Iwaki FC

Iwaki FC (いわきFC, Iwaki Efushi) is a football (soccer) club based in Iwaki, a city in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. The club plays in the J2 League, Japan's 2nd tier of professional league football.

Iwaki FC
いわきFC
Full nameIwaki FC
Founded2012 (2012)
GroundHawaiians Stadium Iwaki
(Iwaki, Fukushima)
Capacity5,600
ChairmanSatoshi Okura
ManagerYuzo Tamura
LeagueJ2 League
2022J3 League, 1st of 18 (promoted)
WebsiteClub website

History

Founder Club

Iwaki FC was founded in 2012, before getting official recognition in 2013 with the creation of their homonymous corporation.[1][2] The club name got more attention when Under Armour decided to join the club and support it to climb the Japanese football pyramid from the bottom.[3] There had been a big vision behind the club, with the will of "making Iwaki the central football-city in Tohoku".[4] In fact, a new training field opened in November 2016 and the club-house was just launched in May 2017: two central structures to rise to the top of Japanese football.[5][6]

Fukushima Prefectural Football League (2013–2017)

Plus, results are pushing Iwaki FC, which has won several categories in Fukushima Prefectural Football League, coming to first division: the next target is Tohoku Soccer League, while the club has even achieved their first win at National Club Team Football Championship Tournament (winning the final 9–0).[7] Iwaki FC also debuted at Emperor's Cup in 2017 edition. After defeating Norbritz Hokkaido in the first round, they surprisingly overcame Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo for 5–2 after extra-time.[8] They lost against Shimizu S-Pulse in the third round, but it was still a surprising run.

Tohoku Soccer League (2018–2019)

In the 2019 season, Iwaki FC earned promotion to the following year's JFL for the first time in history after two seasons in Tohoku Soccer League competition, with the club winning the All Japan Regional Promotion Series and as a result Iwaki was crowned champions.

Japan Football League (JFL) (2020–2021)

In the 2021 season, Iwaki FC earned promotion to the following year's J3 League for the first time in history after two seasons in JFL competition, after finishing in first position, the team were crowned champions for their first title of fourth tier in Japan Football League.

J. League (2022–)

In the 2022 season, Iwaki FC earned promotion to the following year's J2 League for the first time in history after a single season in J3 League, after get a J2 license on 28 October 2022.[9] On 6 November at same year, they were crowned J3 League champions for the first time in their history. They secured the league title on the 32nd round, following their 3–0 win against Kagoshima United and defeats from the 2nd and 3rd-placed teams at the round, being them Fujieda MYFC and Matsumoto Yamaga, respectively. 14 days later, Iwaki FC finished as league champions, ending their 2022 season with 78 points from 34 matches, staying 11 points clear off 2nd-placed Fujieda MYFC, who also ended up being promoted for the J2. On 26 September 2023, Iwaki FC was declared to have met the requirements to obtain a license up to J1 League level.[10]

Stadium

Iwaki FC used to J-Village Stadium for 2022 season in J3. But, since promotion to J2 League, Iwaki will use Iwaki Green Field for 2023 season.

League and cup record
Champions Runners-up Third place Promoted Relegated
League J. League
Cup		Emperor's
Cup		Shakaijin
Cup
SeasonDivisionTeamsTierPos.PWDLFAGDPts
2013 Fukushima Prefectural
Football League (Div. 3 West)[11][12]		682nd1053230131718Not eligible
20145 93rd83141715210
2015 Fukushima Prefectural
Football League (Div. 3 East)[13]		61st1010004193230
2016 Fukushima Prefectural
Football League (Div. 2)[14]		681st1010009319230Did not qualifyQuarter final
2017 Fukushima Prefectural
Football League (Div. 1)[15]		671st10100093093303rd round2nd round
2018 Tohoku Soccer
League Div. 2 South		1061st18180013912127541st round3rd
2019 Tohoku Soccer
League Div. 1		1051st181530821468481st round3rd
2020 Japan Football
League 		1647th1563624240212nd roundNot eligible
2021171st322183652837711st round
2022 J3 League1831st34237472234976Didn't qualify
2023 J2 League222TBD422nd 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

Honours
J3 League
  • Champions (1st): 2022
Japan Football League
  • Champions (1st): 2021
National Club Team Football Championship Tournament
  • Champions (1st): 2016
All Japan Regional Football Champions League
  • Champions (1st): 2019
Shakaijin Cup
  • Bronze medal (3rd): 2018, 2019

Current squad
As of 18 August 2023.[16]

