Ehime FC

Ehime
愛媛
Full nameEhime Football Club
Short nameEhime
Founded1970 (1970)
StadiumNingineer Stadium
(Matsuyama, Ehime)
Capacity20,983
ChairmanTadashi Murakami
ManagerTakeshi Oki
LeagueJ3 League
2025J2 League, 20th of 20 (relegated)
Websiteehimefc.com

Ehime Football Club (愛媛フットボールクラブ, Ehime Futtobōrukurabu) commonly known as Ehime (愛媛FC, Ehime Efu Shī) is a professional football club based in Matsuyama, the capital city of Ehime Prefecture of Japan. The club will play in the J3 League, the third tier of Japanese professional football, starting from the 2026–27 season after finishing 20th in the 2025 J2 League.

Ehime FC is one of the few J.League clubs to be simply called Football Club without an extended name or moniker, the others being Yokohama FC, Iwaki FC, FC Tokyo, FC Osaka, FC Imabari, FC Ryukyu and FC Gifu which is currently playing their trades in the J.League.

The club has won 1 J3 League title in the 2023 season which is their only highest honours in the club history.

History

Foundation and early years (1970–2005)

The club was founded in 1970 as Matsuyama Soccer Club in the Ehime Prefecture as a regional amateur club. For many years it competed in the regional and prefectural league, as Matsuyama SC was represented in the Japan Soccer League by the local club belonging to the Teijin company. Matsuyama SC then renamed itself to Ehime Football Club in 1995.[1]

Ehime was promoted to the Japan Football League in 2003. After winning the JFL in 2005 season, Ehime spent 16 seasons in the J2 League before being relegated to the J3 League at the end of the 2021 season.

Entry into J.League and J2 era (2006–2019)

On 28 November 2007, Ehime pulled off a major shock by consigning the Urawa Red Diamonds, the 2007 AFC Champions League winners, to a fourth-round exit from the Emperor's Cup courtesy of a 2–0 win on Urawa's home soil, Urawa Komaba Stadium.[2]

Relegation and rebuilding (2020–present)

In 2020, Ehime was relegated to the J3 League after finishing at the bottom of the J2 standings. This marked the end of a long spell in the second division.

On 11 November 2023, after two years absence from Japanese second division, Ehime officially returned to J2 League for 2024 season.[3] They were promoted as J3 League champions of 2023 season with a narrow 1–0 win against their local rivals, FC Imabari on matchweek 35 with Riki Matsuda scored the only goal of the match.[4][5]

Team image

Supporters

The supporters of Ehime are primarily based in Ehime Prefecture, especially in and around Matsuyama. The club has built a loyal and community-oriented fanbase since joining professional football.

On matchdays at Ningineer Stadium, supporters gather in organized sections behind the goals, creating atmosphere through chants, flags, and coordinated displays. The fan culture reflects strong regional pride and a close connection between the team and its local supporters.

Even through relegation and rebuilding periods, the fanbase has remained committed, consistently supporting the team across both the J2 League and J3 League.

Ehime's mascot

Rivalries

Ehime’s main rivalries are with other clubs from the island of Shikoku. The most prominent is with Tokushima Vortis, in matches often referred to as the Shikoku Derby, representing competition for regional dominance.

Ehime also shares rivalries with Kamatamare Sanuki, with fixtures between the teams carrying importance due to geographic proximity and shared history within the lower divisions.

These rivalries are driven by regional pride and frequent encounters within the J.League system, contributing to the identity of football in Shikoku.

Stadium

Ningineer Stadium

Ehime plays its home matches at Ningineer Stadium, located in the city of Matsuyama. Opened in 1979, the stadium has a seating capacity of approximately 20,983 spectators and is part of the Ehime Prefectural Sports Park.[6] The sports facility is operated and managed by the Ehime Prefectural Sports Promotion Corporation as the designated manager.

