Vegalta Sendai
ClubnameVegalta Sendai
ベガルタ仙台
Upright0.87
FullnameVegalta Sendai
ShortnameVEG
Founded1988 (age 38)
GroundYurtec Stadium Sendai
(Izumi-ku, Sendai)
Capacity19,694
ChairmanHideki Itabashi
ManagerYoshiro Moriyama[1]
Current2025 Vegalta Sendai season
Websitevegalta.co.jp
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Pattern sh 1_VEGALTA SENDAI 2026 HOME FP
Pattern so 1_VEGALTA SENDAI 2024 HOME FP
Leftarm 1FFFFFF
Body 1FFFFFF
Rightarm 1FFFFFF
Shorts 1FFFFFF
Socks 1FFEE00
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Vegalta Sendai (ベガルタ仙台, Begaruta Sendai) is a Japanese professional football club based in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. They currently play in J2 League, the Japanese second tier of professional football.

Vegalta won their only major honours in which they won the J2 League title in the 2009 season.

History

Foundation and early development (1988–1998)

Founded in 1988 as Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc. Soccer Club, the company team of Tohoku Electric Power, Vegalta Sendai joined the J-League in 1999 after playing a few seasons in the JFL, with the nickname Brummell Sendai, to which they had been promoted in 1994 from the Tohoku Regional League. In the mid-1990s, the club began transitioning into a community-based professional club as part of the expanding structure of the J.League. In 1999, the club adopted the name Vegalta Sendai as a homage to the famous Tanabata festival in Sendai and joined the newly established J2 League.

Promotion to J1 and early top-flight years (2001–2003)

Vegalta achieved promotion to the J1 League in 2001 after finishing near the top of the J2 standings. The promotion marked the first time the club competed in Japan’s top division.

Vegalta performed strongly in its debut season and secured a respectable mid-table finish. However, the club went back down to J2 League due to the inconsistent performance.

Rebuilding and return to J1 (2004–2019)

Following relegation, Vegalta spent several years rebuilding in the J2 League while strengthening its squad and youth development system. The club gradually improved its performances and became a strong promotion contender.

In 2009, Vegalta won the J2 League title thus securing promotion back to the J1 League for the 2010 season.

In 2011, despite the earthquake and tsunami, Vegalta achieved their highest position up to that time, 4th place in the top division.

In 2012, despite leading the table for most of the season, Sanfrecce Hiroshima's challenge proved too strong, and losing the penultimate week game to relegation battler Albirex Niigata cost them the title, rendering them runners-up in the league which is Vegalta best-ever league finish in the top flight division.

In 2018, Vegalta reached the final of the 2018 Emperor's Cup, however, lost 1–0 to Urawa Red Diamonds.[2]

Recent seasons (2020–present)

After twelve years spent in the J1 League, Vegalta returned to the J2 in 2022, after being relegated from the J1 at the end of 2021. After finishing in seventh place in the 2022 J2 League, thus failing to reach the promotion play-offs. Ryang Yong-gi, a symbol of Sendai, retired at the end of the 2023 season.

For the 2024 season, Yoshiro Moriyama, who has a track record of developing players at Sanfrecce Hiroshima's training age group and the U17 Japan National Team, was appointed as Manager.

Team image

Name origin

The name “Vegalta” is derived from the names of two stars in the constellation Orion—Vega and Altair—a reference to the famous Tanabata festival held annually in Sendai. The names of the two celestial stars of the Tanabata legend, Vega and Altair were combined to form Vegalta.[3]

Supporters

As with most football clubs, fans in Sendai sing and dance during matches. However, most of the songs used by fans from other clubs are avoided due to the more eclectic set. Club themes sung before each game are Take Me Home, Country Roads, and during the game. Toy Dolls, Blitzkrieg Bop and other Kiss and Twisted Sister songs.

Since Sendai is the hometown of Hirohiko Araki, who wrote JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, fans often wave flags with the same motifs of characters portrayed in Araki's manga.

Rivalries

Michinoku Derby

Vegalta's traditional rivals are Montedio Yamagata from Yamagata Prefecture. The two have been rivals since meeting in the Tohoku Football League in 1991. Among the Tohoku derbies, this match is famous as the Michinoku derby.

Tohoku Derby

This is the derby played by the Tohoku region teams, currently the most important match is that of Vegalta Sendai and Montedio Yamagata. Other teams included in this classic include Blaublitz Akita, Iwate Grulla Morioka, Iwaki FC.

