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.
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| Full name | Athletic Club Nagano Parceiro | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | Parceiro | ||
| Founded | 1990 | ||
| Stadium | Minami Nagano Sports Park Stadium (Nagano, Nagano) | ||
| Capacity | 15,515 | ||
| Chairman | Teizo Horie | ||
| Manager | Chikara Fujimoto | ||
| League | J3 League | ||
| 2025 | J3 League, 19th of 20 | ||
| Website | www | ||
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History
editFoundation and early development (1990–2013)
editThe 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)
editSince 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
editName origin
editThe club name parceiro means "partner" in Portuguese.
Supporters
edit
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
editAC 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
edit
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 lively and engaging matchday atmosphere.
Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors
editKit evolution
edit| Home kit - 1st | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
          2007 - 2010 |
     2011 - 2012 |
     2013 |
     2014 |
     2015 |
     2016 |
     2017 |
     2018 |
     2019 |
     2020 |
     2021 |
     2022 |
   2023 |
 2024 |
    2025 - |
| Away kit - 2nd | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
     2007 - 2010 |
     2011 - 2012 |
   2013 |
     2014 |
     2015 |
     2016 |
     2017 |
     2018 |
     2019 |
     2020 |
     2021 |
     2022 |
   2023 |
     2024 |
    2025 - |
Players
editCurrent squad
edit- As of 18 April 2026[1]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Management and staff
edit| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager |  Chikara Fujimoto |
| Assistant manager | Keiichiro Nuno |
| First-team coach | Hideki Ogawa |
| Goalkeeper coach | Junnosuke Schneider |
| Physical coach | Yukinori Motohashi |
| Technical coach | Go Kusunoki |
| Chief trainer | Taiki Hoshina Kotaro Taisha Takayuki Ando |
| Competent | Sena Miura |
| Side affairs | Nozomu Ueki |
Honours
edit| Honour | No. | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Hokushin'etsu Football League | 4 | 2002, 2005, 2008, 2010 |
| Nagano Prefectural Football Championship Emperor's Cup Nagano Prefectural Qualifiers |
11 | 2004, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024 |
| Shakaijin Cup | 1 | 2010 |
| Japan Football League | 1 | 2013 |
Managerial history
edit| Manager | Tenure | |
|---|---|---|
| Start | 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[2] |
| Chikara Fujimoto | 11 December 2024[3] | Present |
Season by season record
edit| Champions | Runners-up | Third place | Promoted | Relegated |
| League | J. League Cup | Emperor's Cup | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Div. | Tier | Teams | Pos. | GP | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | Attendance/G | ||
| 20111 | JFL | 3 | 18 | 2nd | 33 | 19 | 6 | 8 | 51 | 27 | 24 | 63 | 2,281 | Not eligible | Did not qualify |
| 2012 | 17 | 2nd | 32 | 17 | 7 | 8 | 57 | 34 | 23 | 58 | 2,810 | 3rd round | |||
| 2013 | 18 | 1st | 34 | 21 | 9 | 4 | 61 | 25 | 36 | 72 | 2,339 | 4th round | |||
| 2014 | J3 | 12 | 2nd | 33 | 20 | 9 | 4 | 58 | 23 | 35 | 69 | 3,595 | 2nd round | ||
| 2015 | 13 | 3rd | 36 | 21 | 7 | 8 | 46 | 28 | 18 | 70 | 4,733 | 2nd round | |||
| 2016 | 16 | 3rd | 30 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 33 | 22 | 11 | 52 | 5,018 | 3rd round | |||
| 2017 | 17 | 5th | 32 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 34 | 25 | 9 | 50 | 4,256 | 4th round | |||
| 2018 | 17 | 10th | 32 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 39 | 37 | 2 | 41 | 3,554 | 2nd round | |||
| 2019 | 18 | 9th | 34 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 35 | 34 | 1 | 49 | 3,000 | 2nd round | |||
| 20202 | 18 | 3rd | 34 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 45 | 26 | 19 | 59 | 2,449 | Did not qualify | |||
| 20212 | 15 | 9th | 28 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 35 | 28 | 7 | 36 | 2,518 | 2nd round | |||
| 2022 | 18 | 8th | 34 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 42 | 41 | 1 | 52 | 3,308 | Did not qualify | |||
| 2023 | 20 | 14th | 38 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 52 | 60 | -8 | 50 | 3,528 | 2nd round | |||
| 2024 | 20 | 18th | 38 | 7 | 16 | 15 | 44 | 57 | -13 | 37 | 4,158 | 3rd round | 2nd round | ||
| 2025 | 20 | 19th | 38 | 9 | 8 | 21 | 29 | 57 | -28 | 35 | 4,372 | 1st round | Did not qualify | ||
| 2026 | 10 | TBD | 18 | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||
| 2026-27 | 20 | TBD | 38 | TBD | TBD | ||||||||||
- Key
- Pos. = Position in league; GP = Games played; W = Games won; D = Games drawn; L = Games lost; F = Goals scored; A = Goals conceded; GD = Goals difference; Pts = Points gained
- Attendance/G = Average home league attendance
- 1 Played only 33 games due to 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami preventing Sony Sendai FC from hosting home matches
- 2 2020 & 2021 seasons attendances reduced by COVID-19 worldwide pandemic
- Source: J.League data site
References
edit- ↑ "PLAYER". parceiro.co.jp.
- ↑ "髙木理己監督 契約満了のお知らせ｜インフォメーション｜AC長野パルセイロ". AC長野パルセイロ (in Japanese). Retrieved 18 April 2026.
- ↑ "藤本主税氏 監督就任のお知らせ｜インフォメーション｜AC長野パルセイロ". AC長野パルセイロ (in Japanese). Retrieved 18 April 2026.