# INAC Kobe Leonessa

INAC Kobe(INAC神戸レオネッサ, Ainakku-Kōbe Reonessa) is a professional Japanese football club from Kobe, founded in 2001. INAC stands for International Athletic Club, while Leonessa means Lioness in Italian.
In 2006 INAC Leonessa was promoted to the Nadeshiko.League, where it has played since 2020. In 2021 they are playing in WE League. The 2008 season marked a great leap for the team as it was the runner-up both in the Nadeshiko.League and the All Japan Women's Football Championship. 2010 saw INAC lift its first title as they beat Urawa Red Diamonds in the final of the All Japan Women's Football Championship through a penalty shootout, and in 2011, coinciding with the club's 10th anniversary, the team won the double Nadeshiko.League – All Japan Women's Football Championship.
Leonessa's 2011 squad included seven champions of the 2011 World Cup: Ayumi Kaihori, Yukari Kinga, Nahomi Kawasumi, Shinobu Ohno, Homare Sawa, Megumi Takase and Asuna Tanaka.

## Kits
### Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor (chest) | Shirt sponsor (sleeve) |
| 2021–2022 | Hummel International | Earth | |
| 2022–2023 | Hummel International | Earth | Art Moving |

## Mascot
### Raimu-chan

* Born September 3.
* Modeled after the lioness from which the team got its name.
* Her favorite foods are Yakiniku and Japanese-style rolled omelette.

## Players
### Current squad

    As of 9 December 2024.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | JPN | Akane Okuma |
| 21 | GK | JPN | Yuan Kikuchi [ja] |
| 99 | GK | JPN | Mayu Funada |
| 2 | DF | JPN | Miyabi Moriya |
| 3 | DF | JPN | Mayo Doko |
| 4 | DF | JPN | Hinata Ide [ja] |
| 5 | DF | JPN | Shiori Miyake |
| 6 | DF | JPN | Yuna Matsubara |
| 21 | DF | ESP | Carla Morera |
| 30 | DF | JPN | Aoi Matsuki [ja] |
| 37 | DF | JPN | Natsume Kingetsu [ja] |
| 53 | DF | JPN | Rei Kitamura [ja] |
| 55 | DF | JAM | Vyan Sampson |
| 7 | MF | JPN | Maya Yamamoto |
| 8 | MF | KOR | Lee Su-bin |
| 10 | MF | JPN | Yui Narumiya |
| 14 | MF | JPN | Fukina Mizuno |
| 18 | MF | ESP | Paola Soldevila |
| 23 | MF | JPN | Wakana Mitani [ja] |
| 39 | MF | JPN | Koharu Terada [ja] |
| 62 | MF | JPN | Arisu Ota [ja] |
| 9 | FW | ESP | Carlota Suarez [ja] |
| 11 | FW | JPN | Megumi Takase |
| 17 | FW | JPN | Haruna Aikawa [ja] |
| 19 | FW | JPN | Mao Kubota [ja] |
| 20 | FW | JPN | Ai Kuwahara [ja] |
| 29 | FW | JPN | Ai Tsujisawa [ja] |
| 44 | FW | JPN | So Kojima [ja] |

## Club staff

| Position | Name |
| Manager | Jordi Ferrón |
| Assistant Manager | Eri Higashi Ryota Shimizu |
| Goalkeeper Coach | Riki Takashi |
| Fitness Coach | Masao Tateishi |
| Team Doctor | Ryosuke Kuroda Takehiko Matsushita Yoshiyuki Okada Koji Sofuyu Hide Watanabe Wado Kitayama Shosuke Nagata Rika Shigemoto |

## Honours
### Domestic

* WE League
** Champions (1): 2021–22
** Runners-up (1): 2022–23
* Nadeshiko.League Division 1
** Champions (3): 2011, 2012, 2013
** Runners-up (5): 2008, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020
* Empress's Cup
** Champions (6): 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2023
** Runners-up (3): 2008, 2018, 2022
* WE League Cup
** Runners-up (1): 2024–25
* Nadeshiko League Cup
** Champions (1): 2013
** Runners-up (3): 2012, 2018, 2019

### International

* Japan/Korea Women's League Championship
** Champions (1): 2012
* International Women's Club Championship
** Champions (1): 2013
** Runners-up (1): 2012

## Season-by-season records

Seasons of INAC Kobe Leonessa :
| Season | Domestic League | Domestic League | Domestic League | Domestic League | Empress's Cup | Nadeshiko League Cup / WE League Cup |
| Season | League | Level | Position | Tms. | Empress's Cup | Nadeshiko League Cup / WE League Cup |
| 2002 | Kansai League Division 3 | 4 | Champions | | DNQ | — |
| 2003 | Kansai League Division 2 | 3 | Champions | 8 | DNQ | — |
| 2004 | Kansai League Division 1 | 3 | Champions | 8 | Second round | — |
| 2005 | L2 | 2 | Champions | 7 | Quarter-finals | — |
| 2006 | Nadeshiko League Division 1 | 1 | 5th | 8 | Quarter-finals | — |
| 2007 | Nadeshiko League Division 1 | 1 | 4th | 8 | Semi-finals | Semi-finals |
| 2008 | Nadeshiko League Division 1 | 1 | 2nd | 8 | Runners-up | — |
| 2009 | Nadeshiko League Division 1 | 1 | 4th | 8 | Semi-finals | — |
| 2010 | Nadeshiko | 1 | 4th | 10 | Winners | Semi-finals |
| 2011 | Nadeshiko | 1 | Champions | 9 | Winners | — |
| 2012 | Nadeshiko | 1 | Champions | 10 | Winners | Runners-up |
| 2013 | Nadeshiko | 1 | Champions | 10 | Winners | Winners |
| 2014 | Nadeshiko | 1 | 6th | 10 | Quarter-finals | — |
| 2015 | Nadeshiko League Division 1 | 1 | 3rd | 10 | Winners | — |
| 2016 | Nadeshiko League Division 1 | 1 | 2nd | 10 | Winners | Group stage |
| 2017 | Nadeshiko League Division 1 | 1 | 2nd | 10 | Third round | Semi-finals |
| 2018 | Nadeshiko League Division 1 | 1 | 2nd | 10 | Runners-up | Runners-up |
| 2019 | Nadeshiko League Division 1 | 1 | 3rd | 10 | Semi-finals | Runners-up |
| 2020 | Nadeshiko League Division 1 | 1 | 2nd | 10 | Quarter-finals | — |
| 2021 | Nadeshiko League Division 1 | 1 | – | – | Fourth round | — |
| 2021–22 | WE League | 1 | Champions | 11 | | Not held |
| 2022–23 | WE League | 1 | 2nd | 11 | Runners-up | Group stage |

## Transition of team name

* INAC Leonessa: 2001–2008
* INAC Kobe Leonessa: 2009–present