History
The team began as the company team, Furukawa Electric Soccer Club (古河電気工業サッカー部?) in 1946. As the company team, it won the Japan Soccer League twice, the Emperor's Cup four times and the JSL League Cup three times. Furukawa also won the 1986-87 Asian Club Championship, the top club honor in Asia; they were the first Japanese club to do so.
Since the league's inception in 1965, the team had always played in the top flight in Japan and was the only Japanese team to never be relegated from the JSL1, a record they kept into the J1 years. They did finish the 1978 season in a relegation position (last of 10) but stayed up after beating Honda F.C. 1-0 on aggregate in a two-legged playoff. The last place was not automatically relegated until the 1980 season.
In 1991, it merged with the JR East's company team to become East Japan JR Furukawa Football Club (東日本ジェイアール古河サッカークラブ?) and rebranded itself as JEF United Ichihara upon the J. League's founding in 1993. The team initially built itself around the former Germany national football team player Pierre Littbarski.
From 1998 to 2000, the team struggled to stay in the J1 league and it began a series of efforts to be a competitive team. Since the hiring of Ivica Osim in 2003, JEF United has contended for the league title each year despite limited resources and struggling attendance.
On July 16, 2006, Osim left the team to take over the coach of the Japan national team and was succeeded by Amar Osim, his son and assistant coach.. On December 5, 2007, it was announced that Osim had been sacked after the club's lowly 13th place finish in the 2007 season.
After 13 games in the 2008 season Josip Kuže was sacked as team manager. On 8 May 2008 it was announced that the new manager was Alex Miller. Miller was First Team Coach at Liverpool FC alongside Rafael Benítez prior to joining JEF United.
On May 13, 2008, JEF United Chiba were linked with a move for Michael Owen whose contract renewal talks at Newcastle United FC have broken down because of a pay cut.
Furukawa Electric is no longer the main sponsor of the club, a job these days taken over by Fuji Electric.
On November 8, 2009, JEF United Chiba was relegated to J2 after 44 seasons in the Japanese top division; since 2010, JEF United Chiba is playing for J. League Division 2.
JEF United Chiba was close to be promoted do J. League Division 1 at 2012 season. The club was considered one of the most favourites do get direct promotion to J1. But, after defeats to teams considered inexpressives like F.C. Gifu and F.C. Machida Zelvia, JEF played the playoffs to get the 3rd spot do J1. They defeated Yokohama F.C. by 4-0, but they lost the final match to Oita Trinita by 1-0, at Tokyo National Stadium.
Read more about this topic: JEF United Ichihara Chiba
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