Thespa Kusatsu
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| Nickname(s) | Thespa (ザスパ Zasupa?) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1995 |
| Ground |
Shoda Shoyu Stadium Gunma Maebashi, Gunma |
| Capacity | 15,253 |
| Owner | Kusatsu Onsen Football Club |
| Chairman | Akira Tomaru |
| Manager | Hiroki Hattori |
| League | J2 League |
| 2016 | 17th |
| Website | Club home page |
Thespakusatsu Gunma (ザスパクサツ群馬 zasupa kusatsu Gunma?) is a professional football (soccer) club based in Gunma Prefecture in Japan. The club plays in J2 League, the second professional football league in Japan.
The club was founded in 1995 in Kusatsu town, one of the most well-known spa resorts in Japan, in 1995 as Liaison Kusatsu Football Club. The players were the students of specialized training college Higashi Nihon Soccer Academy. When the school was 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 J. League in mind and adopted new team name Thespa Kusatsu (ザスパ草津 zasupa kusatsu?), which name basically meant "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 was promoted to J. League Division 2 from 2005 season.
From 1 February 2013, the club has adopted the new name as "Thespakusatsu Gunma", to give out the impression of the club as representative of entire Gunma Prefecture, while still leaving the name of "Kusatsu" in it, as well as the logo of the club as is.
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