Mascot

  • VEGATTA (Brother)
    • He has won "the J League mascot general election" many times and is quite popular.
    • The eagle, which is also used in the club emblem as a symbol of victory in Greek mythology, is associated with the Aquila constellation, to which Hikoboshi (Altair) belongs, which is the origin of the club's name. The name was decided by public submission. Vegatta's SNS (BLOG, Twitter), which is updated daily, is loved and popular among soccer fans in Japan, as the mascot loves mischief, and is by some fans, hard to believe it is a mascot.
  • LTAANA (Sister)
    • From the Sendai summer tradition "Sendai Tanabata", which is the origin of the team name, "Luta" for Vega (Orihime) and Altair (Hikoboshi), and "Tana" for Tanabata, it was named as a girlish name by combining "na", on a 7 August, which is the date of the event and the birthday. Sometimes she tweet with [#ルターナ] (LTAANA written phonetically on Katakana) on Sendai's official Twitter.
    • When Vegalta wins any match, she expresses her joy on Twitter.

Cheerleaders

  • The Vegalta Cheerleaders mainly support "Vegalta Sendai", participate in many events, and continue to work as a cheering group for people who are doing their best in the area. She has the longest history as a cheerleader for a professional sports team in Sendai, and has been active since 2003.

Stadium

Vegalta plays its home matches at Yurtec Stadium Sendai, a football-specific stadium located in Izumi-ku, Sendai. Opened in 1997, the stadium has a seating capacity of around 19,134 spectators and is known for its compact design, with stands positioned close to the pitch, creating an intense matchday atmosphere.

The stadium has served as the club’s primary home ground since Vegalta joined the professional structure of the J.League. Its intimate atmosphere and passionate supporters make it one of the most recognizable football venues in the Tōhoku region. In addition to Yurtec Stadium Sendai, the club occasionally uses the Miyagi Stadium. a much larger multi-purpose stadium located in the town of Rifu, just outside Sendai. It is typically used for selected high-profile matches and major event. Opened in 2000, the venue has a capacity of over 49,000 and was one of the stadiums used during the 2002 FIFA World Cup where It was also used by the Italian national football team as their basecamp during the tournament.

Due to its significantly larger capacity, Miyagi Stadium is sometimes used for high-profile fixtures, major events, and matches expected to attract larger crowds. While Yurtec Stadium Sendai remains the club’s main and traditional home ground, Miyagi Stadium serves as an alternative venue that allows the club to accommodate bigger audiences for important games.

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

Kit evolution

Home - 1st kits
Away - 2nd kits
Other - 3rd kits

Players

First-team squad

.[4]

Management and staff

For the 2026 season.[5]

PositionName
ManagerYoshiro Moriyama
First-team coachKoichiro Katafuchi
Akira Konno
Yōsuke Nishi
Goalkeeper coachMotoki Ueda
Physical coachMakoto Muraoka
Analyst & coachTakuma Deguchi
Chief trainerYakuya Matsuda
TrainerTomoki Takeda
Taisuke Ikoma
PhysiotherapistMasaaki Taira
InterpreterRodrigo Simões
CompetentShinya Naganuma
Deputy officerYutaro Miura
Hiroki Ito

Honours

! style="background:#FFD700; color:#0000CD; text-align:center;" |Type! style="background:#FFD700; color:#0000CD; text-align:center;" |Honours! style="background:#FFD700; color:#0000CD; text-align:center;" |Titles! style="background:#FFD700; color:#0000CD; text-align:center;" |Season
LeagueJ2 League12009
Tohoku Soccer League11994
Japanese Regional Football League Competition11984

Bold is for those competition that are currently active.

Records and statistics

As of 25 April 2026.

Top 10 all-time appearances
RankPlayerYearsClub appearance
1Ryang Yong-gi2004–2019, 2022–2023617
2Shingo Tomita2005–2022518
3Naoki Sugai2003–2018442
4Naoki Chiba1996–2010430
5Kunimitsu Sekiguchi2004–2012, 2018–2021413
6Takuto Hayashi2007–2013284
7Koji Hachisuka2012–2023279
8Takayuki Nakahara2003–2014230
9Yasuhiro Hiraoka2016–2022224
10Jiro Kamata2010–2015220
Top 10 all-time goalscorer
RankPlayerClub appearanceTotal goals
1Ryang Yong-gi61783
2Marcos7356
3Wilson16251
4Shingo Akamine16348
5Naoki Sugai44243
6Yuki Nakashima20138
7Hisato Satō8133
8Takayuki Nakahara23031
9Takuma Nishimura14330
10Kunimitsu Sekiguchi41330

Award winners

As of the end of the 2025 season.

