Soccer world hails 'King Kazu' after J1 appearance at age of 53
There may have been plenty to talk about on Wednesday as the J. League first division rounded the corner into the second half of its tumultuous season, but the only story that mattered was evergreen Kazuyoshi Miura’s first time stepping onto a J1 pitch ...
Former Japan midfielder Atsuhiro Miura named manager of Vissel
Former Japan midfielder Atsuhiro Miura has been named Vissel Kobe's new manager, the J. League first-division club said Thursday. The 46-year-old Miura, who has been overseeing Vissel's training and development as their sports director since 2018, fills the vacancy left by Thorsten Fink, who stepped ...
Vissel manager Thorsten Fink resigns at season's midway point
Vissel Kobe on Tuesday announced the resignation of manager Thorsten Fink, who has opted to return to his family in Germany. The 52-year-old arrived at Noevir Stadium midway through the tumultuous 2019 season, helping to steady the club on the way toward its historic first-ever ...
Hotaru Yamaguchi nets twice for Vissel in win over Consadole
The former Japan international helped overcome a brace by Sapporo's Takuma Arano in a back-and-forth game at Sapporo Dome.
Vissel becomes first J. League club to pass ¥10 billion mark
Vissel Kobe became the first Japanese club to surpass ¥10 billion ($92.7 million) in annual operating revenue as the club once again topped the J. League earnings list for the 2019 fiscal year, according to figures released Wednesday. The league's financial disclosures showed Vissel, owned ...
Vissel star Andres Iniesta holds court with young fans online
Vissel Kobe superstar Andres Iniesta shared some of his wisdom with young fans Tuesday during an online question-and-answer session. The Barcelona great and 2010 World Cup winner with Spain fielded questions and gave advice to around 100 children in the live event hosted on Vissel's ...
Andres Iniesta's Japanese journey proving to be winding road
The former Barcelona captain's thoughts have been with his Spanish homeland as he and his Vissel Kobe teammates wait for the J. League season to resume.
Former Japan defender Gotoku Sakai has tested positive for COVID-19, his club Vissel Kobe confirmed Monday, making him the first known J. League player to have been infected. According to Vissel, Sakai fell ill late Wednesday night with a fever of 38 degrees Celsius and ...
Squads, not stars, could define J. League's 2020 season
In its chosen hashtag for the season (#2020の主役は誰だ), the J. League literally asks "who will play the lead role in 2020?" That's never exactly been an easy question to ask, but it's become especially difficult in recent years. The league's supply of reliable stars has ...
Vissel Kobe win wild penalty shootout against Yokohama F. Marinos in Super Cup
It took Vissel Kobe 25 seasons to win their first trophy. The second one took just 90 minutes — and a penalty shootout that will, for better or for worse, go down in Saitama Stadium history. After a 3-3 draw against Yokohama F. Marinos in Saturday's ...
Vissel Kobe announced Saturday that former Germany international Lukas Podolski is leaving the J. League first-division club upon the expiration of his contract. The 34-year-old striker joined Kobe in the summer of 2017 on a 2½-year deal with an estimated annual salary of ¥600 million ...
Andres Iniesta says he hopes to finish playing career in Japan
Former Spain and Barcelona great Andres Iniesta hopes to finish his playing career in Japan with J. League's Vissel Kobe, Spanish media reported Thursday. Following rumors of interest from clubs in North America's Major League Soccer, the 34-year-old Iniesta was quoted in the online edition ...
