Football Season Guide

In their first-ever J2 season in 2025 did relatively well. Stayed out of trouble and secured mid-table comfort with a full month left of the season. The ability to avoid defeats, 13 wins and 14 draws, generated enough points. The form during the Vision League last spring was much poorer. The sale of the Golden Boot runner-up in J2 for 2025 Marcus (17 goals) in January impacted Imabari badly. Finished in the penultimate spot in their mini-league during the Vision League. Won only 5 games in 18 rounds and scored just 14 goals. There had been no new additions made to the front line this off-season and the struggles in attack without Marcus might continue. That said winger Abe has joined so he guarantees better crosses. Wesley should be the main starter up front. He can’t stay fit for long though. This could see the 2024 J3 Golden Boot winner Kosuke Fujioka get a lot more chances this time around. Added 2 new young holding midfielders and 2 experienced defenders this summer. This provides options and depth in these zones. Imabari need to at least improve their defensive record if they can’t do better in attack.