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 Japan JPN Kengo Tanaka
2 DF Japan JPN Yusuke Ishida
3 DF Japan JPN Ryo Endo (on loan from Albirex Niigata)
4 DF Japan JPN Rei Ieizumi
5 DF Japan JPN Shuhei Hayami
6 MF Japan JPN Eiji Miyamoto
7 MF Japan JPN Reo Sugiyama
8 MF Japan JPN Riku Saga
9 FW Japan JPN Yoshihito Kondo DSP
10 FW Japan JPN Kotaro Arima
11 FW Japan JPN Ryo Arita
13 MF Japan JPN Mizuki Kaburaki
14 MF Japan JPN Daiki Yamaguchi
15 MF Japan JPN Naoki Kase
16 DF Japan JPN Takumi Kawamura
17 MF Japan JPN Kaina Tanimura
18 FW Japan JPN Shu Yoshizawa
No. Pos. Nation Player
19 FW Japan JPN Hiroto Iwabuchi
20 MF Japan JPN Sota Nagai
21 GK Japan JPN Toru Takagiwa (on loan from Tokyo Verdy)
22 MF Japan JPN Yuma Kato DSP
24 MF Japan JPN Yuto Yamashita
25 MF Japan JPN Asahi Haga
26 FW Japan JPN Iori Sakamoto
27 MF Brazil BRA Nélson Henrique (on loan from S.C. Praiense)
28 MF Japan JPN Kiwara Miyazaki (on loan from Fagiano Okayama)
29 DF Japan JPN Yuma Tsujioka DSP
30 DF Japan JPN Wataru Kuromiya
31 GK Japan JPN Shuhei Shikano
33 MF Japan JPN Yoshihiro Shimoda (on loan from Kashima Antlers)
35 DF Japan JPN Genki Egawa
36 GK Japan JPN Sota Saito Type 2
37 GK Japan JPN Shugo Kondo Type 2

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
— FW Japan JPN Daigo Furukawa (on loan at FC Osaka)
— DF Japan JPN Tomoki Yoshida (on loan at Kochi United SC)

Club officials

For the 2023 season.[17]

First-team
Position Name
Manager Japan Yuzo Tamura
Assistant manager Japan Ryo Kobayashi
Japan Takumi Watanabe
Goalkeeper Coach Japan Jiro Takeda
Sprint Coach Japan Shingo Akimoto
Athletic trainer Japan Atsushi Hokari
Japan Tsubasa Hisanaga
Analyst Japan Yuta Murakami
Doctor Japan Yoshifumi Fukushima
Japan Yoshitomo Saita
Japan Nanako Yamamoto
Medical officer Japan Hidenori Izawa
Physiotherapist Japan Daiki Iwadate
Trainer Japan Kodai Harada
Academy Advisor Japan Yoshinobu Omata

Academy
Position Name
U-18 Manager Japan Kenta Arai
U-18 Assistant manager Japan Kaiya Nakamura
U-15 Manager Japan Shunichi Nakajima
U-14 Manager Japan Sotaro Izumi
U-13 Manager Japan Koki Ishii
Girls U-15 Manager Japan Yoshinao Iketsu
Girls U-15 Assistant manager Japan Noboru Takasaki
Goalkeeper coach Japan Shingo Watanabe
Advisor Japan Yoshinobu Omata

Managerial history
As of 15 June 2023
ManagerNationalityTenure
StartFinish
Pieter Huistra Netherlands13 January 201631 December 2016
Yuzo Tamura Japan1 February 201731 January 2021
Hiromasa Suguri Japan1 February 202214 June 2023
Yuzo Tamura Japan15 June 2023present

Kit evolution
Home kit - 1st
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023 -
Away kit - 2nd
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023 -

References
  1. "一般社団法人いわきスポーツクラブ　いわきFC代表　向山　聖也　さん – 福島県ホームページ". www.pref.fukushima.lg.jp. Archived from the original on 2018-10-25. Retrieved 2017-07-14.
  2. "元蘭代表ハウストラ氏が福島県2部で監督就任。現役時代は広島に在籍".
  3. "ドーム、「いわきFC」を運営する会社「株式会社いわきスポーツクラブ」を設立". www.facebook.com.
  4. "「サッカーを通じて、いわき市を東北一の都市にする」いわきFC発足!!第1期メンバー募集開始 – ゲキサカ". ゲキサカ.
  5. "「いわきＦＣパーク」開所　国内初の商業施設複合型クラブハウス". Archived from the original on 2017-07-27. Retrieved 2017-07-14.
  6. "「いわきＦＣフィールド」オープン　地域活性化の一翼に期待".
  7. "第23回全国クラブチームサッカー選手権大会".
  8. "注目急上昇！Ｊ１撃破「いわきＦＣ」　凱旋の勇姿に熱い視線".
  9. "[いわきFC OfficialSite] 2023年シーズン「J2クラブライセンス」交付のお知らせ". いわきFC OfficialSite (in Japanese). 25 October 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  10. "[いわきFC OfficialSite] 2024年シーズン「J1クラブライセンス」交付のお知らせ". いわきFC OfficialSite (in Japanese). 26 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  11. "RSSSF Japan Regional League data 2013". RSSSF.org. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  12. "RSSSF Japan Regional League data 2014". RSSSF.org. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  13. "RSSSF Japan Regional League data 2015". RSSSF.org. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  14. "RSSSF Japan Regional League data 2016". RSSSF.org. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  15. "RSSSF Japan Regional League data 2017". RSSSF.org. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  16. "2023 SEASON PLAYERS". iwakifc.com (in Japanese). Iwaki FC. 29 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  17. "TEAM". iwakifc.com (in Japanese). Iwaki FC. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
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