Tokyo Verdy
東京ヴェルディ
Full nameTokyo Verdy 1969 Football Club
Nickname(s)Verdy
Founded1969 (1969) as Yomiuri F.C.[1]
GroundAjinomoto Stadium
Chōfu, Tokyo
Capacity49,970
OwnerTokyo Verdy Holdings
ChairmanYasuo Shimada
Head coachHiroshi Jofuku
LeagueJ1 League
2023J2 League, 3rd of 22 (promoted via play-offs)
WebsiteClub website

Tokyo Verdy (東京ヴェルディ, Tōkyō Berudi) is a Japanese professional football club based in Inagi, Tokyo. The club is set for a return to the J1 League for the 2024 J1 League, following promotion from the J2 League in 2023.

History

Founded as Yomiuri F.C. in 1969, Tokyo Verdy is one of the most decorated clubs in the J.League, with honours including 2 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[lower-alpha 1] of the J.League in 1993.

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)

From its days as Yomiuri FC, the ownership had visions of a football equivalent of the baseball team 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", although the color was picked in homage to Brazilian club Palmeiras, a team admired by one of Yomiuri's first idols, São Paulo-born George Yonashiro.[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 in 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. 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 attract.

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]

Brief promotion (2007-2008)

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 runners-up position, 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 eventually be relegated once again after finishing in 17th place (second to last) in their 2008 J1 League return.

Back to the second tier (2009-2023)

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.

The club suffered a mere respite from heartbreak during the 2018 season, when they finished 6th, qualifying then for the promotion/relegation playoffs. They beat Omiya Ardija 1–0 in the 1st round, and repeated the script against Yokohama FC in the semi-final. They ended just one game short of a J1 League comeback, having lost in the final by 2–0 against Júbilo Iwata, which saw the promotion hopes fade away for another time. Ever since being relegated to the J2 at the end of 2008 season, the club were unable to return to the J1 and continue to compete in J2 League until 2023 season.

Return to the top-flight (2024–present)

On 2 December 2023, Tokyo Verdy gained promotion to the J1 League for the 2024 season after a 1-1 draw against Shimizu S-Pulse in the promotion play-off final, with Itsuki Someno scored the equalizer from the penalty spot in the 96th minute. As a result, Verdy, who was the top-ranked side entering the J2 League playoffs, returned to the national top tier for the first time since 2008.[16][17]

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 winners.

Stadium

Verdy plays its home games at the Ajinomoto Stadium, a stadium with the capacity of 50,000. It is shared with the club's main rivals FC Tokyo, although occasional home matches are played in other stadiums in Tokyo, such as the Ajinomoto Field Nishigaoka.

League and cup record

Champions Runners-up Third place Promoted Relegated
SeasonDiv.TeamsPos.PW (OTW/PKW)DL (OTL/PKL)FAGDPtsAttendance/GJ.League
Cup
Emperor's
Cup
Asia
Verdy Kawasaki
1992WinnerRunners-upCC2nd round
1993 J1101st3628869284125,235WinnerQuarter finalCC4th place
1994 121st44311391474424,926Winner2nd roundCC3rd place
1995 142nd523513 (-/3)106624410820,834Quarter finalCCQuarter final
1996 167th301911 (-/0)6842265717,653Runners-UpWinnerCCQuarter final
1997 1715th326 (4/0)19 (1/2)3865–272610,933Group stage3rd round
1998 1812th3413 (0/0)17 (2/2)4753–63913,338Group stageQuarter-finalCWCQuarter final
1999 167th3013 (4/-)29 (2/-)43430499,3792nd roundSemi-final
2000 1610th3010 (2/-)410 (4/0)46442387,609Quarter final4th round
Tokyo Verdy 1969
2001 J11614th308 (2/-)213 (5/-)3857–193019,3961st roundQuarter final
2002 1610th308 (5/-)3144143–23915,128Group stage3rd round
2003 168th30117125657–14017,563Group stageQuarter final
2004 169th30116134346–33915,059Semi-finalWinner
2005 1817th34612164073–333014,716Group stage4th round
2006 J2137th48218196975–6715,705Not eligible3rd roundCLGroup stage
2007 132nd48261111905733897,3273rd round
Tokyo Verdy
2008 J11817th34107173850–123714,837Group stage4th round
2009 J2187th5121111968617745,521Not eligible2nd round
2010 195th3617712473413585,5722nd round
2011 205th38161111694524595,7103rd round
2012 227th4220616654619665,3413rd round
2013 2213th421414145258–6566,3433rd round
2014 2220th42915183148–17425,4302nd round
2015 228th4216101643412585,6552nd round
2016 2218th421013194361–18435,4023rd round
2017 225th42201012644915706,2062nd round
2018 226th4219149564115715,9364th round
2019 2213th4214131559590555,3712nd round
2020 2212th4213151448480542,429Did not qualify
2021 2212th421610166266–4583,2462nd round
2022 229th4216131362557614,955Quarter-finals
2023 223rd4221129573126757,9823rd round
2024 J120TBA38
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
  • OTW / PKW = Overtime wins / Penalty kicks wins 1997 & 1998 seasons - 1999, 2000, 2001 & 2002 Overtime wins only
  • OTL / PKL = Overtime losses / Penalty kicks losses 1997 and 1998 seasons - 1999, 2000 & 2001 Overtime losses only
  • Attendance/G = Average home league attendance
  • 2020 & 2021 seasons attendances reduced by COVID-19 worldwide pandemic
  • Source: J. League Data Site

