Ventforet Kofu

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Ventforet Kofu (ヴァンフォーレ甲府, Vanfōre Kōfu) is a Japanese professional football club from Kōfu in Yamanashi Prefecture. The team currently competes in the J2 League, Japanese second tier of professional football, hosting their home matches in the JIT Recycle Ink Stadium, located in Kōfu.

Ventforet Kofu
ヴァンフォーレ甲府
Full nameVentforet Kofu Football Club
Nickname(s)Ventforet
Short nameVFK
Founded1965; 59 years ago (1965) as Kofu Club
StadiumJIT Recycle Ink Stadium, Kōfu
Capacity17,000
ChairmanKazuyuki Umino
ManagerYoshiyuki Shinoda
LeagueJ2 League
2024J2 League, 14th of 20
Websitewww.ventforet.jp
Current season

Ventforet has won a total of 1 J2 League title and 1 Emperor's Cup in their history.

Name origin

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The word "Ventforet" is a compound formed from two French root words: "vent" (wind) and "forêt" (forest). The name alludes to the famous phrase Fū-rin-ka-zan (風林火山) that Takeda Shingen, a prominent Kōfu-based daimyō in the Sengoku period, emblazoned on his war banners. The phrase contains four similies: as swift as the wind; as silent as a forest; as fierce as fire; as immovable as a mountain.

History

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Kofu Club (1965–1994)

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The club was founded in 1965 when the old boys' club of Kofu Dai-ichi High School, the Kakujo Club, started to recruit graduates of other high schools with the intention of promotion to the Japan Soccer League and was formed as Kofu Club. Kofu Club was formed by volunteers, unlike other mainstream football clubs at that time in Japan, whose players were mostly the employees of their sponsoring companies.

Kofu Club joined the newly formed JSL Division 2 in 1972. They stayed there until the conclusion of the league in 1992 when it became a founding member of the former Japan Football League.

Ventforet Kofu (1995–present)

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The club was renamed Ventforet Kofu in 1995 and joined J.League Division 2 in 1999 when it was formed. The club survived a difficult period between 1999 and 2001, when it suffered from financial troubles as well as miserable results on the pitch, including a streak of twenty-five consecutive losses. Ventforet finished bottom for three seasons in succession and was dubbed as "Excess baggage of J2".

Ventforet improved in 2002, and in 2005 finished third, gaining promotion to the Japanese first division by winning the promotion/relegation play-offs against Kashiwa Reysol. However, the team was relegated with a week remaining in the 2007 season.

At the end of 2010 season, the team was promoted a second time. Despite having striker Mike Havenaar contend for the Top Scorer award in division one the following year, the club was relegated again at the end of 2011. However, it returned after only one year's absence as champions of division two, Ventforet's first championship in its thirty-six-year history. Ventforet remained in J.League 1 until 2017, consistently staying as a top tier J.League 2 team after relegation

Emperor's Cup win (2022)

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Ventforet participated in the 2022 Emperor's Cup, earning a direct second round entry alongside all J1 and J2 League teams. Following a 5–1 win over Okayama-based International Pacific University, they then only faced J1 League opponents the rest of the tournament. They would beat Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo and Sagan Tosu away from home by 2–1 and 3–1 respectively to advance to the quarter finals, in a stage which they had been on 4 times without ever getting past it. In another match away from home, now against Avispa Fukuoka, the game would be tied up 1–1 and head into extra time, with Yoshiki Torikai scoring in the 97th minute to bring Kofu to their first Emperor's Cup Semi-final, where they would beat Kashima Antlers thanks to Jumma Miyazaki's goal in the 37th minute to reach their first Emperor's Cup Final.

In the final, Kofu were up against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, a J1 team who hadn't won an Emperor's Cup since 1969 (including amateur era). Kazushi Mitsuhira scored in the 26th minute to give Kofu the lead, before Sanfrecce midfielder Takumu Kawamura tied the match in the 84th minute. After a scoreless extra time, the final was decided in a penalty shootout. After Sanfrecce missed their fourth penalty, 42-year-old Hideomi Yamamoto scored Kofu's fifth and final penalty to win the Emperor's Cup champions for the first time. Their win marked the first time that a J2 League team had won the Emperor's Cup since FC Tokyo in 2011, the fourth J2 champion overall, and the first occasion in which the winner was not the second division champions. Thus, they will play the AFC Champions League while playing in their domestic second-tier league.

AFC Champions League debut (2023)

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On 20 September 2023, Ventforet played their first AFC Champions League official match against Australian side Melbourne City for the competition's group stage. Playing away at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium with few of their usual starting players, the match ended in a 0–0 draw, earning them their first point and clean sheet in this competition.[1] On 4 October 2023, Ventforet picked up their first Champions League win against Thai champions Buriram United. Motoki Hasegawa scored in stoppage time as Ventforet won 1–0 at home, On 12 December 2023, Ventforet clinched their spots in the Round of 16 after a 2–3 away win against Buriram United. This marks the first time a team qualified for the knockout phase of the AFC Champions League though not playing in their nation's top division. Ventforet than faced against Korean giants, Ulsan Hyundai in the Round of 16, however, they were knocked out from the tournament after suffering a 5–1 on aggregate defeat.

