Renofa Yamaguchi FC

The original football team consisted of a group of teaching staff who were based within Yamaguchi prefecture, a team called Yamaguchi Prefecture Teachers Football Club (山口県サッカー教員団, Yamaguchi-ken sakkā kyōin dan), often abbreviated to Yamaguchi Teachers or Yamaguchi KFC (compare Tochigi S.C. and Gainare Tottori, who started as teachers' clubs and are now members of the J.League).

In February 2006, the Yamaguchi Football Association eyed the placement of a team from Yamaguchi in the J.League. Setting its heart of operations at Yamaguchi Teachers, a new football club was established.[1] At the same time, a public appeal was made to name the new club, with Renofa Yamaguchi F.C. being decided in March of the same year. The word renofa is a combination of three English words: renovation, fight and fine.[2][3]

Without a specified home ground, the team played Chūgoku league matches across a number of different venues within the prefecture, including Yamaguchi Ishin Park Stadium, Yamaguchi Kirara Expo Memorial Park, Onoda Football Park, Shunan City Athletic Stadium and Yamaguchi Football Park. Now however, home games are played at Yamaguchi Ishin Park Stadium.

Though structured with a hometown manager and local players, sponsored by local business and enterprises, and local action plans within the local community, Renofa Yamaguchi F.C. is aiming for a national future in the J.League.[4]

Old Renofa Yamaguchi F.C. crest, used till 2013

In the days of Yamaguchi Teachers, the team frequently finished mid to low table in the Chūgoku league. However, since the establishing of the new club in 2006, the team had consistently improved their final league position. This culminated in the 2008 season where they achieved their first league win. In the All Japan Regional Football Promotion League Series of that year the team finished fourth in the final round, missing the opportunity for promotion to the Japan Football League. The 2009 season saw them win their first Emperor's Cup match, beating Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima F.C. in a penalty shoot out.[5]

Since the team's formation it had operated as a private organisation, however when the Nonprofit organization Yamaguchi Athletics Club was established on 24 May 2011, managing control of the team changed hands putting the new NPO in charge.[6]

After the club finished fourth in 2014 Japan Football League and passed the necessary licensing, J.League officially admitted Renofa Yamaguchi to participate in J3 League starting 2015 season.[7] Their J.League debut season saw them earn the first ever rewards in their history, namely a third tier title and with it, promotion to the J2.

• Yamaguchi Prefecture Teachers Football Club (山口県サッカー教員団, Yamaguchi-ken sakkā kyōin dan) (Yamaguchi Teachers, Yamaguchi KFC) (1949–2005)
• Renofa Yamaguchi F.C. (レノファ山口FC, Renofa Yamaguchi FC) (2006–)

(Note that prior to the 1991 season a team would earn two points for a win)
(From 1997 to 2006 when a match ended in a draw, a penalty shoot-out would occur. The winning team were awarded 2 points, and the losing team 1 point)

As of 28 June 2020.[8]

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 Mizuki Hayashi 2 DF  JPN Kosuke Kikuchi 3 DF  BRA Renan Paixão 5 MF  JPN Kentaro Sato 6 MF  JPN Takahiro Ko 7 MF  JPN Paulo Junichi Tanaka 8 FW  JPN Kazuya Murata 9 FW  BRA Iury 10 MF  JPN Joji Ikegami 11 MF  JPN Kazuma Takai 13 DF  JPN Takumi Kusumoto 14 MF  JPN Ryohei Yoshihama 16 FW  JPN Kensei Ukita 17 GK  JPN Daisuke Yoshimitsu 18 FW  JPN Ren Komatsu

No. Pos. Nation Player 19 FW  JPN Kota Mori 20 MF  JPN Takeru Kiyonaga 21 MF  JPN Shuntaro Koga 22 DF  JPN Kaito Oki 23 DF  JPN Ryosei Ito 24 DF  JPN Kazuki Anzai 26 MF  JPN Ayumu Kawai 27 DF  JPN Reo Kunimoto 28 DF  JPN Hikaru Manabe 29 MF  JPN Riku Tanaka 30 MF  BRA Henik 33 GK  JPN Genki Yamada 38 FW  JPN Kota Kawano 41 DF  JPN Yuto Takeoka

As Yamaguchi Teachers

• Chūgoku League
  • Runners-up (3): 1982, 1983, 1989
• Yamaguchi Prefectural Championship
  • Winners (4)： 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004
• Yamaguchi Prefectural League
  • Winners (1): 2004

As Renofa Yamaguchi F.C.

• Chūgoku League
  • Winners (3): 2008, 2010, 2013
• Yamaguchi Prefectural Championship
  • Winners (3)： 2007, 2009, 2010
• Noue Cup
  • Winners (1): 2008
• Shakaijin Cup
  • Winners (1): 2013
• J3 League
  • Winners (1): 2015

• Official Site (in Japanese)
• Chūgoku League Official Site (in Japanese)