INAC Kobe Leonessa is a women’s football club based in Kobe, Japan, that competes in the WE League, the country’s top division of women’s football. The club was founded in 2001 and has since become one of Japan’s most successful and popular teams, winning multiple domestic titles and producing many national team players.
History and Achievements
INAC Kobe Leonessa was established in 2001 as the International Athletic Club Kobe, aiming to promote and develop young people in the region. The club adopted Leonessa, which means lioness in Italian, to symbolize their strength and courage on the pitch.
The club joined the L-League, the predecessor of the Nadeshiko League, in 2005 and quickly rose to the top division in 2006. The club finished as runners-up in the league and the Empress’s Cup, the national cup competition, in 2008, marking their first breakthrough.
The club reached new heights in 2010 when they won their first trophy by defeating Urawa Red Diamonds in the final of the Empress’s Cup. They won their first league title the following year, completing a domestic double. They repeated this feat in 2012 and 2013, becoming Japan’s first team to win three consecutive league and cup doubles.
The club also won the Nadeshiko League Cup, another domestic cup competition, in 2013 and added two more Empress’s Cup titles in 2015 and 2016. The club has won seven domestic trophies, making them one of the most decorated teams in Japanese women’s football history.
Players and Staff
INAC Kobe Leonessa has been home to many talented and influential players over the years, including several members of the Japan national team that won the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2011 and the silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Some of the notable players who have played for or are currently playing for the club are:
- Ayumi Kaihori: A goalkeeper who played for the club from 2008 to 2016. She was part of the World Cup-winning squad in 2011 and made a crucial save in the penalty shootout against the United States in the final.
- Yukari Kinga: A defender who played for the club from 2008 to 2013. She was also part of the World Cup-winning squad in 2011 and scored a goal in the semifinal against Sweden.
- Nahomi Kawasumi: A forward who played for the club from 2008 to 2013. She was also part of the World Cup-winning squad in 2011 and scored two goals in the final against the United States.
- Shinobu Ohno: A forward who played for the club from 2008 to 2013. She was also part of the World Cup-winning squad in 2011 and scored a goal in the quarterfinal against Germany.
- Homare Sawa: A midfielder who played for the club from 2009 to 2015. She was the captain and star player of the World Cup-winning squad in 2011 and won the Golden Ball as the best player and the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer. She also won the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year award in 2011.
- Megumi Takase: A forward who played for the club from 2009 to the present. She was also part of the World Cup-winning squad in 2011 and scored a goal in the group stage against Mexico.
- Asuna Tanaka: A midfielder who played for the club from 2009 to the present. She was also part of the World Cup-winning squad in 2011 and scored a goal in the group stage against New Zealand.
The current head coach of INAC Kobe Leonessa is Jordi Ferrón, a Spanish coach who joined the club in 2020. He has led the team to a second-place finish in both seasons he has been in charge.
Future Prospects
INAC Kobe Leonessa is competing in the inaugural season of WE League, a new professional league that aims to empower women through football and promote social change. The club is one of eleven founding members of the WE League and has high hopes of winning its first title since 2016.
The club has also signed some exciting players abroad, such as Ingrid Vidal from Colombia and Barbara Bonansea from Italy, to strengthen their squad and attract more fans. The club also has a strong youth academy that nurtures young talents for club and country.
INAC Kobe Leonessa is a club that has made history and inspired many people with their achievements and style of play. They are also a club that strives to create a better future for women and society through football. They are the lionesses of Japanese football and are not done roaring yet.
Originally posted 2023-09-27 19:37:16.
