2025 Season Second Half
Determination for a Comeback
FC Tokyo's 2024 fiscal year financial report announced on April 24. Operating revenue exceeded the previous year, reaching a club record high of 6.989 billion yen, a 17.9% increase year-on-year. Net profit also turned positive, reaching 72 million yen.
While steadily improving numbers on the management side, the team has not been able to achieve the desired results in the first half of the 2025 season. This has been a result that reflects the difficulty of the sport of soccer.
In the first part of this management report, we will start by reviewing the competitive aspects of the 2025 season. Additionally, we spoke with President Shigeya Kawagishi about team composition perspectives for the future and the club's initiatives.
Coverage & Composition = Kei Sato (Freelance Writer)
Interview Date: June 14, 2025 (Saturday) Before the match against Cerezo Osaka
── Last year, we received an explanation of the details immediately after the financial report was released. This year as well, we hope to hear about each section.
Previously, we intended to explain the announced financial results to our fans and supporters, but we ended the first half of the season with disappointing results. This time, I would like to start by talking about the team's situation so far in the 2025 season.
──Understood. Then, let's start by talking about the football side of the 2025 season. (At the time of the interview) 18 matches have been completed so far, and despite the difference in the number of matches played, FC Tokyo is in 18th place. Please share your thoughts on this performance.
It is a fact that we are currently in the relegation zone, so the club recognizes this as a very severe and serious situation. How we recover from here will determine our approach for the second half of the season. We must respond to this with all our strength.
──From the president's perspective, the results were very different from what was envisioned before the season.
FC Tokyo has always set "League Championship" as its goal. We have fought every season with the desire to reach that goal as soon as possible. From that perspective, the current position is significantly different from what we had envisioned. That is an undeniable fact. Now that the first half of the season is over, we must thoroughly examine what the challenges were. Many players from the academy have taken the field, and we have initiatives that connect to the future, but while valuing those aspects, we must devise measures to steadily accumulate points and fight the second half of the season.
── How do you think about the reason for the gap between the expected results and the actual performance?
Regarding the initiative itself, there were parts where we were able to thoroughly carry out each process. That is how I feel, but while there were things we built up, I think there were also shortcomings in each of those individual parts.
── The biggest difference compared to last season is definitely the change of the head coach. Since it is Rikizo MATSUHASHI's first year as head coach, there must have been some difficulties.
A newly appointed coach is difficult not only for us but for any team. Of course, there are teams that have achieved immediate results after a coaching change, but there are certainly challenges. Even so, we entered the season with high expectations. However, the performance did not meet our expectations. Judging from the results, various aspects of adapting to the new coach, such as tactical player performance, were each slightly lacking. The cause is not a single factor; rather, these small deficiencies accumulated, resulting in the current performance.
──The appointment of Coach Matsuhashi was announced on December 21st last year. I understand that President Kawagishi spoke directly with the new coach some time after the end of last season. Compared to other clubs, the announcement of the appointment was late, but did that cause any delays in the organization for the 2025 season?
First of all, I believe there is no definitive answer as to the correct timing to start team formation. Having said that, I cannot completely deny the points you raised. Most player contracts are multi-year agreements. Therefore, there is inevitably a part where the new coach inherits the squad and players desired by the previous coach, and the pre-season formation involves responding to the new coach's requests by adding to that foundation. I am not sure if describing it as a 'delay in starting' is accurate, but within that flow, there may have been some limitations on what could be done regarding team formation from the time of appointment.
However, I want to make it clear that I believe there are two types of managers: those who make specific reinforcement requests, and those who select from candidates presented by the strengthening department. I think Manager Matsuhashi is more of the latter type, and in that sense, as the team formation began moving from December, I believe discussions progressed while presenting various candidates.
──It seems that you were very active during the special registration period (window) set in June. Please tell us the objectives behind acquiring Sei MUROYA, Motoki NAGAKURA, Alexander SCHOLZ, and Kim Seung-gyu.
If we were to succinctly describe the style of soccer Coach Matsuhashi aims for, it would be "soccer that takes the initiative." This aligns with the club's policy, and while I believe each coach has a different approach to how to take the initiative, I think there is a solid foundation built up so far this season.
For example, looking at the expected goals, the data used by the club shows improvement compared to last season. However, the actual number of goals has decreased, which means that although the team is able to get close to the goal and take potentially promising shots, they have not been able to capitalize on their chances.
In other words, the part of creating chances, which Coach Matsuhashi wanted to express, was successfully conveyed. With that firmly in mind, we focused on the challenges and considered how to resolve those issues. This is what we should work on for the second half of the season, and it also serves as a guideline for how to act during the special registration window in June.
──So acquiring player Nagakura is one solution. Instead of the regular registration window opening on July 7, you took proactive action in the specially set June period. Is it correct to understand that this was because there was an urgent need to add strength as soon as possible?
Since the matches are quite packed in the first half of this season, if we wait until the July window, we will have already played a significant number of games. To be honest, after the comeback loss against Urawa Reds in Sec. 17 of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League held on May 17, we decided to go all out in June wherever possible. It was fortunate for us that there was a special registration window at this timing, and we want to make sure that when we look back later, it will be seen as a good reinforcement.
──Regarding the acquisition of player Scholz, can we consider it as reinforcement to improve the defense? This season, there seems to be an impression of conceding many goals from set pieces.
As you said, there were many noticeable scenes where we conceded easily from set pieces and crosses. How to rebuild the defense is also a major challenge, and we were thinking of seeking players who can take leadership in defense and leaders who can organize the team. Masato MORISHIGE is that type of player, and I feel it is very significant that another experienced player, Scholz, has joined us. He is also a player who can make passes, so I think he fits well with the style of football that Coach Matsuhashi aims for, which is to firmly build up from the back and take control.
