Shimizu S-Pulse

Formation and early years (1991–1995)

Shimizu S-Pulse was founded in February 1991 in Shizuoka as Shimizu FC, being one of the original clubs established specifically for the launch of the professional J.League. Unlike most other Japanese football clubs at the time, S-Pulse did not start as a company team, instead starting out as a group of players who were born in Shizuoka. The team was originally run by the company S-Lap Communications, with funding from the citizens and Shizuoka Television.

Two months later, the club name was officially changed to Shimizu S-Pulse. S-Pulse is a combination of the S from Shizuoka, Shimizu, and Soccer, and Pulse from English to mean the spirit of all those who support the team. The club’s name reflects its identity: “S-Pulse” combines the “S” representing Shizuoka, Shimizu, and soccer, with “Pulse” symbolising the energetic spirit of the team and its supporters. Shimizu joined the inaugural J.League season in 1993 and quickly established itself as a competitive side.

Shizuoka as a football prefecture

Headquarters are established in Shizuoka Prefecture called the football kingdom in Japan. As a prefecture, Shizuoka had historically been a strong footballing area of Japan; in particular being noted for its nationally successful high school teams and the numerous national team players which had emerged from the prefecture over the years. The prefectural police force of Shizuoka actually has an anthropomorphic football as a mascot. The west of the prefecture was already home to the company team of Yamaha Motor Corporation who played in the Japan Soccer League and who would later go on to form Júbilo Iwata, but it was believed there was room for another team for the football-hungry population. An earlier attempt had been made in the 1970s with the local club belonging to Nippon Light Metal Corp., which briefly competed in the JSL Division 2 under the name Hagoromo Club. With the advent of the professional league at the start of the 1990s, the concept of creating a team to both sign and represent the local footballing talent was fomented.

On 4 February 1991, Shimizu were approved by the J.League to compete in the newly formed professional league to start the following year. The club played its first ever game against Gamba Osaka on 4 July 1992, a date which is celebrated as the club's memorial birthday. The match took place at the Nagai Stadium in Osaka. The club's first competitive game was in the 1992 J.League Cup against Nagoya Grampus on September 5 at the Mizuho Athletic Stadium, and ended in a 3–2 defeat. Their competitive home début was held at Nihondaira Stadium shortly after on September 9 against Yokohama Marinos, which Shimizu won 2–1. Shimizu first league game was played in May 1993 away to Yokohama Flügels at Mitsuzawa Stadium. Flügels won 3–2. The first home league game was a 2–1 victory against Sanfrecce Hiroshima on May 19 of the same year.

After being approved for participation in the J.League Shimizu competed in the inaugural 1992 J.League Cup and made it to their first final. However, the dream start ended with defeat at the hands of Verdy Kawasaki. In 1993, Shimizu became one of the ten founder members of the new J.League, and finished third after the 1st and 2nd stages were combined. Their second venture into the J.League Cup was another near miss, again losing in the final to Verdy Kawasaki.

Domestic success and cup victories (1996–2005)

The late 1990s and early 2000s represented one of the most successful periods in the club’s history. In 1996, Shimizu won the J.League Cup, securing their first major domestic trophy.

In the 1996 season, Shimizu got their hands on winning the 1996 J.League Cup and also gained revenge on Verdy Kawasaki, beating them 5–4 on penalties in the final.

Continental success (2002)

The year 1999 was marked with Shimizu first appearance in the Japanese Super Cup, replacing Yokohama Flügels after their merger with Yokohama Marinos. However, Shimizu lost the match 2–1. After performing well in both league stages, S-Pulse were up against local rivals Júbilo Iwata in the title decider, and after a 3–3 aggregate draw, lost the tie 4–2 on penalties. The new millennium brought better results for Shimizu. Victory in the Asian Cup Winners' Cup in 2000 and victory in the final of the 2001 Emperor's Cup meant that the Shimizu trophy cabinet was beginning to fill up, and victories in the 2001 and 2002 Japanese Super Cup meant that the club had won four cups in three years.

In 2005, Shimizu closed the year with a run to the Emperor's Cup final in which they did not concede a single goal. However, this changed in the final against Urawa Red Diamonds, which they lost 2–1. After a near-miss in the league, avoiding a relegation play-off by only goal difference, manager Kenta Hasegawa's work started to pay off the following year.

Transitional period (2006–2015)

In both the 2006 season and the 2007 season, Shimizu performed strongly in the league and finished in 4th place, followed by a fifth place standing in the 2008 season. However, early exits in both cup competitions in 2006 and 2007, means they are currently without a trophy for five years. This is the longest barren spell in their history, although in 2008 they came close, being defeated in the final of the League Cup by Ōita Trinita.