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Eight years after Leicester City’s fairy-tale Premier League win, a similarly astonishing story is unfolding in Japan’s top football division. Machida Zelvia, a club founded in 1989 and a non-league team until 2009, are leading the J-League by five points with just 14 games remaining.
Unlike Leicester, who had the experienced Claudio Ranieri at the helm, Machida’s coach Go Kuroda is in only his second season managing a professional side. Previously, Kuroda spent 28 years coaching a high school team, making his current success all the more surprising.
Despite early skepticism, Machida have consistently performed well, including impressive victories over Japanese powerhouses like Nagoya Grampus, Kashima Antlers, and Kawasaki Frontale. Striker Mitch Duke, who joined the club in 2023, is confident about their title chances. “We can match it with anyone in the league,” he told BBC Sport. “We have passed the halfway mark and played everyone… they have to chase us and it is ours to lose.”
Kuroda’s rigorous coaching style, reminiscent of high school training methods, has instilled a strong work ethic in the team. “All the players know exactly what he wants from them,” Duke explained. This intensity and discipline have been key to Machida’s success.
While Machida have brought in experienced players like former Japan defender Gen Shoji, they remain a team without big-name stars. Their emphasis on hard work over individual brilliance is evident in their play style, which contrasts with Japan’s typical technical and possession-based approach. Machida’s direct and aggressive play has proven effective, forcing mistakes from opponents and capitalizing on them.
Machida’s remarkable rise is not only a testament to Kuroda’s coaching but also to the players’ dedication. South Korean forward Oh Se-hun earned his first international call-up in June, and winger Yu Hirakawa joined Bristol City in July, showcasing the team’s growth.
With 14 games left, Machida’s story is far from over. As Duke noted, “We thought ‘we can do something, we can go and win, not just the top three but we want to win’… we are riding the wave.” Whether they can sustain this momentum remains to be seen, but Machida Zelvia’s journey has already captured the imagination of football fans worldwide.
