Kyoto Sanga FC

Kyoto Sanga FC
is a Japanese professional football club based in Kyoto. "Sanga" comes from the Sanskrit word sangha, a term meaning "group" or "club" and often used to denote the Buddhist priesthood, associating the club with Kyoto's many Buddhist temples. The club was formerly known as Kyoto Purple Sanga with "purple", the colour of the team uniforms, an imperial colour reflecting Kyoto's status as Japan's ancient imperial capital city. It was decided that, from 2007, the team will simply be known as "Kyoto Sanga". They are the oldest club competing in the J.League.
History
The club was started as Kyoto Shiko Club, one of the few proper Japanese football clubs in the sense of being strictly dedicated to football and not being part of a company. Like Ventforet Kofu, it could not rise to a Japan Soccer League First Division dominated by company teams; in 1993, after the J.League was created, Kyoto Shiko Club, aided by funds from local new sponsors Kyocera and Nintendo, professionalized (though some players broke away and formed their own clubs, see below) and joined the former Japan Football League under the new name Kyoto Purple Sanga.
First joining the J.League in 1996, Kyoto Sanga hold the dubious distinction of being the League's most relegated side, having been demoted on three separate occasions. Relegation to J2 occurred at the end of the 2000, 2003 and 2006 seasons; more than any other team. The 2003 relegation happened despite having many national team players such as Park Ji-sung and Daisuke Matsui on its roster and they eventually left for European clubs.
In December 2007 the club gained J1 status for the fourth time in their history via the promotion/relegation playoff. A 0-2 home defeat to Urawa Reds on 14 November 2010 confirmed Sanga's relegation back to J2, bringing an end to their three-season spell in the top flight.
In 2021 season, Kyoto Sanga secure return to J1 League after 11 years absence and finish in runner-up. In 2022 season, Kyoto Sanga stay in J1 League after draw 1-1 against Roasso Kumamoto in Promotion Relegation play-offs.
Record as J.League member
Key
Honours
League
J.League Division 2
2001, 2005
Kansai Soccer League
1969, 1971, 1979, 1988
Cups
Emperor's Cup
2002
All Japan Senior Football Championship
1988
League History
Kansai Soccer League: 1966–1971 (as Kyoto Shiko Club)
Division 2 (JSL Division 2): 1972–1978 (as Kyoto Shiko Club)
Kansai Soccer League: 1979–1988 (as Kyoto Shiko Club)
Division 2 (JSL Division 2): 1989–1991 (as Kyoto Shiko Club)
Division 3 (Old JFL Division 2): 1992 (as Kyoto Shiko Club)
Division 2 (Old JFL Division 1): 1993–1995 (as Kyoto Shiko Club 1993; Kyoto Purple Sanga afterwards)
Division 1 (J1 League): 1996–2000 (as Kyoto Purple Sanga)
Division 2 (J2 League): 2001 (as Kyoto Purple Sanga)
Division 1 (J1 League): 2002–2003 (as Kyoto Purple Sanga)
Division 2 (J2 League): 2004–2005 (as Kyoto Purple Sanga)
Division 1 (J1 League): 2006 (as Kyoto Purple Sanga)
Division 2 (J2 League): 2007
Division 1 (J1 League): 2008–2010
Division 2 (J2 League): 2011–2021
Division 1 (J1 League): 2022–present
(As of 2023): 13 seasons in the top tier, 28 seasons in the second tier, 1 season in the third tier and 16 seasons in the Regional Leagues.
Current squad
Out on loan
Club captains
Naohiko Minobe 1994
Makoto Sugiyama 1995
Satoru Mochizuki 1996
Ruy Ramos 1997
Yuji Okuma 1997
Hajime Moriyasu 1998
Hisashi Kurosaki 1999
Kazuyoshi Miura 2000
Naoto Otake 2001
Hiroshi Noguchi 2002
Kiyotaka Ishimaru 2003–2004
Daisuke Nakaharai 2005-2006
Daisuke Saito 2007
Yuto Sato 2008-2009
Atsushi Yanagisawa 2010
Diego 2011
Hiroki Nakayama 2012
Jun Ando 2013
Koji Yamase 2014
Satoshi Yamaguchi 2015
Takanori Sugeno 2016–2017
Yuta Someya 2018
Takumi Miyayoshi 2019
Jun Ando 2020
Temma Matsuda 2021–
Club officials
For the 2023 season.
Managerial history
Kit evolution
Related clubs
Amitie S.C. (Kansai Soccer League Division 1) – broke away from the original Kyoto Shiko Club upon professionalization; amateur club
Kyoto Shiko Club (Kansai Soccer League Division 2) – broke away from Kyoto BAMB 1993 (now Kyoto Amitie) in 1998; amateur club
Shiko Club women's (Kansai Women's Soccer League) – linked with today's Kyoto Shiko Club
Kyoto Sanga is considered the main continuation of the Kyoto Shiko Club that competed in the Japan Soccer League Second Division. "Shiko" (紫光) means "brilliant purple" and is the colour that Shiko/Sanga have always worn.
References
External links
J.League clubs
Japan Soccer League clubs
Football clubs in Japan
Association football clubs established in 1922
Emperor's Cup winners
Sport in Kyoto
1922 establishments in Japan
Japan Football League (1992–1998) clubs
Sports teams in Kyoto Prefecture