Hidetoshi Nakata, OSSI is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Considered one of the best talents to come from an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) country in the early late 1990s and early 2000s, Nakata became the first ever AFC player to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or.
The J1 League, a.k.a. the J.League or the Meiji Yasuda J1 League for sponsorship reasons, is the top level of the Japan Professional Football League system. Founded in 1992, it is one of the most successful leagues in Asian professional club football history. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the J2 League. It was a.k.a. names the J.League from 1993 to 1998 before becoming a two-division league, and as J.League Division 1 from 1999 to 2014.
Kazuyoshi Miura, often known simply as King Kazu), is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Japan Football League club Atletico Suzuka, on loan from J2 League club Yokohama FC. He is the world's oldest active player to score in a professional match.
Servette FC is a Swiss professional football club based in Geneva, founded in March 1890 with rugby as its first sporting activity, and named after the Geneva district of the same name. The football section was created on 17 January 1900. They play in the Swiss Super League.
Olympique Lyonnais, commonly referred to as simply Lyon or OL, is a French professional football club based in Lyon, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. They were founded in 1950 and compete in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club won its first Ligue 1 championship in 2002, beginning a national record-setting streak of seven successive titles. Lyon has also won eight Trophées des Champions, five Coupes de France, and three Ligue 2 titles.
Shunsuke Nakamura is a Japanese former professional footballer. He is currently a first-team coach of Yokohama FC. He is the only person to have been named J.League Most Valuable Player more than once, receiving the award in 2000 and 2013. Renowned as one of the best free kick takers ever, Steve Perryman once remarked that Nakamura "could open a tin of beans with his left foot".
Football Club de Nantes, commonly referred to as FC Nantes or simply Nantes, is a French professional football club based in Nantes in Pays de la Loire. The club was founded on 21 April 1943, during World War II, as a result of local clubs based in the city coming together to form one large club. From 1992 to 2007, the club was referred to as FC Nantes Atlantique before reverting to its current name at the start of the 2007–08 season. Nantes play in Ligue 1, the first division of Football in France. Nantes is one of the most successful clubs in French football, having won eight Ligue 1 titles, four Coupe de France wins and attained one Coupe de la Ligue victory.
Cerezo Osaka is a Japanese professional football club based in Osaka. The club currently plays in the J1 League, which is the top tier of football in the country. The club's name Cerezo is also the flower of the city of Osaka. The official hometowns of the club are Osaka and Sakai. They form a local rivalry with Suita-based Gamba Osaka.
Teruyuki Moniwa is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a centre back.
Daisuke Matsui is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He previously played for the Japan national team. His wife is Japanese actress Rosa Kato.
Kataller Toyama is a football club based in Toyama, Capital of Toyama Prefecture. The club currently plays in J3 League, Japanese third tier of professional football.
Hajime Hosogai is a Japanese professional footballer. He is a flexible player, able to play in his natural role as defender, defensive midfielder, and plays for Thespakusatsu Gunma, and the Japan national team.
Masatada Ishii is a Japanese professional football manager and former player who played as a midfielder. He is currently manager of the Thailand national football team.
Meikayla Jean-Maree Moore is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for Glasgow City in the Scottish Women's Premier League and the New Zealand national team.
Takuma Asano is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward for La Liga club Mallorca and the Japan national team.
Gamba Osaka Under−23 was a Japanese football team based in Suita, Osaka. It was the reserve team of Gamba Osaka and played in J3 League which they have done since their entry to the league at the beginning of the 2016 season. They played the majority of their home games at Panasonic Stadium Suita with some played at Expo '70 Commemorative Stadium.
Sei Muroya is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a right back for Hannover 96 in the 2. Bundesliga and for the Japan national team.
Jean-Philippe Mateta is a French professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Crystal Palace.
The 2017 J1 League was the 25th season of the J1 League, the top Japanese professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1992. This was third season of J1 League as renamed from J. League Division 1. The season began on 25 February 2017 and ended on 2 December. Fixtures for the 2017 season were announced on 26 January 2017.
Mina Tanaka is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for National Women's Soccer League club Utah Royals and the Japan women's national team. She has previously played for Nippon TV Beleza, Bayer Leverkusen, and INAC Kobe Leonessa.
