FC Imabari
- Leagues Played
- Jaapani J3-League 172 Jaapani jalgpalliliiga 41 Jaapani FA Cup 7 Jaapani karikas 4 Jaapani J-League'i karikas 1
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- Related Teams
- FC Imabari - naised
FC Imabari
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Wikipedia - FC Imabari
FC Imabari (FC今治, Efu Shī Imabari) is a Japanese football club based in Imabari, Ehime Prefecture. They currently play in the J3 League, Japan's third tier of professional football.
History
The club was founded in 1976 and were promoted to the Shikoku Football League in 2001.
From 2009 to 2011, they were owned by Ehime FC as their reserve team, Ehime FC Shimanami. In 2014, the majority of FC Imabari was bought by former Japan national team coach Takeshi Okada.
In February 2016, the club made another step forward towards the J. League, as JFA recognised J.League Hundred Year Vision clubs. In November, they won the Regional Promotion Series and were promoted to the Japan Football League. During their debut season on the JFL, they opened their new stadium and acquired a J3 League license from the 2018 season.
In 2019, after finishing on third place at the JFL, FC Imabari were promoted to Japan's professional league system, becoming a professional club, as they were promoted to the J3 for the first time in their history.
FC Imabari acquired a J2 license in 2021, meaning that Imabari can be promoted to the J2 League once they are able to finish the season in the promotion zone. On 2023, the club plays their fourth consecutive season at the J3 League.
FC Imabari on tuntud oma lähenemise poolest noorte mängijate arendamisele, klubi noorteakadeemiaga on liitunud mitmed mängijad, kes on hiljem esindanud Jaapani jalgpallikoondist. Klubi on tuntud ka oma kogukonnaga seotuse poolest, korraldades noortele jalgpallikliinikuid ja toetades kohalikke algatusi.
2023. aasta hooajal juhendab FC Imabarit peatreener Takashi Kiyama ja klubi loodab eelseisval hooajal edeneda J2 League'i. Klubi võtmemängijate seas on poolkaitsja Takuya Nozawa, kes on tuntud oma loova mängu ja väravalöömisoskuste poolest, ning ründaja Riku Matsuda, kes on noor ja andekas mängija, kellelt oodatakse läbimurret sel hooajal.