Sanfrecce Hiroshima

• 1938–70: Toyo Kogyo Shukyu Club (東洋工業蹴球部)
  • 1943–46: Football was suspended during the period, due to the Pacific War.
• 1971–80: Toyo Kogyo Soccer Club (東洋工業サッカー部)
• 1981–83: Mazda Sports Club Toyo Kogyo Soccer Club (マツダスポーツクラブ東洋工業サッカー部)
• 1984–85: Mazda Sports Club Soccer Club (マツダスポーツクラブサッカー部)
• 1986–92: Mazda Soccer Club (マツダサッカークラブ)

The club was a former company team of Toyo Kogyo Soccer Club (東洋工業サッカー部) in 1938 and played in the semi-professional Japan Soccer League.

The club was an original founder ("Original Eight"[lower-alpha 1]) of the now-disbanded Japan Soccer League (JSL) in 1965. They dominated the JSL's early years, winning the title 4 times in a row – a feat that was later equaled by Yomiuri SC/Verdy Kawasaki. The name change was made at Mazda SC (マツダSC) in 1981. When JSL disbanded and became the J.League in 1992, it dropped the company name and became "Sanfrecce Hiroshima". Alongside JEF United Ichihara Chiba and Urawa Red Diamonds they co-founded both leagues ("Original Ten"[lower-alpha 2]).

During the 1969 season they participated in the Asian Club Cup, forerunner to today's AFC Champions League; at the time, the tournament was done in a single locale (in that year it was Bangkok, Thailand), and they ended up in third place, the first participation of a Japanese club in the continental tournament. This also cost them the league title to Mitsubishi/Urawa, and although they won another title in 1970, since then the club has been out of the running for the title, with exceptional seasons such as 1994 when they won runner-up.

The Toyo Industries that became the first JSL champions also completed the first double by taking the Emperor's Cup. They were also the first of three "Invincibles", undefeated champion clubs in Japan (the others were Mitsubishi in 1969 and Yamaha in 1987–88), although only Toyo completed a double.

Matsumoto, Ogi, and Yasuyuki Kuwahara went on to win the 1968 Olympic bronze medal for the national team.

In 2002, Sanfrecce became the first former stage winner (first stage, 1994) to be relegated to the lower division, J2. But it only spent a year there, finishing second the very next season to regain promotion back to J1. The club finished 16th in the 2007 season and were relegated to J.League Division 2 after they were beaten by Kyoto Sanga in the promotion/relegation play-off. In 2008 they nevertheless won the J2 title at the first attempt, having 84 points (a difference of 25 points with the runner-up clubs) with six matches left.

By virtue of earning fourth place in the 2009 season and Gamba Osaka retaining the Emperor's Cup, Sanfrecce qualified for the Asian Champions League, where they were knocked out in the group phase.

On 24 November 2012, Sanfrecce defeated Cerezo Osaka 4–1 to seal their first ever J.League Division 1 title.[4][5]

On 7 December 2013, Sanfrecce defeated Kashima Antlers 2–0, securing their second J.League Division 1 title following a thrilling finish to the season which saw first-place Yokohama F. Marinos losing their final league game, handing Sanfrecce the title. With their second consecutive title win, Sanfrecce became the second club to successfully defend their crown since Kashima Antlers in 2009.

2015 proved to be a great year for Sanfrecce, finishing 1st in the 2nd half of the season, then finishing 1st overall, just 2 points above Urawa Red Diamonds, to qualify and represent Japan in that year's FIFA Club World Cup. They would finish 3rd, after winning, 2–1, against Chinese side Guanzhou Evergrande in the 3rd place match.

In 2018, after Sanfrecce progressively trailing towards a J1 title, as it led the standings after Round 5, the club fell down to 2nd-place at the end of the season. The club saw Kawasaki Frontale win the league as Sanfrecce lost four of their last five league matches.

In 2022, the club was relieved to experience another good season, under the management of newly appointed German coach Michael Skibbe. Underrated by many because of the previous season, the club fought for the title at every competition it played until the very end. The Violas finished 3rd place at the J1 League, as runners-up to J2 club Ventforet Kofu in the Emperor's Cup final, and as J.League Cup champions. The J.League Cup was won in dramatic fashion against Cerezo Osaka, as the club managed to comeback from a 1–0 loss with two goals scored by mid-season Cypriot signing Pieros Sotiriou. Both goals came very late in the match, being scored at the 96th and 101st minute of the match, during the added time of the second half. For his efforts to make the team competitive at every competition Sanfrecce partook in, Skibbe won J.League Manager of the Year, the club's 4th Manager of the Year title.

