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FC Machida Zelvia

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Machida Zelvia
町田ゼルビア
crest used since 2008
Full nameFootball Club Machida Zelvia
Nickname(s)Zelvia
Founded1989; 35 years ago (1989) as FC Machida
GroundMachida GION Stadium
Machida, Tokyo
Capacity15,489
OwnerCyberAgent
ChairmanTakehisa Otomo[1]
ManagerGo Kuroda
LeagueJ1 League
2023J2 League, 1st of 22 (promoted)
Websitehttp://www.zelvia.co.jp/
Current season

Football Club Machida Zelvia (フットボールクラブ町田ゼルビア, Futtobōru Kurabu Machida Zerubia) commonly known as Machida Zelvia (町田ゼルビア, Efu Shi Machida Zerubia) is a Japanese professional football club based in Machida, Tokyo. They currently play in the J1 League, following promotion as J2 League champions in 2023.

History

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Formation and election to the Prefectural League (1989–2002)

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FC Machida is known as the "Brazil of Tokyo" due to the popularity of football in the city; in fact, it has produced the second-largest number of J. League players through its football school. Originally formed in 1977, this school is well known for its development of young talents into professional players. In 1989, in order to retain talent, Machida founded its own top team, which at that time played in the Tokyo Prefectural League.

From non-League to Japan Football League (2002–2011)

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In 2003, they became a multi-sport club under the name Athletic Club Machida, and in 2005 were promoted to the Kanto League, having won the Tokyo Prefectural League (First Division). They came first in the Kanto league (Second Division) the following year and were promoted to First Division, where they stayed until promotion to the Japan Football League as champions of the Regional Promotion Playoff Series in 2008.

In 2009, they adopted the current nickname "Zelvia", a portmanteau of the Portuguese words zelkova (Machida city's official tree) and salvia (Machida city's official flower).

The same year, the club declared its intent to be promoted to J. League's 2nd division, and its status of semi-affiliate was officially approved by the J. League. However, its home stadium capacity and light specifications did not meet the J. League's requirements, average attendance did not reach 3,000, and the team's final position of 6th place did not allow for Zelvia's promotion to the J. League.

In 2010, Zelvia appointed Naoki Soma, a former star player who played in the 1998 FIFA World Cup, as its new head coach. The stadium's lighting was renewed, and the club added several J. League players to its roster. Zelvia also announced its partnership with Major League Soccer's D.C. United, which became the first historic partnership between a Japanese and American club.[2] The reborn team beat Tokyo Verdy, its arch-rival from the J. League, in the 2010 Emperor's Cup, but was knocked out by Albirex Niigata in the third round. Soma left at the end of the season and was replaced by Ranko Popović, former coach of Oita Trinita.

Yo-yo years (2012–2022)

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The stadium's capacity and conditions were still short of fulfilling J. League criteria, so the club completed another renovation between the end of the 2010 and the start of the 2011 seasons. Zelvia finished the 2011 season in third place after beating Kamatamare Sanuki in the final match of that season, thereby granting them promotion to J. League (Second Division),[3] but were relegated after a bottom-placed finish. They became one of the original J3 clubs after finishing in 4th place in the 2014 JFL season and returned to J2 as 2015 runners-up by beating Oita Trinita in the promotion/relegation play-off. In the first return to J2 in the 2016 season, Machida were able to finish in 7th position, only four points short of the play-offs spot.

In 2017, Zelvia fell off more than a half place down to 15th with fifty points, twelve points up of relegation zone. In the 2018 season, while Zelvia culminated a great campaign by finishing inside the promotion play-offs zone of 4th place, Zelvia were unable to participate in the phase because they did not have a J1 League-level license. The 2019 season also saw the club fell down far on the table as they finished in 18th position, three points up from relegation places occupied by Kagoshima United and FC Gifu. At the end of this season the club acquired a J1 license. [citation needed]

In 2020, Zelvia finished in 19th. While they were able to conclude their 2021 campaign by finishing in 5th position, no promotion play-offs were held in this season, mainly because no relegation in the previous season due to COVID-19 Pandemic, so Zelvia remain in J2. In 2022 season, Zelvia once again fell far below their position of the previous campaign by finishing in the 15th position.

First silverware of professional era and J1 League debut (2023–present)

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On 22 October 2023, after a seven-year run in J2 League, Machida eventually achieved promotion to the J1 League for the first time in the club history with manager Go Kuroda guiding Zelvia to the 2023 J2 League title with 87 points following their 3–0 away win against Roasso Kumamoto in matchweek 39.[4] The club also confirmed their status as champions of second division on 28 October 2023 after Kumamoto defeated Shimizu S-Pulse 3–1.[5]

Zelvia started off their debut 2024 J1 League season on 24 February 2024 against Gamba Osaka in a 1–1 draw with Junya Suzuki scoring their first top-tier league goal for the club. Zelvia went on to have a magnificent run in the first few matches leading at the top of the J1 League table with three wins, one draw and zero lost with 10 points.[6]

Home Stadium

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Machida GION Stadium

Zelvia currently plays at Machida GION Stadium (Nozuta Stadium). Capacity until 2011 was 6,200, including grassy areas, and has had lighting for night games since 2009. Between the 2010 and 2011 seasons, the stadium was upgraded and is now all-seated. Although the minimum seating requirement for J2 is 10,000, Nozuta fell short of that number. However, under an agreement made with J-League officials, home games where a large attendance is expected will be played at other stadia leased specifically for the purpose, and upgrades to Nozuta were made to meet the 10,000-capacity requirement. The current capacity of the stadium is 15,489.

