There have been 13 captains for the blue and red team, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, starting with former coach Kiyoshi OKUMA (currently Shimizu S-Pulse general manager) and currently led by coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI.
Each one has tried to color their team in a rich way. The current team still has that color somewhere. It is because there are players who have worked with each commander, and those players have retired and become involved with the club as coaches.
Among them, there is an unchanged feeling that has been passed down. It is the five pillars that we have cherished under the banner of "Aiming for a strong and beloved team".
1. Never give up until the end, always give your best effort
2. Quick switching, soccer with everyone defending and attacking
3. Promotion of fair play
4. Promotion of fan service
5. Improvement of humanity
This is the team concept that has been set since the Tokyo Gas Soccer Club era. Tokuhiko Suzuki, who can be called the father of this club and is currently the representative director of Fagiano Okayama, expressed his thoughts about this basic principle about 15 years ago.
"I believe that what brings inspiration is not the result of the game, but the attitude towards it. I think it is important to always give our all and play as a team. On and off the pitch, it is important to maintain a fair mindset. We are able to play soccer because of the support from many people, and it is important to always have a sense of gratitude. Through soccer, I believe it is crucial to learn and improve as a person. Without exception, top players are not only talented on the field, but also have a charm as individuals."
We share this idea even in our youth organization.
It is still too early to use the word "tradition" in Tokyo, but what is most important is to cherish this team concept and the team color that has naturally formed. This is not about good or bad. It is not about what defines completion. It cannot be expressed in words. However, we want to be a team that you can feel the "Tokyo-ness" from, both as staff and players.
Furthermore, this continues.
"To acquire the 'heart', 'technique', and 'physicality' that can be recognized worldwide, and to fight with the pride and responsibility of being a member of Tokyo. I believe it is necessary to create a solid foundation that will not be shaken, both as a team and as individual players, even in the face of adversity, in the development stage."
From the J.League's philosophy of "local community involvement", it is ideal for players from Tokyo to grow up and play as professionals in Tokyo. In order to achieve this, it is essential for our club to become an attractive one where children want to play in Tokyo and coaches want to develop talented players in Tokyo. Therefore, it is necessary for the coaching staff, from the top team to the development and promotion, to improve their quality and build trust in the "FC Tokyo style".
Players who were raised in FC Tokyo, born in Tokyo, will play an active role in the top team, represent Japan, and spread their wings in the world. In order to make this dream a reality, all staff members will continue to make every effort to create a "strong and beloved team".
No matter what kind of boatman, the team that loses this initial heart will follow a downward trend, and it is strange that the 2019 season, which played for the championship, was a team that embodied this feeling. The underlying feeling of the club is that it has become a tradition that has passed a quarter of a century before we know it. It is the right figure that should not be forgotten, loved by the kind and sentimental predecessors, and loved by Tokyo.
Text by Tadashi BABA (Freelance Writer)
[25 Years of Journey] Special Column Here
25 Years of Journey vol.1 Things Not to Be Forgotten
25 Years of Journey vol.2 The Road to the First Title
25 Years of Journey vol.3 Blue Tokyo
25 Years of Journey vol.4 What Was Gained from Relegation and Promotion
25 Years of Journey vol.5 Strike While the Iron is Hot
25 Years of Journey vol.6 The Path to Take
