, formerly is a professional football (soccer) club based in Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture in Japan. The club currently play in the J3 League, the third tier of Japanese professional football.
History The club was founded in 1995 in Kusatsu, one of the most well-known spa resorts in Japan, as Liaison Kusatsu Football Club. The players were students of the specialized training college Higashi Nihon Soccer Academy. When the school closed in 1999 due to financial difficulties, the players decided to stay in Kusatsu and keep the club alive. In 2002, the club was incorporated as K.K. Kusatsu Onsen Football Club with a future promotion to the J. League in mind and adopted the new team name , meaning "The Spa, Kusatsu".
Because of J. League restrictions on stadiums, they play at Shoda Shoyu Stadium Gunma (Shikishima Athletics Stadium) in nearby Maebashi, the prefectural capital since the club were promoted to J. League Division 2 in the 2005 season.
From 1 February 2013, the club adopted the new name "Thespakusatsu Gunma", to give the impression of the club as a representative of the entire Gunma Prefecture, while still leaving the name "Kusatsu" in it, as well as the logo of the club as it is.
After 12 years spent in the J2 League, Thespakusatsu Gunma were relegated to the J3 League for the first time in their history, having finished in last place in the 2017 J2 League. Gunma returned to the J2 League ahead of the 2020 season after being promoted back to J2 after two years spent in J3.
On 5 October 2023, Thespakusatsu Gunma announced officially, a change of name and logo to Thespa Gunma commencing from the 2024 season, dropping the "Kusatsu" which was included in the name since 2005.
On 29 September 2024, Thespa Gunma were officially relegated to J3 for the second time in their history, for the 2025 season after a defeat by Roasso Kumamoto 2–3 at home, which ended four years in second tier with five games remaining.
Stadium and training ground The home stadium is Shoda Shoyu Stadium Gunma, Maebashi, Gunma. The capacity of the stadium is 15,253. The training ground is GCC The Park in Maebashi.
Record as J. League member ChampionsRunners-upThird placePromotedRelegated League J. LeagueCup Emperor'sCupSeason Div. Teams Pos. P W D L F A GD Pts Attendance/G As Thespa Kusatsu2004JFL 16 3rd 30 19 5 6 63 35 28 62 4,948 Not eligibleQuartferfinals2005J212 12th44 5 8 31 26 82 -56 23 3,959 4th round200613 48 9 15 24 54 86 -32 42 3,736200711th48 7 21 20 42 71 -29 42 3,808 200815 9th42 13 14 15 45 52 -7 53 4,215 3rd round200918 10th51 18 11 22 64 76 -12 65 4,330 201019 12th36 14 6 16 36 48 -12 48 4,424 2nd round201120 9th38 16 9 13 51 51 0 57 3,211 201222 17th 42 12 11 19 31 15 -14 47 3,341 As Thespakusatsu Gunma2013J222 20th42 9 13 20 43 61 -18 40 3,571 Not eligible2nd round201418th42 14 7 21 45 54 -9 49 3,689 4th round201542 13 9 20 34 56 -22 48 4,099 1st round201617th42 11 12 19 52 66 -14 45 4,744 2nd round201722nd42 5 5 32 32 88 -56 20 3,832 3rd round2018J317 5th32 15 7 10 37 35 2 52 3,346 2nd round201918 2nd34 18 9 7 59 34 25 63 3,594 2020 †J222 20th42 15 4 23 40 62 -22 49 1,709 Did not qualify2021 †18th42 9 14 19 35 56 -21 41 2,082 4th round202220th42 11 9 22 36 57 -21 42 3,076 Round of 16202311th 42 14 15 13 44 44 0 57 4,116 2nd roundAs Thespa Gunma2024J220 20th 38 3 926 24 62 -38 18 3,988 2nd round 2nd round2025J314th 38 12 10 16 56 59 -3 46 3,555 1st round 2nd round202610 TBD 18 N/A N/A2026–2720 TBD 38 TBD TBD Key
Honours +Thespa Gunma honoursHonour No. Years NotesGunma Prefecture Division 411995as Liaison KusatsuGunma Prefecture Division 311996Gunma Prefecture 2nd Division A11997Gunma Prefecture Division 2 B12001Gunma Prefecture Division 112002as Thespa KusatsuKantō Division 212003Gunma Prefectural Football Association President's Cup Soccer Tournament42003, 2018, 2019, 2025
Current squad
Out on loan
Coaching staff
Position NameManager Mitsumasa YodaCoach Kazunari OkayamaCoach Tadayo FukuoCoach Kim Song-yongCoach Keita GotoGoalkeeping coach Hiroki MizuharaPhysical coach Haruki NishimuraExecutive officer Hajime HosogaiOperations officer Toshihiro AkimotoPress officer Kanako Ideguchi
Managerial history Manager Nationality Tenure Start Finish Ratko Stevović 1995 1997Naoki Kimura 1998 1999Ratko Stevović 2000 2001Ryōsuke Okuno 1 February 2002 31 January 2004Satoshi Tezuka 1 January 2005 31 December 2005Shigeharu Ueki 1 February 2006 31 January 2009Tōru Sano 1 February 2009 31 January 2010Hiroshi Soejima 1 February 2010 31 January 2013Tadahiro Akiba 1 February 2013 31 January 2015Hiroki Hattori 1 January 2015 31 December 2016Hitoshi Morishita 1 February 2017 31 January 2018Keiichirō Nuno 1 February 2018 31 January 2020Ryōsuke Okuno 1 February 2020 4 July 2021Kiyokazu Kudō 5 July 2021 31 January 2022Tsuyoshi Otsuki 1 February 2022 8 May 2024Akira Muto 9 May 2024 31 January 2025Masaru Okita 1 February 2025 14 September 2026 Mitsumasa Yoda 14 September 2026 present
Kit evolution
Home kits - 1st Away kits - 2nd
References
External links