Kit and colours

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Sponsors

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Season(s) Kit Manufacturer Main Shirt Sponsor Collarbone Sponsor Additional Sponsor(s)
2019 svolme AbemaTV – EAGLE KENSO (Right) odakyu TERADA
株式会社寺田電機製作所		 Tamagawa University
2020 AQUA RESORT (Left) 25th Anniversary[a] (Right)
2021 ABEMA
TV Video & Entertainment		 EAGLE KENSO (Right)
2022 AQUA RESORT (1st)
BEST LAND (2nd)		 — TERADA
株式会社寺田電機製作所		 Tamagawa University —
2023 Adidas CyberAgent — TERADA
株式会社寺田電機製作所		 Tamagawa University
2024 Rudel

Kit evolution

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Home kit - 1st
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024 -
Away kit - 2nd
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024 -
Special kit - 3rd
2014
25th anniv.
2019
30th anniv.
2022 - 3rd
2024
35th anniv.

Current squad

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As of 19 August 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
1 GK Japan JPN Kosei Tani (on loan from Gamba Osaka)
3 DF Japan JPN Gen Shoji (captain)
5 DF Kosovo KOS Ibrahim Drešević
6 DF Japan JPN Junya Suzuki
7 FW Japan JPN Yuki Soma
8 MF Japan JPN Keiya Sento (vice-captain)
9 FW Japan JPN Shota Fujio
10 FW South Korea KOR Na Sang-ho
11 FW Brazil BRA Erik
14 DF South Korea KOR Jang Min-gyu
15 FW Australia AUS Mitchell Duke
18 MF Japan JPN Hokuto Shimoda (vice-captain)
19 DF Japan JPN Yuta Nakayama
22 FW Japan JPN Kazuki Fujimoto
23 MF Japan JPN Ryohei Shirasaki (on loan from Shimizu S-Pulse)
25 DF Japan JPN Daiki Sugioka (on loan from Shonan Bellmare)
No. Pos. Nation Player
26 DF Japan JPN Kotaro Hayashi
30 FW Japan JPN Yuki Nakashima
33 DF Japan JPN Henry Heroki Mochizuki
37 MF Japan JPN Kosei Ashibe
38 MF Japan JPN Tenshiro Takasaki
39 MF Chile CHI Byron Vásquez
41 MF Japan JPN Takuya Yasui
42 GK Japan JPN Koki Fukui
44 GK Japan JPN Yoshiaki Arai
45 MF Japan JPN Kai Shibato (on loan from Urawa Reds)
47 FW Japan JPN Shunta Araki
49 FW Japan JPN Kanji Kuwayama DSP
50 GK Japan JPN Anton Burns
55 DF Japan JPN Daisuke Matsumoto
60 DF Japan JPN Chui Hiromu Mayaka Type 2
90 FW South Korea KOR Oh Se-hun (on loan from Shimizu S-Pulse)

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
2 DF Japan JPN Masayuki Okuyama (at Vegalta Sendai)
4 DF Japan JPN Jurato Ikeda (at Avispa Fukuoka)
7 MF Japan JPN Yu Hirakawa (at England Bristol City)
13 DF Japan JPN Kai Miki (at SC Sagamihara)
16 MF Japan JPN Zento Uno (at Shimizu S-Pulse)
17 MF Japan JPN Shuto Inaba (at Kagoshima United)
19 FW Japan JPN Takaya Numata (at Oita Trinita)
28 GK Japan JPN Louis Yamaguchi (at Kawasaki Frontale)
29 DF Japan JPN Takumi Narasaka (at Kamatamare Sanuki)
No. Pos. Nation Player
32 MF Japan JPN Atsushi Kurokawa (at Mito HollyHock)
44 DF Japan JPN Yoshitaka Aoki (at V-Varen Nagasaki)
36 MF Japan JPN Yohei Okuyama (at Renofa Yamaguchi)
46 MF Japan JPN Ken Higuchi (at Okinawa SV)
99 MF Japan JPN Daigo Takahashi (at Oita Trinita)
— DF Japan JPN Mizuki Uchida (at Kamatamare Sanuki)
— DF Japan JPN Soichiro Fukaminato (at Kamatamare Sanuki)
— MF Japan JPN Sho Fuseya (at Kataller Toyama)
— FW Japan JPN Daiki Sato (at Blaublitz Akita)

