Athletic Club Nagano Parceiro or AC Nagano Parceiro (AC長野パルセイロ, E Shī Nagano Paruseiro) is a Japanese football club based in Nagano, capital of Nagano Prefecture. They play in the J3 League, Japanese third tier of professional football.

History

Foundation and early development (1990–2013) The history of the club dates back to 1990 when a group of local high school graduates started a football club Nagano Elza SC. The team colours, orange and dark blue, represent Nagano Prefecture, and the team logo uses a lioness named Elza.

In 2007, the club changed the name to AC Nagano Parceiro because the name "Elza" had already been trademarked. However, the club decided to keep the team colors and logo.

In 2011, the team's first season in the JFL, they finished in the second place, but the team was not qualified to for J2 League. J. League Associate Membership status was not granted because the capacity of their stadium did not satisfy the league's requirement (minimum 10,000 seats).

In 2014, the team became the member of the newly founded J3 league, and later acquired the J. League Associate Membership in September as their stadium capacity met the required minimum number of seats.

Establishment in J3 and promotion ambitions (2014–present) Since joining the J3 League in 2014, AC Nagano Parceiro has consistently aimed for promotion to higher divisions. The club has often finished in competitive positions within the league, though promotion to the J2 League has remained elusive.

AC Nagano Parceiro has built a reputation for its organized style of play and strong defensive performances. The club has also placed emphasis on youth development and community engagement, strengthening its presence in Nagano Prefecture.

In addition to its men’s team, the club is notable for its successful women’s side, which has competed at the top level of Japanese women’s football and achieved domestic success.

In recent years, AC Nagano Parceiro continues to push for promotion while maintaining its identity as a community-focused club representing Nagano.

Team image

Name origin The club name parceiro means "partner" in Portuguese.

Supporters

The supporters of AC Nagano Parceiro are mainly based in Nagano Prefecture, particularly in and around the city of Nagano. The club has built a loyal and steadily growing fanbase since its rise through the Japanese football league system.

On matchdays at Minami Nagano Sports Park Stadium, supporters gather in organized sections, leading chants, waving flags, and displaying banners. The atmosphere is energetic yet community-oriented, reflecting the club’s identity as a team closely connected to its local supporters.

Fans of AC Nagano Parceiro are also known for supporting both the men’s and women’s teams, contributing to a unified club culture. Their consistent backing has played an important role in the club’s ambitions to rise through the J.League system.

Rivalries AC Nagano Parceiro’s most notable rivalry is with neighboring club Matsumoto Yamaga. Matches between the two sides are often referred to as the Shinshū derby, representing a contest for regional pride within Nagano Prefecture. The rivalry is fueled by the geographical proximity of Nagano and Matsumoto, as well as the clubs’ ambitions to establish dominance in the region.

Stadium

AC Nagano Parceiro plays its home matches at Minami Nagano Sports Park Stadium, located in the city of Nagano. Opened in 2015, the stadium has a seating capacity of approximately 15,491 spectators and is designed primarily for football.

The stadium features a contemporary design with a fully covered main stand and steep seating areas that provide clear sightlines of the pitch. Unlike many older Japanese stadiums, it was built with football in mind, allowing supporters to feel close to the action despite being a multi-purpose facility. The venue also includes training pitches, locker room facilities, and media infrastructure that meet professional league standards. The venue features modern facilities with stands positioned relatively close to the pitch, allowing for good sightlines and a strong connection between players and supporters.

Situated within the Minami Nagano Sports Park complex, the stadium is easily accessible for local supporters and serves as a central hub for football activities in the region. It regularly hosts matches in the J3 League and domestic competitions such as the Emperor's Cup. Its modern structure and compact layout contribute to a special matchday atmosphere.

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

Kit evolution Home kit - 1st

Away kit - 2nd

Players

Current squad

Management and staff Position NameManager Chikara FujimotoAssistant manager Keiichiro NunoFirst-team coach Hideki OgawaGoalkeeper coach Junnosuke SchneiderPhysical coach Yukinori MotohashiTechnical coach Go KusunokiChief trainer Taiki Hoshina Kotaro Taisha Takayuki AndoCompetent Sena MiuraSide affairs Nozomu Ueki

Honours +AC Nagano Parceiro HonoursHonourNo.YearsHokushin'etsu Football League42002, 2005, 2008, 2010Nagano Prefectural Football Championship Emperor's Cup Nagano Prefectural Qualifiers112004, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024Shakaijin Cup12010Japan Football League12013

Managerial history Manager TenureStart Finish Takanori Kominato 1 February 2000 31 January 2006 Badú 16 March 2006 31 December 2009 Norihiro Satsukawa 1 February 2010 31 January 2013 Naohiko Minobe 1 February 2013 6 August 2015 Hajime Etō 5 August 2015 31 December 2015 Fumitake Miura 1 February 2016 31 January 2017 Tetsuya Asano 1 January 2017 12 June 2018 Yuji Sakakura 13 June 2018 31 January 2019 Yuji Yokoyama 1 February 2019 28 October 2021 Hideo Yoshizawa 28 October 2021 31 January 2022 Yuki Richard Stalph 1 February 2022 27 August 2023 Riki Takagi 30 August 2023 25 November 2024 Chikara Fujimoto 11 December 2024 Present

Season by season record ChampionsRunners-upThird placePromotedRelegated League J. League Cup Emperor'sCupSeason Div. TierTeams Pos. GP W D L F A GD Pts Attendance/G 20111JFL 3 18 2nd 33 19 6 8 51 27 24 63 2,281 Not eligibleDid not qualify201217 2nd 32 17 7 8 57 34 23 58 2,810 3rd round201318 1st 34 21 9 4 61 25 36 72 2,339 4th round2014J3 12 2nd 33 20 9 4 58 23 35 69 3,595 2nd round201513 3rd 36 21 7 8 46 28 18 70 4,733 2nd round201616 3rd 30 15 7 8 33 22 11 52 5,018 3rd round201717 5th 32 13 11 8 34 25 9 50 4,256 4th round201817 10th 32 10 11 11 39 37 2 41 3,554 2nd round 201918 9th 34 13 10 11 35 34 1 49 3,000 2nd round2020218 3rd 34 17 8 9 45 26 19 59 2,449 Did not qualify2021215 9th 28 8 12 8 35 28 7 36 2,518 2nd round202218 8th 34 14 10 10 42 41 1 52 3,308 Did not qualify202320 14th 38 13 11 14 52 60 -8 50 3,528 2nd round202420 18th 38 7 16 15 44 57 -13 37 4,158 3rd round 2nd round202520 19th 38 9 8 21 29 57 -28 35 4,372 1st round Did not qualify202610 TBD 18 N/A N/A2026-2720 TBD 38 TBD TBD Key

References

External links Official Site (in Japanese) 2014 Squad