Honours

With seven league titles, five Emperor's Cups and six 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 as Yomiuri FC before the inception of the professional J.League.

National

League

Cups

International

Players

Current squad

As of 18 August 2023.[18][19] 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 Brazil BRA Matheus Vidotto (vice-captain)
2 DF Japan JPN Daiki Fukazawa
3 DF Japan JPN Hiroto Taniguchi (vice-captain)
4 MF Japan JPN Ryota Kajikawa
5 DF Japan JPN Tomohiro Taira
6 DF Japan JPN Kazuya Miyahara
7 MF Japan JPN Koki Morita (captain)
8 MF Japan JPN Kosuke Saito
13 DF Japan JPN Naoki Hayashi (on loan from Kashima Antlers)
14 MF Japan JPN Tatsuya Hasegawa (on loan from Yokohama FC)
15 DF Japan JPN Kaito Chida
16 DF Japan JPN Kohei Yamakoshi
19 MF Japan JPN Junki Koike
20 MF Japan JPN Yuji Kitajima (on loan from Avispa Fukuoka)
21 GK Japan JPN Yuya Nagasawa
22 MF Japan JPN Hidemasa Koda (on loan from Nagoya Grampus)
23 MF Japan JPN Yuto Tsunashima
24 MF Japan JPN Yuta Narawa
25 MF Japan JPN Tetsuyuki Inami
No. Pos. Nation Player
26 DF Japan JPN Ren Kato
27 FW Japan JPN Goki Yamada
28 MF Japan JPN Daiki Kusunoki
29 FW Japan JPN Keito Kawamura
30 FW Japan JPN Kosuke Sagawa
31 GK Japan JPN Hisaya Sato
34 MF Japan JPN Ryo Nishitani
39 FW Japan JPN Itsuki Someno (on loan from Kashima Antlers)
40 DF Japan JPN Yuta Arai DSP
41 GK Japan JPN Masahiro Iida
42 FW Japan JPN Ryosuke Shirai Type 2
43 FW Japan JPN Yuki Okubo Type 2
44 DF Japan JPN Kazuya Yamaguchi Type 2
45 MF Japan JPN Gakuto Kawamura Type 2
47 MF Japan JPN Hikaru Nakahara (on loan from Cerezo Osaka)
49 MF Japan JPN Joi Yamamoto Type 2
50 MF Japan JPN Soma Meshino DSP

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
GK Japan JPN Toru Takagiwa (on loan at Iwaki FC until 31 January 2024)
DF Japan JPN Maaya Sako (on loan at AC Nagano Parceiro until 31 January 2024)
DF Japan JPN Yu Miyamoto (on loan at Kochi United SC until 31 January 2024)
MF Japan JPN Kyota Mochii (on loan at Azul Claro Numazu until 31 January 2024)
MF Japan JPN Mahiro Ano (on loan at Fukui United until 31 January 2024)
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF Japan JPN Rikuto Hashimoto (on loan at YSCC Yokohama until 31 January 2024)
MF Japan JPN Ryuji Sugimoto (on loan at Thespakusatsu Gunma until 31 January 2024)
MF Japan JPN Taiga Ishiura (on loan at Ehime FC until 31 January 2024)
MF Japan JPN Yuan Matsuhashi (on loan at Renofa Yamaguchi until 31 January 2024)

