Thespa Gunma Explained

Clubname:Thespa Gunma
ザスパ群馬
Founded: (as Liaison Kusatsu)
(as Thespa Kusatsu)
(as Thespakusatsu Gunma)
as (Thespa Gunma)
Ground:Shoda Shoyu Stadium Gunma
Maebashi, Gunma
Capacity:15,253
Owner:Kusatsu Onsen Football Club
Chairman:Tomohiko Nara
Manager:Akira Muto
League:J2 League
Season:2023
Position:11th of 22
Current:2024 Thespa Gunma season
Website:http://www.thespa.co.jp/
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, formerly is a professional football (soccer) club based in Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture in Japan. The club currently plays in the J2 League, Japanese second tier of professional football.

History

The club was founded in 1995 in Kusatsu, one of the most well-known spa resorts in Japan, as Liaison Kusatsu Football Club.[1] The players were students of the specialized training college Higashi Nihon Soccer Academy. When the school closed in 1999 due to financial difficulties, the players decided to stay in Kusatsu and keep the club alive. In 2002, the club was incorporated as K.K. Kusatsu Onsen Football Club with a future promotion to the J. League in mind and adopted the new team name, meaning "The Spa, Kusatsu".

Because of J. League restrictions on stadiums, they play at Shoda Shoyu Stadium Gunma (Shikishima Athletics Stadium) in nearby Maebashi, the prefectural capital since the club was promoted to J. League Division 2 in the 2005 season.[2]

From 1 February 2013, the club adopted the new name "Thespakusatsu Gunma", to give the impression of the club as a representative of the entire Gunma Prefecture, while still leaving the name "Kusatsu" in it, as well as the logo of the club as it is.[3] [4]

After 12 years spent in the J2 League, Thespakusatsu Gunma was relegated to the J3 League for the first time in their history, having finished as the last-placed team in the 2017 J2 League. Gunma returned to the J2 League ahead of the 2020 season, being promoted back to J2 after two years spent in J3.

On 29 June 2023, Thespakusatsu Gunma new name would be Thespa Gunma.[5]

On 5 October 2023, Thespakusatsu Gunma announcement officially change name and logo to Thespa Gunma from 2024 season due to leaving the name "kusatsu" since 2005 as Thespa Kusatsu.[6]

Record as J. League member

bgcolor=goldChampionsbgcolor=silverRunners-upThird placebgcolor=palegreenPromotedbgcolor=pinkRelegated
LeagueJ. League CupEmperor's
Cup
Season Div. Teams Pos. P W D L F A GD Pts Attendance/G
As Thespa Kusatsu
2005J212 12th44 5 8 31 26 82 -56 23 3,959 Not eligible4th round
200613 12th48 9 15 24 54 86 -32 42 3,7364th round
200713 11th48 7 21 20 42 71 -29 42 3,808 4th round
200815 9th42 13 14 15 45 52 -7 53 4,215 3rd round
200918 10th51 18 11 22 64 76 -12 65 4,330 3rd round
201019 12th36 14 6 16 36 48 -12 48 4,424 2nd round
201120 9th38 16 9 13 51 51 0 57 3,211 2nd round
201222 17th 42 12 11 19 31 15 -14 47 3,341 2nd round
As Thespakusatsu Gunma
2013J2 22 20th42 9 13 20 43 61 -18 40 3,571 Not eligible2nd round
201422 18th42 14 7 21 45 54 -9 49 3,689 4th round
201522 18th42 13 9 20 34 56 -22 48 4,099 1st round
201622 17th42 11 12 19 52 66 -14 45 4,744 2nd round
201722 22nd42 5 5 32 32 32 88 -56 3,832 3rd round
2018J317 5th32 15 7 10 37 35 2 52 3,346 2nd round
201918 2nd34 18 9 7 59 34 25 63 3,594 2nd round
2020 J2 22 20th42 15 4 23 40 62 -22 49 1,709 Did not qualify
2021 22 18th42 9 14 19 35 56 -21 41 2,082 4th round
202222 20th42 11 9 22 36 57 -21 42 3,076 Round of 16
202322 11th 42 14 15 13 44 44 0 57 4,116 2nd round
As Thespa Gunma
2024J2 20 TBA 38 2nd round
Key

Honours

Honour !!scope=col
No. !scope=colYears !Notes
In chronological order-->scope=rowGunma Prefecture Division 411995as Liaison Kusatsu
scope=rowGunma Prefecture Division 311996
scope=rowGunma Prefecture 2nd Division A11997
scope=rowGunma Prefecture Division 2 B12001
scope=rowGunma Prefecture Division 112002as Thespa Kusatsu
scope=rowKantō Division 212003

Current squad

[7]

Out on loan

Coaching staff

Position Name
Manager Akira Muto
Assistant managers Kentaro Yoshida
Ryo Ishibashi
Goalkeeper coach Hidetoyo Watanabe
Analyst Yota Sakuma
Physical coach Yutaka Aoki
Physiotherapist Koki Katakai
Trainer Ryo Murakami
Ryoji Sejino
Chief manager Ryo Suzuki
Manager Ryota Osawa
Kit man Riku Takahashi

Managerial history

Manager Nationality Tenure <--!colspan="5"Managerial Record -->
Start Finish -->
1995 1997-->
1998 1999-->
2000 2001-->
1 February 2002 31 January 2004-->
1 January 2005 31 December 2005-->
1 February 2006 31 January 2009-->
1 February 2009 31 January 2010-->
1 February 2010 31 January 2013-->
1 February 2013 31 January 2015-->
1 January 2015 31 December 2016-->
1 February 2017 31 January 2018-->
1 February 2018 31 January 2020-->
1 February 2020 4 July 2021-->
5 July 2021 31 January 2022-->
1 February 2022 8 May 2024-->
9 May 2024 [8] current-->

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Club guide; Thespa Kusatsu . January 30, 2013 . J. League.
  2. Web site: Two JFL clubs apply for J. League entry . September 30, 2004 . January 19, 2015 . Japan Times.
  3. Web site: Classifying the J2 teams from top to bottom . Ken Matsushita . February 12, 2014 . February 16, 2016 . ONE World Sports.
  4. Web site: http://www.thespa.co.jp/history/emblem.html . ja:チーム名・ロゴ・マスコット . Team name, Emblem, Mascot . ja . February 16, 2016 . Thespakusatsu Gunma.
  5. Web site: リブランディングに関するお知らせ. ザスパクサツ群馬. 2023-06-29. 2023-12-24.
  6. Web site: 新クラブプロパティについて. ザスパクサツ群馬. 2023-10-27. 2023-12-24.
  7. Web site: 2024 Season Member. 31 January 2024. Thespakusatsu Gunma.
  8. Web site: 武藤 覚ヘッドコーチ 新監督就任のお知らせ. 8 May 2024. ja. thespa.co.jp.