2023–24 AFC Champions League - Group H

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification VEN MCY ZHP BUR
1   Ventforet Kofu 6 3 2 1 11 8 +3 11 Advance to round of 16 3–3 4–1 1–0
2   Melbourne City 6 2 3 1 8 6 +2 9 0–0 1–1 0–1
3   Zhejiang 6 2 1 3 9 13 −4 7 2–0 1–2 3–2
4   Buriram United 6 2 0 4 9 10 −1 6 2–3 0–2 4–1
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

League and cup record

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Champions Runners-up Third place Promoted Relegated
League J.League
Cup
Emperor's
Cup
AFC Champions League
Year Division Tier Pos. P W D L F A GD Pts Attendance/G
1992 former JFL
Div. 2
3 5th 18 9 1 8 26 29 -3 28 Not eligible Not eligible
1993 9th 18 6 - 12 15 37 -22 -
1994 former
JFL
2 14th 30 9 - 21 36 74 -38 - 2nd round
1995 9th 30 14 - 16 54 54 0 43
1996 11th 30 11 - 19 50 56 -6 33 2nd round
1997 6th 30 19 - 11 59 41 18 52 3rd round
1998 4th 30 22 - 8 74 40 34 59 4th round
1999 J2 2 10th 36 5 4 27 32 85 -53 18 1,469 1st round 2nd round
2000 11th 40 5 3 32 31 84 -53 18 1,850 1st round 4th round
2001 12th 44 8 2 34 38 98 -60 25 3,130 1st round 3rd round
2002 7th 44 16 10 18 51 55 -4 58 4,914 Not eligible 3rd round
2003 5th 44 19 12 13 58 46 12 69 5,796 3rd round
2004 7th 44 15 13 16 51 46 5 58 6,370 4th round
2005 3rd 44 19 12 13 78 64 14 69 6,931 4th round
2006 J1 1 15th 34 12 6 15 42 64 -22 42 12,211 Group Stage Quarter Finals
2007 17th 34 7 6 21 33 65 -32 27 13,734 Quarter Finals 5th round
2008 J2 2 7th 42 15 14 13 56 47 9 59 10,354 Not eligible 4th round
2009 4th 51 28 13 10 76 46 30 97 11,059 4th round
2010 2nd 36 19 13 4 71 40 31 70 12,431 3rd round
2011 J1 1 16th 34 9 19 6 42 63 -21 33 12,106 1st round 3rd round
2012 J2 2 1st 42 24 4 14 63 35 28 86 10,407 2nd round
2013 J1 1 15th 34 8 13 13 30 41 -11 37 12,614 Group Stage Quarter Finals
2014 13th 34 9 11 14 27 31 -4 41 12,171 Group Stage Round of 16
2015 13th 34 10 17 7 26 43 -17 37 11,612 Group Stage 4th round
2016 14th 34 7 17 10 32 58 -26 31 10,833 Group Stage 2nd round
2017 16th 34 7 16 11 23 39 -16 32 10,829 Group Stage 2nd round
2018 J2 2 9th 42 16 15 11 56 46 10 59 7,384 Quarter Finals Quarter Finals
2019 5th 42 20 11 11 64 40 24 71 8,273 Not eligible Quarter Finals
2020 4th 42 16 17 9 50 41 9 65 2,485 Did not qualify
2021 3rd 42 23 11 8 65 38 27 80 4,325 2nd round
2022 18th 42 11 15 16 47 54 -7 48 4,930 Winner
2023 8th 42 18 10 14 60 50 10 64 7,485 Round of 16 Round of 16
2024 14th 38 12 9 17 54 57 -3 45 8,274 Quarter final 2nd round
2025 TBA 38 TBD TBD
Key
  • Pos. = Position in league; P = Games played; W = Games won; D = Games drawn; L = Games lost; F = Goal scored; A = Goals conceded; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points gained
  • 2020 & 2021 seasons attendances reduced by COVID-19 worldwide pandemic
  • Attendance/G = Average home league attendance
  • Source: J.League Data Site

Honours

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Ventforet Kofu honours
Honour No. Years
Kantō Soccer League 2 1969, 1970
J2 League 1 2012
Emperor's Cup 1 2022

League history

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  • Kanto League: 1967–71 (as Kofu Club)
  • Division 2 (JSL Div. 2): 1972–91 (as Kofu Club)
  • Division 3 (former JFL Div. 2): 1992–93 (as Kofu Club)
  • Division 2 (former JFL): 1994–98 (Kofu Club until 1994, Ventforet Kofu since 1995)
  • Division 2 (J.League Div. 2): 1999–05
  • Division 1 (J.League Div. 1): 2006–07
  • Division 2 (J.League Div. 2): 2008–10
  • Division 1 (J.League Div. 1): 2011
  • Division 2 (J.League Div. 2): 2012
  • Division 1 (J.League Div. 1): 2013–2017
  • Division 2 (J.League Div. 2): 2018–