The stadium is a multi-purpose venue with a running track surrounding the pitch, featuring a main stand and additional seating areas around the field. Although not a football-specific ground, it serves as the central venue for the club in the J.League system.

Ningineer Stadium has hosted matches in the J2 League and J3 League, as well as domestic cup competitions such as the Emperor's Cup. Despite the track, the stadium is known for its strong local atmosphere during matches.

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

Kit evolution

Home kit – 1st
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025 -
Away kit – 2nd
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025 -

Players

First-team squad

As of 1 April 2026.[7]

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 Kenta Tokushige
3 DF  JPN Kotaro Yamahara
5 DF  JPN Takaya Kuroishi
6 MF  JPN Masashi Tanioka
7 MF  JPN Yutaka Soneda
9 FW  JPN Yoshiki Fujimoto
10 FW  JPN Ryo Sato
11 FW  JPN Yuta Fujihara
13 MF  JPN Yudai Yamashita
14 MF  JPN Ryo Saito
16 MF  JPN Kohei Hosoya (on loan from Sanfrecce Hiroshima)
17 FW  JPN Yuya Taguchi
22 MF  JPN Yuhi Takemoto
24 MF  JPN Kota Miyamoto
26 DF  JPN Kazuya Kanazawa
No. Pos. Nation Player
27 FW  JPN Kyota Funahashi
31 GK  JPN Fuma Shirasaka
36 GK  JPN Shugo Tsuji
37 DF  JPN Ryoga Ishio
38 MF  JPN Shota Hino
39 MF  JPN Hiroshi Muto
41 DF  JPN Kenya Otsubo
44 DF  JPN Kimiya Moriyama (on loan from Avispa Fukuoka)
45 GK  JPN Kazuma Makiguchi
48 MF  JPN Toki Yukutomo
49 DF  JPN Ryota Abe
50 DF  JPN Koji Sugiyama
70 MF  JPN Ryosuke Maeda
88 FW  JPN Taiyo Yamaguchi (on loan from FC Tokyo)
99 FW  JPN Ryonosuke Kabayama

Out on loan

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
— DF  KOR Yu Ye-chan (at Ikoma FC Nara)
— DF  KOR Kang Sung-chan (at Edo All United)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK  JPN Raihei Kurokawa (at Nara Club)

Management and staff

Club officials for 2025 [8]

Position Name
Manager Japan Shinya Aono (Interim)
Coaches Japan Kazuhiro Murakami
Japan Naoyuki Iwata
South Korea On Byung-hoon
Goalkeeper coach Japan Keisuke Hada
Physical coach Japan Takehisa Tsugawa
Analysis coach Japan Toya Takemoto
Interpreter Japan Yohei Murayama
Japan Koji Kurosu
Chief trainer Japan Haruhiko Tsukada
Physiotherapist Japan Yukinari Miyamoto
Conditioning coach Japan Yo Maezuru
Chief doctor Japan Kazuki Morizane
Doctors Japan Takashi Inoue
Japan Yoshito Homma
Japan Shinji Iwata
Japan Tomofumi Kinoshita
Japan Koji Yamashita
Competent Japan Hideki Ikenaga
Deputy Officers Japan Manato Fujitsu
Japan Taichi Zen
Mental advisor Japan Konomi Kimura

Honours

Type Honours Titles Season
League J3 League 1 2023
Shikoku Football League 3 1998, 1999, 2000
Japan Football League 1 2005

Bold is for those competition that are currently active.