Managerial history

! style="background:#FFD700; color:#0000CD; text-align:center;" |Manager! style="background:#FFD700; color:#0000CD; text-align:center;" |Period! style="background:#FFD700; color:#0000CD; text-align:center;" |Honours
Takekazu Suzuki1 July 1990–31 December 1995– 1994 Tohoku Soccer League
Choei Sato1 January 1996–31 December 1996
Branko Elsner1 February 1997–31 December 1997
Toshiya Miura1 January 1998–31 January 1998
Takekazu Suzuki (2)1 February 1998–24 July 1999
Hidehiko Shimizu27 July 1999–14 September 2003
Hajime Ishii15 September 2003–20 September 2003
Zdenko Verdenik21 September 2003–31 December 2004
Satoshi Tsunami1 January 2005–30 November 2005
Joel Santana1 December 2005–31 December 2006
Tatsuya Mochizuki1 January 2007–31 December 2007
Makoto Teguramori1 February 2008–14 November 2013– 2009 J2 League
Graham Arnold14 November 2013–9 April 2014
Susumu Watanabe10 April 2014–31 January 2020
Takashi Kiyama1 February 2020–31 January 2021
Makoto Teguramori (2)1 February 2021–22 November 2021
Masato Harasaki23 November 2021–5 September 2022
Akira Ito6 September 2022–12 July 2023
Takafumi Hori13 July 2023–13 November 2023
Yoshiro Moriyama1 January 2024–present

Notable players and coaches

International convention

World Cup
World Cup (Manager)
FIFA Confederations Cup
AFC Asian Cup
AFC Asian Cup (Manager)
  • 2019
    • Hajime Moriyasu
    • Graham Arnold
Copa América
OFC Nations Cup
  • 2016
    • Michael McGlinchey
      ※Winner
EAFF E-1 Football Championship
Summer Olympics (U-23)
Summer Olympics (U-23 Manager)
AFC U-23 Asian Cup
  • 2016
    • Makoto Teguramori
      ※Winner
  • 2020
    • Graham Arnold
      ※3rd place
Asian Games (U-23)
  • 2018
    • Ko Itakura
      ※Runner up
Asian Games (U-23 Manager)
  • 2014
    • Makoto Teguramori
Toulon Tournament (U-22)
FIFA U-20 World Cup (Manager)

Best Match

① and ② were selected as "that game I want to see again" on the J League official YouTube channel, and 2 was also selected as "10 Best Matches" by J Chronicle Best. ② was also selected as the "Best Match" of the J30 Best Awards.

J Chronicle Best

This is a project to select the J.League "Best Eleven", "Best Goal" and "Best Match" over the past 20 years. A project held in 2013 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Japan Professional Soccer League. The mentioned two game is often featured as a legendary game in each media.

J30 BEST AWARDS

A project to select the "MVP", "Best Eleven", "Best Goal", "Best Match", and "Best Scene" of the J League over the past 30 years. An award hosted by the J.League to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the J.League in 2023.

Even in "Soccer Digest" (Japan's famous football media), the two were selected as "the best 3 selected J.League matches" by the reporter in charge of Sendai. Sendai's Yoshiaki Ota, who scored the equalizing goal against Kawasaki, said, "I think it was a goal that everyone worked together, including the thoughts of my teammates."

*The notation of the match card and the stadium where the match was held is at the time of the match.

GameDate/StadiumOverviewMatch data
①2001 J League Division 2 Round 44 Kyoto Purple Sanga FC 0-1 Vegalta SendaiNovember 18, 2001 Takebishi Stadium Kyoto

The long-awaited J1 first promotion match. Head-to-head competition between leader Kyoto and 3rd place Sendai in the final round.

The first promotion to J1 as a club in the Tohoku region is decided.