Including players Muroya and Kim Seung-gyu, we were able to strengthen the team with four players who can compete for regular positions, which has increased the competitiveness within the team. What we needed was to establish a system that could power up and fight in the second half of the season. For that reason, knowing the J.League was also a condition for reinforcement. There was no time to allow them to get used to Japan from scratch. Although there were budget issues, by consulting with MIXI, Inc., we were able to expand the budget and acquire the four players. We have a very strong sense of crisis, but considering the number of matches in the second half, we can still cling to the top ranks. We want to break away quickly and steadily improve our standings.
── Player Muroya returned from Germany, and in June, other players who once played for FC Tokyo, such as Ryoya OGAWA (Sint-Truiden VV → Kashima Antlers) and Shuto ABE (RWD Molenbeek → Gamba Osaka), also returned to the J.League from overseas clubs. Was there also an intention to acquire them?
Earlier, I mentioned that FC Tokyo has many players who came through the academy, but I believe we will continue to experience cases where players who have walked together with us for a long time move overseas. And when they return to Japan, timing will be one of the key points to have them play again in Tokyo. For example, this year, regarding Kento HASHIMOTO and Muroya, we were able to prepare while confirming their return timing. On the other hand, both Ogawa and Abe returned earlier than expected. Although we communicated with them, we understood that they still had the option to play overseas, so honestly, we were not fully prepared on our side. Amid that, they received very good offers. Since it is the players' own lives, we want to respect their choices this time, and I think we have no choice but to accept such situations. I am also prepared that such cases will continue to occur in the future.
It is difficult to realize a return in the way that the club and fans/supporters desire in every case, and I think we just have to accept that. However, we want to do everything we can. The story of leaving FC Tokyo, succeeding overseas, and then coming back is wonderful, and we also hope that such experiences will be given back to the team and the club. I personally believe that having many such stories is a good thing.
──Please tell us a little more about the football aspect. In the Japan national team activities in June, in addition to Yuto NAGATOMO, Kota TAWARATSUMIDA was selected for the first time. What does this mean for the club?
First of all, I am personally very happy, and I believe it is also a joyous thing for the club. The existence of the academy can be said to be our traditional strength, and this is well reflected in the members of the top team this season. Many players from the academy have turned professional, and player Tawara Tsukida was even selected for the national team. Masataka KOBAYASHI and Maki KITAHARA, who have been selected for the age-group national teams, are also examples, and the presence of such players serves as motivation for the academy players. From the club’s perspective, the more such topics there are, the more recognition spreads, which is something to be welcomed. Thanks to this, we have received the J.League Best Youth Development Club Award four times so far, and we want to continue enhancing the academy so that this momentum does not fade.
── Player Tawara Tsukida made his starting debut in the Australia match. What were your impressions after actually watching the international match?
I was happy, but I was also nervous. Personally, I was watching quite critically, thinking "You can do better!" I wanted him to show his full effort, and I believe that player Tawara Tsukida has that kind of ability. I hope this won't be the last time and that he will continue to work hard to be called up regularly. I also think that performing well at the club is a condition for being selected.
──Ryunosuke SATO, who is on a developmental loan to Fagiano Okayama, has been selected for the Japan national team for the first time at the same time as Ryunosuke YADA. There was a discussion about the loan earlier, but can this also be considered a success story?
He is currently on loan to Okayama, but since he is a player under contract with us, of course, we are happy about his success. He has been given opportunities in Okayama, achieved results, and has been selected for the national team, which is truly gratifying. We look forward to seeing him return to Tokyo in the future and perform well.
──As a club, it has been decided that we will participate in the U-21 League starting from the 2026 season. Please tell us about the background of this decision.
As I have mentioned so far, I believe one of the club's characteristics and features is the enhancement of the academy. Within that, how to create a pathway beyond the academy has always been a challenge for the club. I think this was also a challenge for the entire J.League. Some players move directly from the academy to the top team, while others return to the professional world via university. For the club, there are cases where players promoted to the top team, like player Tawara Tsukida, can perform well from their first year, but there are also times when they do not get enough playing opportunities and are not given sufficient chances to grow through actual matches. Even if they are sent out on development-type loan transfers, there are cases where they are not used much. Of course, when deciding on loan transfers, we consider how much playing time they will get, but in the end, there are cases where things do not go as expected. Amid these challenges, we thought the newly proposed U-21 League from the J.League would be one solution. Therefore, not participating was not an option.
──Participating in a new league requires an appropriate budget.
I believe this is something everyone feels: many players want to play overseas. Since soccer is a global sport, this is natural, and the J.League's shift in season timing to align with the European season also aims to revitalize the market. This trend cannot be stopped, but when transfers happen, we must consider leaving money for the clubs. That is very important. Against this backdrop, the new U-21 league can be seen as an initiative to accelerate player development and increase their value. Of course, operating costs are involved, but we believe these can be sufficiently covered through team strengthening and future transfer fee income. For clubs, this is an investment, and we intend to secure solid returns. Kuryu MATSUKI, who transferred last summer, was not from the academy but left a good amount of money for the club upon his transfer.
Tokyo once had a U-23 team and competed in the J3 League. There, we witnessed players like Takefusa KUBO, Kashif BANGNAGANDE, Seiji KIMURA, and Teppei OKA gain playing opportunities and grow significantly. Based on that experience, we believe this league will be very meaningful.
The latter part is here
♢Previous Management Reports are here
2024 Season Summary: Business and Football (Part 1)
2024 Season Summary: Business and Football (Part 2)
2023 Fiscal Year Financial Report and Club Status (Part 1)
2023 Fiscal Year Financial Report and Club Status (Part 2)