Current squad

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As of 21 August 2024.[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
1 GK   JPN Kohei Kawata
3 DF   KOR Taiga Son
4 DF   JPN Hideomi Yamamoto
6 MF   JPN Iwana Kobayashi (vice-captain)
7 MF   JPN Sho Araki (vice-captain)
8 MF   JPN Kosuke Taketomi
9 FW   JPN Kazushi Mitsuhira
10 MF   JPN Yoshiki Torikai
11 FW   BRA Macula
13 FW   JPN Yukito Murakami
14 MF   JPN Riku Nakayama
15 FW   JPN Riku Iijima
16 MF   JPN Koya Hayashida
18 MF   JPN Naoto Misawa
19 FW   JPN Jumma Miyazaki
21 MF   BRA Renato Augusto
23 DF   JPN Masahiro Sekiguchi (captain)
No. Pos. Nation Player
24 DF   JPN Takahiro Iida (on loan from Kyoto Sanga)
26 MF   JPN Kazuhiro Sato
29 DF   JPN Kaito Kamiya
30 FW   JPN Kotatsu Kumakura DSP
31 GK   JPN Kakeru Miyashita Type 2
32 GK   KOR Koh Bong-jo (on loan from Sagan Tosu)
33 GK   JPN Kodai Yamauchi
34 MF   JPN Takuto Kimura (on loan from Yokohama F. Marinos)
35 DF   JPN Taiju Ichinose DSP
40 DF   BRA Eduardo Mancha
41 MF   JPN Miki Inoue
44 FW   JPN Yamato Naito
51 MF   BRA Adaílton
88 GK   JPN Tsubasa Shibuya
99 FW   NGA Peter Utaka

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
20 MF   JPN Hikaru Endo (at Tegevajaro Miyazaki)
22 DF   JPN Riku Nozawa (at FC Gifu)
No. Pos. Nation Player
28 FW   JPN Hayata Mizuno (at Iwate Grulla Morioka)

Club officials

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Position Name
Manager   Yoshiyuki Shinoda
Assistant managers   Shinji Otsuka
  Katsutomo Oshiba
  Yuji Yokoyama
Goalkeeper coach   Yuji Nakagawa
Physical coach   José Fernando
Analysis coach   Yoshiki Hara
  Kanta Yonekura
Chief trainer   Hiroaki Maeda
Trainer   Masaya Tanaka
  Taku Hirai
Physiotherapist   Taiki Saito
Athletic trainer   Shigeru Asahina
Competent   Yoshiki Tsuruta
Side affairs   Tetsuro Ajisawa
Interpreter   Bruno Iwasaki

Managerial history

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Manager Nationality Tenure
Start Finish
Susumu Katsumata   Japan 1 January 1994 31 January 1995
Yūji Tsukada   Japan 1 February 1995 31 January 1999
Susumu Katsumata   Japan 1 February 1999 31 January 2000
Yūji Tsukada   Japan 1 February 2000 31 January 2001
Luis dos Reis   Brazil 1 February 2001 31 January 2002
Takeshi Ōki   Japan 1 February 2002 31 January 2003
Hideki Matsunaga   Japan 1 February 2003 31 January 2005
Takeshi Ōki   Japan 1 February 2005 31 January 2008
Takayoshi Amma   Japan 1 February 2008 31 January 2010
Kazuo Uchida   Japan 1 February 2010 31 January 2011
Toshiya Miura   Japan 1 February 2011 7 August 2011
Satoru Sakuma   Japan 8 August 2011 31 December 2011
Hiroshi Jōfuku   Japan 1 February 2012 31 January 2015
Yasuhiro Higuchi   Japan 1 February 2015 13 May 2015
Satoru Sakuma   Japan 13 May 2015 31 December 2016
Tatsuma Yoshida   Japan 1 February 2017 30 April 2018
Nobuhiro Ueno   Japan 1 May 2018 31 January 2019
Akira Itō   Japan 1 February 2019 31 January 2022
Tatsuma Yoshida   Japan 1 February 2022 31 January 2023
Yoshiyuki Shinoda   Japan 1 February 2023 Current

Kit evolution

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Home kits - 1st
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2024 -
Away kits - 2nd
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2024 -
Third kits
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2015 Summer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2016 Summer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2017 Summer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2018 Summer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2019 Summer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2020
Summer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2021
Summer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2022
Limited
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Special for Champions League
Home
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Special for Champions League
Away
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2024
SUMMER
Vivid × Vital

References

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  1. ^ "Match Report | Melbourne City FC (AUS) 0-0 Ventforet Kofu (JPN)". the-afc.com. AFC. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  2. ^ "選手・スタッフ" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
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