Official record
②2011 J League Division 1 Round 7 Kawasaki Frontale 1-2 Vegalta SendaiApril 23, 2011 Kawasaki Todoroki StadiumThe first match after the suspension of the league match due to the Great East Japan Earthquake. Sendai, who suffered severe damage to the club itself, came from behind to win. Recorded the club's first victory with Todoroki Stadium.Official record

Season by season record

ChampionsRunners-upThird placePromotedRelegated
LeagueJ.League CupEmperor's Cup
SeasonLeagueTierTeamsPos.PW (OTW / PKW)DL (OTL)FAGDPtsAttendance
Brummell Sendai
1995Former JFL21615th309-214079-3927rowspan="4|2nd round
1996166th3018-12675215563rd round
1997168th3012 (1 / 2)-153743-640Group stage2nd round
1998167th301 (5 / 3)-125553243Group stage4th round
Vegalta Sendai
1999J22109th367 (3)418 (4)3058-28317,4701st round2nd round
2000115th4015 (4)215 (4)6069-9558,8851st round1st round
2001122nd4424 (3)59 (3)7856228314,0111st round3rd round
2002J111613th309 (2)1184057-173221,862Group stage4th round
20031615th3059163156-252421,646Group stage3rd round
2004J22126th441514156266-45916,198Not eligible4th round
2005124th441911146647196815,9344th round
2006135th482114137543327714,4534th round
2007134th482413117254188314,6853rd round
2008153rd42181686247157014,0804th round
2009181st513210987394810612,951Semi final
2010J111814th34109154046-63917,332Quarter final2nd round
2011184th34141463925145615,6562nd round4th round
2012182nd34151275943165716,603Quarter final3rd round
20131813th34111211413834514,866Quarter finalQuarter final
20141814th34911143550-153815,173Group stage2nd round
20151814th3498174448-43514,907Group stageQuarter final
20161812th34134173948-94315,050Group stage2nd round
20171812th34118154453-94114,746Semi final2nd round
20181811th34136154454-104515,408Round of 16Runners up
20191811th34125173845-74114,971Play-off stage4th round
2020 †1817th34610183661-25284,163Group stageNot eligible
20212019th38513203162-31285,926Group stage2nd round
2022J22227th421891567598638,991Not eligible3rd round
20232216th421212184861-134811,2153rd round
2024206th38181010504466413,3311st round2nd round
2025207th38161484736116213,7601st round2nd round
202610TBD18N/AN/A
2026-2720TBD38TBDTBD

*Pos. = Position in league; P = Games played; W = Games won; D = Games drawn; L = Games lost; F = Goals scored; A = Goals conceded; GD = Goals difference; Pts = Points gained

  • Attendance = Average home league attendance
  • † 2020 & 2021 seasons attendances reduced by COVID-19 worldwide pandemic
  • Source: J.League Data Site

Continental record

Sendai also participated in the ACL for the first time in 2013.

It was a tournament with many challenges other than matches, such as long-distance travel, overcrowded schedule with the J.League and local climate, but they did not lose in the extreme cold of Nanjing and the intense heat of Thailand and the final match was a draw or better in the qualifying.

It was a good point to leave the possibility of breaking through.

SeasonCompetitionRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate
2013AFC Champions LeagueGroup EBuriram United1–11–14th
Jiangsu Sainty1–20–0
FC Seoul1–02–1

Asian clubs ranking

.[6]

Current RankCountryTeamPoints
175Nantong Zhiyun FC1290
176Qingdao Jonoon1290
177Kitchee1290
178Pas Hamedan1288
179Vegalta Sendai1288
180V-Varen Nagasaki1288

Vegalta House

"Shichigashuku Town's Empty House Revitalization Project: Let's Build a Vegalta House" will start in July 2021 with the support of 143 crowdfunding people and a total of 78 local workers.[7] It is involved in a social collaboration activity, in line with Goal 11 "Sustainable cities and communities" and Goal 17 "Partnership for the goals" of the SDGs basic guidelines.[8][9][10]

References

  1. ^ "森山佳郎監督就任のお知らせ" (in Japanese). www.vegalta.co.jp. Vegalta Sendai. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  2. ^ "仙台、天皇杯準優勝は新時代の幕開け。渡邉体制6年目はサポーターの望むタイトル獲得へ" (in Japanese). フットボールチャンネル. 10 December 2018. Archived 2018-12-10 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2021-03-15.
  3. ^ "GET TO KNOW J.LEAGUE: Vegalta Sendai". YouTube
  4. ^ "トップチーム選手・スタッフ" (in Japanese). Vegalta Sendai. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  5. ^ "Team staff for 2024". vegalta.co.jp. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  6. ^ "Asia Football / Soccer Clubs Ranking 2024". footballdatabase.com. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Vegalta House Recent Report". 2022-11-07.
  8. ^ "みなさん、おばんです。" (in Japanese). 3 November 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  9. ^ "Introducing clubs that received a lot of RT response.". 2022-11-07.
  10. ^ "You can stay at Vegalta House!". 2022-11-07.