Thespa Gunma

Thespa Gunma (ザスパ群馬, Zasupa Gunma), formerly Thespakusatsu Gunma (ザスパクサツ群馬, Zasupakusatsu Gunma) is a professional football (soccer) club based in Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture in Japan. The club currently plays in the J2 League, Japanese second tier of professional football.

Thespa Gunma
ザスパ群馬
Nickname(s)Thespa (ザスパ, Zasupa)
Founded1995 (1995) (as Liaison Kusatsu)
2005 (2005) (as Thespa Kusatsu)
2013 (2013) (as Thespakusatsu Gunma)
2024 (2024) as (Thespa Gunma)
GroundShoda Shoyu Stadium Gunma
Maebashi, Gunma
Capacity15,253
OwnerKusatsu Onsen Football Club
ChairmanTomohiko Nara
ManagerAkira Muto
LeagueJ2 League
202311th of 22
WebsiteClub website

History

The club was founded in 1995 in Kusatsu, one of the most well-known spa resorts in Japan, as Liaison Kusatsu Football Club.[1] The players were students of the specialized training college Higashi Nihon Soccer Academy. When the school 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 the J. League in mind and adopted the new team name Thespa Kusatsu (ザスパ草津, zasupa kusatsu), meaning "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 in the 2005 season.[2]

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

After 12 years spent in the J2 League, Thespakusatsu Gunma was relegated to the J3 League for the first time in their history, having finished as the last-placed team in the 2017 J2 League. Gunma returned to the J2 League ahead of the 2020 season, being promoted back to J2 after two years spent in J3.

On 29 June 2023, Thespakusatsu Gunma new name would be Thespa Gunma.[5]

On 5 October 2023, Thespakusatsu Gunma announcement officially change name and logo to Thespa Gunma from 2024 season due to leaving the name "kusatsu" since 2005 as Thespa Kusatsu.[6]

Record as J. League member
Champions Runners-up Third place Promoted Relegated
League J. League Cup Emperor's
Cup
SeasonDiv.TeamsPos.PWDLFAGDPtsAttendance/G
As Thespa Kusatsu
2005 J21212th4458312682-56233,959Not eligible4th round
2006 1312th48915245486-32423,7364th round
2007 1311th48721204271-29423,8084th round
2008 159th421314154552-7534,2153rd round
2009 1810th511811226476-12654,3303rd round
2010 1912th36146163648-12484,4242nd round
2011 209th381691351510573,2112nd round
2012 2217th421211193115-14473,3412nd round
As Thespakusatsu Gunma
2013 J22220th42913204361-18403,571Not eligible2nd round
2014 2218th42147214554-9493,6894th round
2015 2218th42139203456-22484,0991st round
2016 2217th421112195266-14454,7442nd round
2017 2222nd425532323288-563,8323rd round
2018 J3 175th321571037352523,3462nd round
2019 182nd341897593425633,5942nd round
2020 † J22220th42154234062-22491,709Did not qualify
2021 † 2218th42914193556-21412,0824th round
2022 2220th42119223657-21423,076Round of 16
2023 2211th4214151344440574,1162nd round
As Thespa Gunma
2024 J220TBA382nd round2nd round
Key
  • Pos. = Position in league; P = Games played; W = Games won; D = Games drawn; L = Games lost; F = Goals scored; A = Goals conceded; GD = Goals difference; Pts = Points gained
  • Attendance/G = Average home league attendance
  • † 2020 & 2021 seasons attendances reduced by COVID-19 worldwide pandemic
  • Source: J. League Data Site

Honours
Thespa Gunma honours
HonourNo.YearsNotes
Gunma Prefecture Division 4 1 1995 as Liaison Kusatsu
Gunma Prefecture Division 3 1 1996
Gunma Prefecture 2nd Division A 1 1997
Gunma Prefecture Division 2 B 1 2001
Gunma Prefecture Division 1 1 2002 as Thespa Kusatsu
Kantō Division 2 1 2003

Current squad
As of 21 May 2024[7]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF  JPN Hayate Shirowa
3 DF  JPN Ryuya Ohata
4 DF  JPN Yuma Funabashi
5 MF  JPN Chie Edoojon Kawakami
6 MF  JPN Tatsuya Uchida
7 MF  JPN Masashi Wada
8 FW  JPN Yuya Takazawa
9 FW  JPN Shuto Kitagawa
10 MF  JPN Ryo Sato
11 FW  JPN Ryuji Sugimoto
13 GK  JPN Issei Kondo
14 FW  JPN Riyo Kawamoto (on loan from Shimizu S-Pulse)
15 MF  JPN Koki Kazama
17 MF  JPN Atsuki Yamanaka
18 FW  JPN Luna Iwamoto
19 FW  JPN Sena Saito (on loan from Shimizu S-Pulse)
No. Pos. Nation Player
21 GK  JPN Masatoshi Kushibiki
22 DF  JPN Yuriya Takahashi
23 FW  JPN Shu Hiramatsu
24 DF  JPN Shuichi Sakai
25 DF  JPN Rikiru Nakano
27 MF  JPN Ren Fujimura
29 DF  JPN Ryota Tagashira
30 FW  JPN Toranosuke Onoseki
33 MF  JPN Hajime Hosogai
35 MF  JPN Taishi Tamashiro
36 DF  JPN Daiki Nakashio
39 GK  JPN Kohei Maki
40 FW  JPN Kosuke Sagawa (on loan from Tokyo Verdy)
41 MF  JPN Takatora Einaga (on loan from Kawasaki Frontale)
42 GK  JPN Ryo Ishii
50 DF  JPN Kenta Kikuchi

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF  JPN Yudai Nakata (on loan at Tiamo Hirakata)

Coaching staff
PositionName
Manager Akira Muto
Assistant managers Kentaro Yoshida
Ryo Ishibashi
Goalkeeper coach Hidetoyo Watanabe
Analyst Yota Sakuma
Physical coach Yutaka Aoki
Physiotherapist Koki Katakai
Trainer Ryo Murakami
Ryoji Sejino
Chief manager Ryo Suzuki
Manager Ryota Osawa
Kit man Riku Takahashi

Managerial history
ManagerNationalityTenure
StartFinish
Ratko Stevović Montenegro19951997
Naoki Kimura Japan19981999
Ratko Stevović Montenegro20002001
Ryōsuke Okuno Japan1 February 200231 January 2004
Satoshi Tezuka Japan1 January 200531 December 2005
Shigeharu Ueki Japan1 February 200631 January 2009
Tōru Sano Japan1 February 200931 January 2010
Hiroshi Soejima Japan1 February 201031 January 2013
Tadahiro Akiba Japan1 February 201331 January 2015
Hiroki Hattori Japan1 January 201531 December 2016
Hitoshi Morishita Japan1 February 201731 January 2018
Keiichirō Nuno Japan1 February 201831 January 2020
Ryōsuke Okuno Japan1 February 20204 July 2021
Kiyokazu Kudō Japan5 July 202131 January 2022
Tsuyoshi Otsuki Japan1 February 20228 May 2024
Akira Muto Japan9 May 2024 [8]current

Kit evolution
Home kits - 1st
2003 - 2004
2005
2006 - 2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024 -
Away kits - 2nd
2003 - 2004
2005
2006 - 2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024 -

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. "リブランディングに関するお知らせ". ザスパクサツ群馬. 2023-06-29. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
  6. "新クラブプロパティについて". ザスパクサツ群馬. 2023-10-27. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
  7. "2024 Season Member". Thespakusatsu Gunma. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  8. "武藤 覚ヘッドコーチ　新監督就任のお知らせ". thespa.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 May 2024.
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