The 2023 Sanfrecce Hiroshima season is their 85th season in existence and their 15th consecutive season in the J1 League. In addition to the league, the club competed in the Emperor's Cup and J. League Cup. As the third-placed team on last season's J1 League, they would have been qualified to the 2023–24 AFC Champions League play-offs. However, on 6 May, they lost their continental participation spot as Urawa Red Diamonds won the 2022 AFC Champions League.
Players
Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
After the club surpassed many fans' expectations with their last season's performances, the club finished in the 3rd place on the 2022 J1 League. This season, their squad was barely touched, with only a few regulars leaving the team.
As every other club, Sanfrecce starts the competition at the group stage. The club will play the season as the defending champions, after they won past Cerezo Osaka in the 2022 J.League Cup Final by a 2–1 win, which was earned with a last-minute comeback.[6]
^"2023JリーグYBCルヴァンカップ 大会方式および試合方式について" [About 2023 J.League YBC Levain Cup Holding Method] (in Japanese). Japan Professional Football League. 20 December 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.