Name: Sanfrecce Hiroshima F.C. Country: Japan City: Hiroshima Ground: Hiroshima Big Arch (50,000) Nickname: Sanfrecce, Sanfre Official website: http:// www.sanfrecce.co.jp/ Honors: 6 League titles - 3 Emperor Cup titles A background: The glory days of the 60s Even though they have six league titles in their trophy cabinet, the 74-year-old club have only clinched one major title under the name Hiroshima Sanfrecce. This year's J. League triumph – the feat that sent them to the World Cup – is Hiroshima's first piece of silverware since 1970. Founded in 1938, the Hiroshima club started as Toyo Kogyo SC, winning the inaugural Japan Soccer League title in 1965 and dominating the domestic competition for a stunning four years in a row. The title blitz was then halted for some time as the name was changed to Mazda SC in 1981, before finally settling to Hiroshima Sanfrecce 11 years later. But the maiden Japanese champions' trophy-drought was to be sustained for another ailing era, which saw the club relegated in a couple of occasions. Returning to the top flight in 2008, Sanfre managed to recall their glory days by winning an unlikely J. League title four years later, thanks to a good number of home-grown players who emerged through the club's renowned youth academy. Star man: Hisato Sato If one player was to be singled out as the instrumental figure behind Hiroshima's memorable league victory this season, it has to be their prolific number 11 skipper. Sato, a left-footed striker who can win games on his own, started all of Hiroshima's 34 league matches last season, finishing top scorer of the competition with 22. His goals earned him a host of personal honors this year, most notably being named the J. League Player of the Year, Top Scorer and member of the best XI. The 30-year-old represented Japan more than 30 times which makes him the most-capped player in the Sanfre squad. Sato is the type of forward who prefers a clinical touch rather than going for power in front of goal, thanks to a sweet left foot that netted over a 100 goals for Sanfre since 2005. "He's popular and he thinks for the team. He puts the team before himself. He plays with that attitude and the things he says also reflect that. I really respect that about him," said coach Hajime Moriyasu about his star man. Highlights of Sato Coach: Hajime Moriyasu Moriyasu hit the ground running in his first season as Hiroshima head coach, leading his old club to a long-awaited J. League title this year. The 44-year-old was a defensive midfielder who won over 30 caps for Japan and was part of his nation's squad in a triumphant 1992 AFC Asian Cup campaign on home soil. Still labeled a rookie coach, Moriyasu brought down the house with his superb league victory this season; a feat that earned him the Manager of the Year award in Japan. "I really wonder if I deserve this award in only my first year as manager," said Moriyasu after receiving his award last month. "At Sanfrecce, we have won our first championship in twenty years and did it in my first year as manager." Interesting fact: Pioneers! Hiroshima are the first... -Champions of the Japanese top-flight league (1965). -Club to represent Japan in a continental tournament (1969 Asian Club Cup). - Former stage winner (first stage, 1994) in Japan to be relegated to the lower division (2002).
