F.C. Ryūkyū

Football club infobox
clubname = F.C. Ryūkyū
FC琉球

| fullname = F.C. Ryūkyū
nickname = Lekio
founded = 2003
ground = Okinawa General Athletic Stadium
Okinawa City, Okinawa
capacity = 25,000
chairman = flagicon|Japan Masakatsu Noguchi
manager = flagicon|France Jean-Paul Rabier (2008- )
league = Japan Football League
season = 2007
position = 17th
pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=|pattern_ra1=
leftarm1=6495ed|body1=6495ed|rightarm1=6495ed|shorts1=6495ed|socks1=6495ed
pattern_la2=_borderonwhite|pattern_b2=_cuciturerev|pattern_ra2=_borderonwhite
leftarm2=6495ed|body2=6495ed|rightarm2=6495ed|shorts2=FFFFFF|socks2=FFFFFF

nihongo|F.C. Ryūkyū|FC琉球|Efu Shī Ryūkyū are a football (soccer) club hailed from Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. They currently play in the Japan Football League.

The word Ryūkyū is Okinawa Prefecture's historical name. The club also has futsal and handball teams.

History

The club was founded in 2003. Most of the players who initially joined the club were those who had left crosstown Okinawa Kariyushi F.C. after a rift with their management. Their first 2003 season saw them win the championship in Okinawa Pefectural League Division 3 North. They were allowed to skip to Division 1 the next season, where they again succeeded to finish top.

In the 2005 season, they belonged to the Kyūshū Regional League (Kyu League). After finishing 2nd and winning the Regional League play-off, they were promoted to the JFL and became the first ever Okinawan football side who played in a national league.

In December 2007, the club appointed former Japan national coach Philippe Troussier as their general manager. Jean-Paul Rabier was appointed as their manager in January 2008.

They applied for J. League Associate Membership in January 2008, but their application was declined at the J. League board meeting held on February 19, 2008.

Team colour and crest

Their team colour is "bengara", one of red pigments. It is called red ochre in English and can be generally described as claret. "Bengara" derives from a Dutch word "bengala" which in turn derives from "Bangal", an area in India. This name was given because the pigment was traditionally imported from Bengal to Japan. Okinawa has a close association with the bengara colour which is prominently applied to Shuri Castle, one of the most symbolic historical buildings in the area.

Their crest features a pair of Shisas, imaginary talismanic creatures in the area.

Current squad

As of 24 April, 2008

External links

*ja icon [http://www.fcryukyu.com/ Official Website]

Japan Football League