
Vissel Kobe (foto: uradna spletna stran kluba)
Vissel Kobe defends their J-League title, achieving consecutive championships following a shift in philosophy after Andrés Iniesta's departure.
Vissel Kobe has once again conquered the J-League, securing their second consecutive league title with a commanding 3-0 victory over Shonan Bellmare in the final round of the season. This achievement highlights a remarkable turnaround for the club, which has reached new heights following a strategic overhaul that began after the departure of Andrés Iniesta.
Vissel Kobe's rise to the top of Japanese football didn’t happen overnight. Over the years, the club invested heavily in bringing global football icons to Japan. Players like Andrés Iniesta, David Villa, Lukas Podolski, and Thomas Vermaelen were brought in to boost the club's profile and ambitions. However, despite the star-studded lineup, the team failed to deliver a league title during their tenures.
The breakthrough came only after Iniesta’s departure last year. The club shifted its approach, opting to move away from expensive, underperforming foreign signings and instead focusing on building a more balanced and cohesive squad.
This transformation paid immediate dividends, as Vissel Kobe clinched their first-ever J-League title last season. This year, they cemented their dominance by successfully defending the title, establishing themselves as the premier force in Japanese football.
The championship was sealed in emphatic fashion with a 3-0 win over Shonan Bellmare, a result that added to their earlier Emperor’s Cup victory. The league triumph, coupled with cup success, underscores the team’s transformation into a formidable and consistent force under their new strategy.