Club officials

As of the 2023 season

Position Staff
ChairmanJapan Yasuo Shimada
Technical directorJapan Atsuhiko Ejiri
Sporting DirectorJapan Ruy Ramos
Head coachJapan Hiroshi Jofuku
Assistant head coachJapan Tsutomu Ogura
First-team coachJapan Hiroaki Nagashima
Japan Nobuyuki Hosaka
Goalkeeper coachJapan Takeaki Yuhara
Fitness coachJapan Takanori Ishii
Physical coachJapan Takanori Ishii
Analytical coachJapan Hiroki Yamamoto
Japan Daiki Yamamoto
Team DoctorJapan Kenta Uemura
Japan Yu Taniguchi
Athletic trainerJapan Jun Yamamoto
Japan Ryo Kogen
Japan Ryo Takahara
Japan Shunpei Kawamura
PhysiotherapistJapan Masanari Hira
InterpreterJapan Genta Iwauchi
Head of ScoutingJapan Mikio Manaka
Equipment managerJapan Jun Yamato
Japan Takashi Sato

Managerial history

ManagerNationalityTenure
StartFinish
Jujiro Narita Japan1 February 197030 June 1973
Frans van Balkom Netherlands1 February 197331 January 1976
Shoichi Nishimura Japan1 February 197631 January 1981
Ryoichi Aikawa Japan1 February 198130 June 1983
Susumu Chiba Japan1 July 198331 January 1984
Rudi Gutendorf Germany1 January 198430 June 1986
George Yonashiro Japan1 July 198630 June 1989
Carlos Alberto Silva Brazil1 July 199030 June 1991
José Macia "Pepe" Brazil1 January 199131 December 1992
Yasutarō Matsuki Japan1 February 199331 January 1995
Nelsinho Baptista Brazil1 February 199525 April 1996
Yasuyuki Kishino Japan26 April 19969 May 1996
Émerson Leão Brazil10 May 199631 January 1997
Hisashi Katō Japan1 February 19971 June 1997
Valdir Espinosa Brazil2 June 199730 October 1997
Ryōichi Kawakatsu Japan1 November 199731 January 1998
Nicanor Brazil1 February 19987 September 1998
Ryōichi Kawakatsu Japan8 September 199831 January 1999
Hideki Matsunaga Japan1 February 199931 January 2000
Chang Woe-ryong South Korea1 February 20001 January 2001
Yasutarō Matsuki Japan1 February 200116 July 2001
Yukitaka Omi Japan17 July 20019 April 2002
Lori Paulo Sandri Brazil1 January 200230 June 2003
Osvaldo Ardiles Argentina16 May 200318 July 2005
Nobuhiro Ishizaki Japan19 July 200531 July 2005
Vadão Brazil1 August 200514 December 2005
Ruy Ramos Japan1 February 200631 January 2008
Tetsuji Hashiratani Japan1 February 200831 January 2009
Takuya Takagi Japan1 February 200914 October 2009
Takeo Matsuda Japan14 October 200931 January 2010
Ryōichi Kawakatsu Japan1 February 20106 September 2012
Shinichiro Takahashi Japan6 September 201231 January 2013
Yasutoshi Miura Japan1 February 201315 September 2014
Kōichi Togashi Japan1 September 201431 December 2016
Miguel Ángel Lotina Spain1 February 201731 January 2019
Gary White England1 February 201917 July 2019
Hideki Nagai Japan17 July 20191 September 2021
Takafumi Hori Japan2 September 202113 June 2022
Hiroshi Jofuku Japan14 June 2022current

Kits and crests

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

PeriodKit supplierShirt sponsor
1992PumaCoca-Cola
1993Mizuno
1994
1995
1996MALT'S
1997Nike
1998
1999KONAMI
2000
2001
2002楽天
ICHIBA
2003
2004LEOC
2005CyberAgent
2006CyberAgent (J2)
日テレ (ACL)
2007KappaAmeba
2008
2009-
2010- /
XEBIO
2011ennerre飯田産業
2012Athleta
2013- /
GAGA MILANO
2014- /
緑の心臓
2015緑の心臓
2016Create
2017ISPS HANDA
2018
2019Akatsuki
2020
2021NICIGAS
2022
2023
2024–2030GivovaRamsdens Currency

Kit evolution

1st - Home
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
2022
2023 -
2nd - Away
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
2022
2023 -

See also

Notes

References

  1. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "Japan's Tokyo Verdy secure much needed sponsorship". SportsPro. 20 October 2010.
  16. "Tokyo Verdy promoted back to J1 after dramatic play-off final". www.jleague.co. J.League. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  17. "Football: Late draw seals J1 return for Verdy at Shimizu's expense". Mainichi Daily News. 2 December 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  18. "選手・スタッフ". Tokyo Verdy. 12 May 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  19. "Tokyo Verdy Profile, Results, Players, Stats, Stadium". J.League. 28 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
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