Managerial history

Manager Tenure Honours
Start Finish
Japan Takashi Onishi 1 February 2001 31 January 2005
Japan Kazuhito Mochizuki 1 February 2005 14 September 2009 − 2005 Japan Football League
Bosnia and Herzegovina Ivica Barbarić 15 September 2009 15 November 2012
Japan Kiyotaka Ishimaru 1 February 2013 31 January 2015
Japan Takashi Kiyama 1 February 2015 31 January 2017
Japan Shuichi Mase 1 February 2017 15 May 2018
Japan Kenta Kawai 15 May 2018 31 January 2021
Japan Shigenari Izumi 1 February 2021 4 April 2021[9]
Japan Noritada Saneyoshi 7 April 2021 16 December 2021[10]
Japan Kiyotaka Ishimaru (2) 17 December 2021[11] 21 May 2025[12] − 2023 J3 League
Japan Shinya Aono (Interim) 21 May 2025 Current

Season by season record

Champions Runners-up Third place Promoted Relegated
League J. League
Cup		 Emperor's
Cup
Season Div. Teams Pos. P W D L G A GD Pts Attendance/G
2006 J2 13 9th 48 14 11 23 51 63 −13 53 4,139 Not eligible 4th round
2007 13 10th 48 12 9 27 39 66 −27 45 3,317 Quarter-final
2008 15 14th 42 9 10 23 39 66 −27 37 3,704 4th round
2009 18 15th 51 12 11 28 54 80 −26 47 3,694 2nd round
2010 19 11th 36 12 12 12 34 34 0 48 4,386 2nd round
2011 20 15th 38 10 14 14 44 54 −10 44 3,475 4th round
2012 22 16th 42 12 14 16 47 46 1 50 3,629 2nd round
2013 22 17th 42 12 11 19 43 52 −9 47 3,950 2nd round
2014 22 19th 42 12 12 18 54 58 −4 48 3,820 4th round
2015 22 5th 42 19 8 15 47 39 8 65 3,771 3rd round
2016 22 10th 42 12 20 10 41 40 1 56 4,089 3rd round
2017 22 15th 42 14 9 19 54 68 −14 51 3,866 3rd round
2018 22 18th 42 12 12 18 34 52 −18 48 3,161 2nd round
2019 22 19th 42 12 6 24 46 62 −16 42 3,780 2nd round
2020 † 22 21st 42 8 10 24 38 68 −30 34 1,512 Did not qualify
2021 † 22 20th 42 7 14 21 38 67 −29 35 1,854 1st round
2022 J3 18 7th 34 14 10 10 51 41 10 52 2,938 Did not qualify
2023 20 1st 38 21 10 7 59 48 11 73 3,674
2024 J2 20 17th 38 10 10 18 41 69 −28 40 4,721 1st round Round of 16
2025 20 20th 38 3 13 22 35 71 -36 22 4,714 1st round 2nd round
2026 J3 10 TBD 18 N/A N/A
2026–27 20 TBD 38 TBD TBD
Key
  • Pos. = Position in league; P = Games played; W = Games won; D = Games drawn; L = Games lost; F = Goals scored; A = Goals conceded; GD = Goals difference; Pts = Points gained
  • Attendance/G = Average league home attendance
  • † 2020 & 2021 seasons attendance reduced by COVID-19 worldwide pandemic
  • Source: J. League Data Site[13]

References

  1. ^ "Club guide: Ehime FC". J. League. Archived from the original on 20 January 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  2. ^ "Urawa mark Asian award with cup collapse". ESPN soccernet. 29 November 2007. Archived from the original on 15 October 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  3. ^ "愛媛ＦＣのＪ２昇格が決定【Ｊリーグ】". J. League. 11 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  4. ^ "Ehime FC capture J3 League title". J. League. 12 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  5. ^ "MEIJI YASUDA J3 LEAGUE  • MATCHWEEK 35 – Ehime FC vs FC Imabari". J. League. 12 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Stadium capacity". ehimefc.com. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  7. ^ "トップチーム選手". Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  8. ^ "Club officials for 2025 season". ehimefc.com. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  9. ^ "Shigenori Izumi, Director, Resigns". ehimefc.com. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  10. ^ "Ehime FC New Team Coach". ehimefc.com/. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  11. ^ "New Head Coach of Ehime FC First Team". ehimefc.com/.
  12. ^ "Ehime manager change announcement, resignation old manager and appointment of new manager"". ehimefc.com/. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  13. ^ "J. League Data Site". J. League. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
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