Football Season Guide

J2 League
Japan
J2 League
2024
Tochigi SC
Clean filter

Tochigi SC

In


Min-jun Kim (gk) Incheon U18; Kenta Tanno (gk) Iwate Grulla; Keitaro Nakajima (gk) Jubilo Iwata – on loan; Takumi Fujitani (def) Gifu; Kenta Fukumori (def) Oita Trinita; Kodai Dohi (mid) Sanfrecce Hiroshima – on loan; Koya Okuda (mid) V-Varen Nagasaki; Taichi Aoshima (mid) Rissho University; Yong-ji Park (mid) Korea University; Shintaro Ide (mid) Toin University; Origbaajo Ismaila (att) Kyoto Sanga; Harumi Minamino (att) Gamba Osaka – on loan;

Out


Kazuki Fujita (r) (gk) Albirex Niigata – end of loan; Ryo Nemoto (r) (att) Shonan Bellmare – end of loan; Yuki Nishiya (r) (mid) Zweigen Kanzawa; Ryohei Okazaki (sp) (def) Blaubitz Akita; Yojiro Takahagi (sp) (mid) Reilac Shiga; Leandro Pereira (sp) (att) Botafogo; Kojiro Yasuda (mid) FC Tokyo – end of loan; Keita Ueda (mid) Yokohama Marinos – end of loan; Juninho (mid) released; Ren Yamamoto (mid) released; Yuya Aoshima (gk) JEF United – on loan; Kenya Onodera (def) Albirex Niigata (Singapore); Yukuto Omoya (def) Reilac Shiga; Masato Igarashi (mid) Reilac Shiga; Tomoyasu Yoshida (def) Miyazaki;

All of last season Tochigi flirted with danger. They finished with the second-fewest league wins, only 10 in 42 rounds, with only Zweigen who finished in last place accumulating fewer wins. Tochigi survived in the end but they finished in 19th place and this season such a finish will mean relegation. After so many inconsistencies last season coach Yu Tokisaki was released in January. Makoto Tanaka, a manger with limited experience at this level, has been appointed in charge for the start of the new season. Tochigi’s main strength last season was their defence. Only 6 other teams in J2 conceded fewer goals than Tochigi’s 47. However, in attack things were poor all season. To try and improve their forward actions Tochigi added 2 new interesting strikers. Both Ismaila and Minamino should help to improve on the scoring record from last season. Midfielders Dohi and Okuda were also added to the ranks in attempt to find more creativity in midfield. Defensively things should look good again with all of the main players in this area of the pitch staying put. The one notable change will be on goal. Fujita’s successful loan ended and now experienced Kawata or another loanee Nakajima will be starting on goal.

Target


The main goal is to secure survival as early as possible. Can do it but it will be a tense battle all season.