate Tsuta
35 MF Masaki Miyasaka
37 GK Keita Toyama
39 DF Yuko Takase
40 MF Tatsuya Uchida
41 MF Yuto Nakayama
46 DF Yuki Kawakami
50 FW Genki Omae

Record as J. League member
Season Div. Tms. Pos. Attendance/G Emperor's Cup
2005J212123,9594th round
2006J213123,7364th round
2007J213113,8084th round
2008J21594,2153rd round
2009J210184,3303rd round
2010J219124,4242nd round
2011J22093,2112nd round
2012J222173,3412nd round
2013J222203,5712nd round
2014J222173,6894th round
2015J222184,0991st round
2016J222174,7442nd round
2017J222223,8323rd round
2018J31753,3462nd Round
Key
  • Tms. = Number of teams
  • Pos. = Position in league
  • Attendance/G = Average league attendance
  • Source: J. League Data Site

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. "2018 Season Member". Thespakusatsu Gunma. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
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