FC Ryukyu Okinawa

The club was founded in 2003. Many of the players who initially joined the club were former Okinawa Kariyushi FC which was disbanded after failing to win promotion to the JFL the previous year. Their first 2003 season saw them win the championship in Okinawa Prefectural Division 3 North. They were allowed to skip to Division 1 the next season, where they again succeeded in finishing top of the table. In the 2005 season, they belonged to the Kyūshū Regional League (Kyu League). After finishing 2nd and winning the Regional League play-off, they were promoted to the JFL and became the first ever Okinawan football side who played in a national league. In December 2007, the club appointed former Japan national coach Philippe Troussier as their general manager. Jean-Paul Rabier was appointed as their manager in January 2008. They applied for J. League Associate Membership in January 2008, but their application was declined at the J. League board meeting held on February 19, 2008. In December 2008, the resignation of Rabier was announced. Former coach Hiroyuki Shinzato was promoted to be the new manager in January 2009. In 2014, FC Ryukyu could finally join the J3 League. In January 2015, FC Ryukyu announced a partnership with Seoul United from the Korean Challengers League. According to the agreement the teams will play a friendly match every year. The first match was scheduled for 1 March 2015. FC Ryukyu have made steady progress in recent years, finishing in 8th place in J3 in…