The main colour of Sanfrecce Hiroshima is purple.

• Japan Soccer League/J1 League (first tier)
  • Champions (8): 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 2012, 2013, 2015
• J2 League (second tier)
  • Champions (1): 2008

• Emperor's Cup
  • Winners (3): 1965, 1967, 1969
• J.League Cup

Winners (1): 2022

• Japanese Super Cup
  • Winners (4): 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016
• All Japan Works Football Championship
  • Winners (2): 1956, 1962
• NHK Super Cup
  • Winners (1): 1967

As of 1 September 2023.[6]

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  JPN Takuto Hayashi 2 DF  JPN Jelani Reshaun Sumiyoshi 3 DF  JPN Taichi Yamasaki 4 DF  JPN Hayato Araki 5 MF  JPN Hiroya Matsumoto 6 MF  JPN Toshihiro Aoyama 7 MF  JPN Gakuto Notsuda 8 MF  JPN Takumu Kawamura 9 FW  BRA Douglas Vieira 10 MF  BRA Marcos Júnior 11 FW  JPN Makoto Mitsuta 13 FW  SUI Nassim Ben Khalifa 14 MF  BRA Ezequiel 15 DF  JPN Shuto Nakano 16 DF  JPN Takaaki Shichi 17 MF  JPN Taishi Matsumoto 18 MF  JPN Yoshifumi Kashiwa

No. Pos. Nation Player 19 DF  JPN Sho Sasaki (captain) 20 FW  CYP Pieros Sotiriou 21 GK  JPN Yudai Tanaka 22 GK  JPN Goro Kawanami 24 MF  JPN Shunki Higashi 25 MF  JPN Yusuke Chajima 28 FW  JPN Ryo Tanada 30 MF  JPN Kosei Shibasaki 32 MF  JPN Sota Koshimichi 33 DF  JPN Tsukasa Shiotani 35 MF  JPN Yotaro Nakajima Type 2 38 GK  JPN Keisuke Osako 51 FW  JPN Mutsuki Kato — GK  JPN Koshin Yamada Type 2 — MF  JPN Miran Ishihara Type 2 — FW  JPN Shota Kofie Type 2 — FW  JPN Hagumu Nakagawa Type 2

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 Kodai Dohi (at FC Imabari) — MF  JPN Motoki Ohara (at Mito HollyHock)

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  JPN Taishi Semba (at Fagiano Okayama) — FW  JPN Shun Ayukawa (at Oita Trinita)

As of 20 February 2023.

The U-18 team of Sanfrecce Hiroshima currently plays in the Prince Takamado U-18 Premier League, the top-flight league for U-18 clubs in the country. Only the registered players for the competition will be displayed.[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 1 GK  JPN Koshin Yamada 2 DF  JPN Mikio Yamane 3 DF  JPN Isshin Kuroki 4 MF  JPN Kanata Nakamitsu 5 MF  JPN Kazuma Matsumoto 6 MF  JPN Miran Ishihara 7 FW  JPN Zento Torii 8 MF  JPN Yotaro Nakajima 9 FW  JPN Jo Tsunokake 10 MF  JPN Hagumu Nakagawa 11 MF  JPN Yuki Kimura 12 MF  JPN Ayuki Masutani 13 MF  JPN Seiya Ishibashi 14 MF  JPN Shin Takeyama 15 MF  JPN Hinata Hashimoto

No. Pos. Nation Player 16 GK  JPN Shunsuke Sawada 17 MF  JPN Akashi Inoue 18 FW  JPN Shota Kofie 19 FW  JPN Aren Inoue 20 DF  JPN Arashi Daijomen 21 GK  JPN Hikaru Ogawa 22 DF  JPN Fuga Kotani 23 DF  JPN Yutaro Aoi 24 MF  JPN Hiroto Ukai 25 FW  JPN Soma Hiroshige 28 MF  JPN Shimon Kobayashi 29 FW  JPN Maki Sota 31 GK  JPN Kaito Noro 33 MF  JPN Seimei Naganuma 35 DF  JPN Shunta Hayashi