Football Season Guide

Secured a top 4 finish in 2024. Mainly thanks to the impressive run of wins in the last few months of the campaign. Montedio ended the regular season on a near-perfect 11-game run (10 wins and 1 draw). However, the first play-off test proved a stumbling block. Lost 0:3 at home against Fagiano Okayama. This left Yellow and Blues for 10th consecutive season in J2. It was the summer arrivals of Shoma Doi and Akira Disaro that transformed the displays late last season. Both of them made only 15 league appearances for Montedio in 2024 but between them they accumulated 13 goals and 10 assists in these 15 matches. Both are now preparing for a proper full season at the club and should be key figures up front. Doi was also given the captain’s armband for the 2025 campaign. The main goalie Goto is the only regular to depart so far in the winter. A replacement was already signed. Australian Tom Heward-Belle is expected to become the new number one. The other two big winter signings were Ryotaro Nakamura, an experienced inner midfielder, and Beka Mikeltadze, a tall centre forward. Both of them are expected to make Montedio even better balanced team. The latter should also be a major threat in the air, he will be having serious height advantage against most defenders he will be facing. If anything the team looks much stronger compared to last year so another strong promotion push can be expected.