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INAC Kobe Leonessa
INAC神戸レオネッサ

Full name	International Athletic Club Kobe Leonessa
Founded	2001; 23 years ago (2001)
Ground	Noevir Stadium Kobe
Capacity	30,132
Manager	Jordi Ferrón
League	WE League
2022–23	2nd of 11
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours

INAC Kobe(INAC神戸レオネッサ,Ainakku-Kōbe Reonessa) is a Japanese football club from Kobe, founded in 2001. ^[1] INAC stands for International Athletic Club while Leonessa means Lioness in Italian.

In 2006 INAC Leonessa was promoted to the Nadeshiko.League, where it has played since 2020. In 2021 they are playing in WE League. The 2008 season marked a great leap for the team as it was the runner-up both in the Nadeshiko.League and the All Japan Women's Football Championship. 2010 saw INAC lift its first title as they beat Urawa Red Diamonds in the final of the All Japan Women's Football Championship through a penalty shootout, and in 2011, coinciding with the club's 10th anniversary, the team won the double Nadeshiko.League – All Japan Women's Football Championship. ^[2]

Leonessa's 2011 squad included seven champions of the 2011 World Cup: Ayumi Kaihori, Yukari Kinga, Nahomi Kawasumi, Shinobu Ohno, Homare Sawa, Megumi Takase and Asuna Tanaka.

Kits

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

Period	Kit manufacturer	Shirt sponsor (chest)	Shirt sponsor (sleeve)
2021–2022	Hummel International	Earth
2022–2023			Art Moving

Mascot

Raimu-chan

• Born September 3rd.
• Modeled after the lioness from which the team got its name.
• Her favorite foods are Yakiniku and Japanese-style rolled omelette.

Players

First-team squad

As of 25 August 2023. ^[3]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK   JPN Ayaka Yamashita 2 DF   JPN Miyabi Moriya 3 DF   JPN Mayo Doko 4 DF   JPN Akari Takeshige 5 DF   JPN Shiori Miyake 6 DF   JPN Yuna Matsubara 7 MF   JPN Maya Yamamoto 8 MF   JPN Rika Masuya 9 FW   JPN Mina Tanaka ( captain) 10 MF   JPN Yui Narumiya 11 FW   JPN Megumi Takase ( vice-captain) 13 DF   JPN Hikaru Kitagawa

No. Pos. Nation Player 14 MF   JPN Fukina Mizuno 15 DF   JPN Hinata Ide 16 MF   JPN Suzu Amano 17 MF   JPN Chisato Minowa 18 GK   JPN Minori Tokaji 19 MF   JPN Manaka Hayashi 20 FW   JPN Ai Kuwahara 21 GK   JPN Mayu Funada 22 DF   JPN Nene Adachi 23 FW   JPN Miwako Kamoi 24 FW   JPN Haruna Aikawa 30 DF   JPN Aoi Matsuki

Club staff

Position	Name
Manager	Jordi Ferrón
Assistant Manager	Eri Higashi Ryota Shimizu
Goalkeeper Coach	Riki Takashi
Fitness Coach	Masao Tateishi
Team Doctor	Ryosuke Kuroda Takehiko Matsushita Yoshiyuki Okada Koji Sofuyu Hide Watanabe Wado Kitayama Shosuke Nagata Rika Shigemoto

Honours

Domestic

• WE League
  • Champions (1): 2021–22
  • Runners-up (1): 2022–23
• Nadeshiko.League Division 1
  • Champions (3): 2011, 2012, 2013
  • Runners-up (5): 2008, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020
• Empress's Cup
  • Champions (6): 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2023
  • Runners-up (3): 2008, 2018, 2022
• Nadeshiko League Cup
  • Champions (1): 2013
  • Runners-up (3): 2012, 2018, 2019

International

• Japan/Korea Women's League Championship
  • Champions (1): 2012
• International Women's Club Championship
  • Champions (1): 2013
  • Runners-up (1): 2012

Season-by-season records

Seasons of INAC Kobe Leonessa

Season	Domestic League				Empress's Cup	WE League Cup
	League	Level	Position	Tms.
2002	Kansai League Division 3	4	Champions		DNQ	—
2003	Kansai League Division 2	3	Champions	8	DNQ	—
2004	Kansai League Division 1		Champions	8	Second round	—
2005	L2	2	Champions	7	Quarter-finals	—
2006	Nadeshiko League Division 1	1	5th	8	Quarter-finals	—
2007			4th	8	Semi-finals	Semi-finals
2008			2nd	8	Runners-up	—
2009			4th	8	Semi-finals	—
2010	Nadeshiko		4th	10	Winners	Semi-finals
2011			Champions	9	Winners	—
2012			Champions	10	Winners	Runners-up
2013			Champions	10	Winners	Winners
2014			6th	10	Quarter-finals	—
2015	Nadeshiko League Division 1		3rd	10	Winners	—
2016			2nd	10	Winners	Group stage
2017			2nd	10	Third round	Semi-finals
2018			2nd	10	Runners-up	Runners-up
2019			3rd	10	Semi-finals	Runners-up
2020			2nd	10	Quarter-finals	—
2021			–	–	Fourth round	—
2021–22	WE League	1	Champions	11		Not held
2022–23			2nd	11	Runners-up	Group stage

Transition of team name

• INAC Leonessa: 2001–2008
• INAC Kobe Leonessa: 2009–present

See also

• Japan Football Association (JFA)
• List of women's football clubs in Japan
• 2022–23 in Japanese football

References

External links

• (in Japanese) Official website