Club official

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Position Name
Manager Japan Go Kuroda
Assistant manager South Korea Kim Myung-hwi
First-team coach Japan Shin Yamanaka
Japan Hikaru Mita
Japan Yuto Kurimoto
Japan Daiki Ueda
Goalkeeping coach Japan Nobuyuki Furo
Physical coach Japan Toru Yamazaki
Interpreter and coach Brazil Leonardo Moreira
Analytics coach and Head of analysts Japan Yasuhiko Nishimura
Analytical coach Japan Yoshiro Akano
Technical staff Japan Sota Kinoshita
Japan Ryang Yoon-ho
Interpreter Japan Go Murakami
Japan Ken Takahashi
South Korea Lee Seong-ang
Chief trainer Japan Yasuyuki Sasaki
Trainer Japan Yuta Hamada
Japan Shin Osawa
Japan Takashi Imai
Physiotherapist Japan Takuro Yoshitake
Medical coordinator Japan Akihisa Yamamoto
Chief manager Japan Naoya Watanabe
Sub manager Japan Ryota Kiyofuji
Kit manager Japan Hiroyuki Kawakita
Japan Yuto Suzuki
Nutrition management advisor Japan Jun Hamano
Chief doctor Japan Takahiro Fujisawa
Japan Keisuke Irako

Managerial history

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Manager Nationality Tenure
Start Finish
Sadao Shigeta Japan Japan 1991 1995
Shoji Komoda 1996 2002
Minoru Moriya[8] 2003 2007
Tetsuya Totsuka 1 February 2008 31 January 2010
Naoki Soma 1 February 2010 31 January 2011
Ranko Popović Serbia Serbia 1 February 2011 31 January 2012
Osvaldo Ardiles Argentina Argentina 1 February 2012 17 November 2012
Yutaka Akita Japan Japan 26 November 2012 25 June 2013
Naoki Kusunose 25 June 2013 31 January 2014
Naoki Soma 1 February 2014 31 January 2020
Ranko Popović Serbia Serbia 1 February 2020 31 January 2023
Go Kuroda[9] Japan Japan 1 February 2023 present

League and cup record

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Champions Runners-up Third place Promoted Relegated
Season Div. Teams Pos. P W D L F A GD Pts Attendance/G J. League Cup Emperor's
Cup
2009 JFL 18 6th 34 14 12 8 38 30 8 54 1,886 Not eligible –
2010 18 3rd 34 19 4 11 71 44 27 61 3,503 3rd round
2011 18 3rd 33 18 7 8 61 28 33 61 3,515 2nd round
2012 J2 22 22nd 42 7 11 24 34 67 -33 32 3,627 4th round
2013 JFL 18 4th 34 18 7 9 51 44 7 61 3,174 –
2014 J3 12 3rd 33 20 8 5 59 23 37 68 3,134 –
2015 13 2nd 36 23 9 4 52 18 34 78 3,766 4th round
2016 J2 22 7th 42 18 11 13 53 44 9 65 5,123 1st round
2017 22 16th 42 11 17 14 53 53 0 50 4,056 2nd round
2018 22 4th 42 21 13 8 62 44 18 76 4,915 3rd round
2019 22 18th 42 9 16 17 36 59 -23 43 4,718 2nd round
2020 † 22 19th 42 12 13 17 41 52 -11 49 1,302 Did not qualify
2021 † 22 5th 42 20 12 10 64 38 26 72 2,577 2nd round
2022 22 15th 42 14 9 19 51 50 1 51 3,243 2nd round
2023 22 1st 42 26 9 7 79 35 44 87 7,426 Round of 16
2024 J1 20 TBD 38 TBD 2nd 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

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FC Machida Zelvia honours
Honour No. Years
Kanto Soccer League Division 2 1 2006
Kanto Soccer League Division 1 1 2007, 2008
Japanese Regional Football Champions League 1 2008
Tokyo Metropolitan Football Tournament 2 2011, 2015
J2 League 1 2023

Notes

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  1. ^ EAGLE KENSO

References

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  1. ^ "FC Machida Zelvia Profile, Results, Players, Stats, Stadium". J.LEAGUE. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  2. ^ "D.C. United to partner with FC Machida Zelvia". Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  3. ^ McKirdy, Andrew, "Ardiles ready to face new challenge Archived 10 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine", Japan Times, 6 March 2012, p. 18.
  4. ^ "Machida Zelvia clinches first-ever promotion to J1". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 22 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  5. ^ "FC Machida Zelvia cap amazing season with J2 title". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 30 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  6. ^ "FC Machida Zelvia Excelling in Debut Season in the J.League's Top Flight". Japan-Forward.com. 21 March 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  7. ^ "PLAYER & STAFF". zelvia.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  8. ^ Interview Minoru Moriya Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Tokyo Football Magazine. Retrieved on 2010-12-17.
  9. ^ "黒田剛 監督就任のお知らせ". zelvia.co.jp (in Japanese). FC Machida Zelvia. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
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