Albirex Niigata

Albirex Niigata (アルビレックス新潟, Arubirekkusu Nīgata) is a professional football club based in Niigata, Japan. Formed in 1955 as Niigata Eleven SC, it was renamed Albireo Niigata FC in 1995, and Albirex Niigata in 1997. They currently play in J1 League after promoted from J2 League as champions in 2022.

This article is about the men's football club based in Japan. For the women's team, see Albirex Niigata Ladies.
Albirex Niigata
Full nameAlbirex Niigata
Nickname(s)Albi
Founded1955 (1955) as Niigata Eleven SC
GroundDenka Big Swan Stadium,
Niigata
Capacity42,300
ChairmanDaisuke Korenaga
ManagerRikizo Matsuhashi
LeagueJ1 League
2023J1 League, 10th of 18
WebsiteClub website

History
See also: List of Albirex Niigata seasons

For many years it had been a local autonomous amateur club, Niigata 11, that could never hope to see the light of day in an old Japan Soccer League dominated almost entirely by company teams. The creation of the J. League spurred the club to rise, and in the 1990s it began climbing fast through the divisions.[1]

In 1998, Albirex Niigata joined the Japan Football League, and was merged into the J2 League after its creation in 1999. The team gradually became competitive and in 2001 and 2002 it came close to getting promoted to J1 and in 2003,[2] it became the champion of J2 and finally joined the top flight.

Name changed

The team name is made from combining the star Albireo of the constellation Cygnus (the Swan) and the Latin word Rex meaning 'king'.[3] In 1997, due to copyright issues, the team name was changed from Albireo Niigata to the current Albirex Niigata.

Team name transition
  • Niigata Eleven SC (Soccer Club) (1955)
  • Albireo Niigata FC (1995)
  • Albirex Niigata (1997)

Home stadium
Main article: Denka Big Swan Stadium

Joining the J. League in 1999, its hometowns are Niigata and Seiro. Until 2003, it used Niigata Perfectural Sport Ground as the home ground but since 2004, the team began using Niigata Stadium Big Swan as well and now plays most of its games there. In 2003,[4] it set a record for highest attendance in the J. League with the cumulative total of around 660,000.[5] Its practice grounds are Albirex's training facilities in Seiro Albillage and the Ijimino Sports Park (五十公野運動公園, Ijimino Undō Kōen) in Shibata.

The club plays its home games in the Niigata Stadium "Big Swan", which is currently called Denka Big Swan Stadium through a sponsorship deal. The stadium was opened in 2001 and has a capacity of 42,300. Prior to this the club had played its matches in the Niigata City Athletic Stadium constructed in 1938 with a capacity of 18,000.

The stadium was the site of two first round matches and one Round of 16 match in the past 2002 FIFA World Cup. It was also the venue for the 2009 National Sports Festival.

Current squad
As of 18 April 2024[6]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  JPN Ryosuke Kojima
3 DF  AUS Thomas Deng
5 DF  JPN Michael Fitzgerald
6 MF  JPN Hiroki Akiyama (vice-captain)
7 FW  JPN Kaito Taniguchi
8 MF  JPN Eiji Miyamoto
9 FW  JPN Koji Suzuki
11 FW  JPN Shusuke Ota
14 MF  JPN Motoki Hasegawa
16 FW  JPN Yota Komi
17 MF  BRA Danilo Gomes
18 DF  JPN Fumiya Hayakawa
19 MF  JPN Yuji Hoshi
20 MF  JPN Yuzuru Shimada
21 GK  JPN Koto Abe
22 MF  JPN Eitaro Matsuda (on loan from Yokohama F. Marinos)
No. Pos. Nation Player
23 GK  JPN Daisuke Yoshimitsu
24 DF  JPN Riita Mori
25 MF  JPN Soya Fujiwara
26 DF  JPN Ryo Endo
27 FW  JPN Motoki Nagakura
30 MF  JPN Jin Okumura
31 DF  JPN Yuto Horigome (captain)
32 DF  JPN Takumi Hasegawa
33 MF  JPN Yoshiaki Takagi
35 DF  JPN Kazuhiko Chiba
39 GK  JPN Haruki Nishimura
40 MF  JPN Aozora Ishiyama
45 DF  JPN Hayato Inamura DSP
46 MF  JPN Keisuke Kasai DSP
99 MF  JPN Yuji Ono

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK  JPN Kazuki Fujita (to JEF United Chiba)
— MF  JPN Yushin Otake (to YSCC Yokohama)
— DF  JPN Shosei Okamoto (to Kagoshima United)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— DF  JPN Kazuyoshi Shimabuku (to Fujieda MYFC)
— MF  JPN Jimpei Yoshida (to Kamatamare Sanuki)

Notable players
Main article: List of Albirex Niigata players

Club official
Position [7]Name
Manager Rikizo Matsuhashi
Assistant manager Yusuke Ogura
First-team coach Toru Irie
Tatsuya Tanaka
Motoharu Watanabe
Goalkeeping coach Ryuji Ishizue
Assistant goalkeeping coach Yasuhiro Watanabe
Technical coach Mirai Morita
Namito Ikezawa
Chief doctor Satoshi Watanabe
Chief trainer Seiichi Narahara
Trainer Tetsuo Hasegawa
Koji Okamoto
Physiotherapist Takeshi Iokawa
Interpreter Yu Kusayanagi
Yoshio Silvio Kanashiro Cantao
Competent Takaaki Onozaki
Side affairs Ryo Doi
Equipment manager Kota Tamakawa

Managerial history

Correct as of 23 October 2022

ManagerNationalityTenureManagerial Record
League
StartFinishPWDLW %
Frans van Balkom Netherlands1 February 199531 January 1998 [8] 362835077.78
Yoshikazu Nagai Japan1 February 199831 December 2000 [8] 7635734046.05
Yasuharu Sorimachi Japan1 February 200131 January 2006 [8] 196974059049.49
Jun Suzuki Japan1 February 200631 January 2010 [8][9][10][11] 136513253037.50
Hisashi Kurosaki Japan1 February 201021 May 2012 [12][13][14][15] 80242531030.00
Nobuhiro Ueno (caretaker) Japan22 May 201210 June 2012 [15][16] 1001000.00
Masaaki Yanagishita Japan11 June 201231 January 2016 [14][15][17] 68201830029.41
Tatsuma Yoshida Japan1 February 201627 September 2016 [18] 307617023.33
Koichiro Katafuchi (caretaker) Japan27 September 201631 January 2017 [18] 4103025.00
Fumitake Miura Japan1 February 20177 May 2017 10127010.00
Koichiro Katafuchi (caretaker) Japan8 May 201710 May 2017 0000!—
Wagner Lopes Japan11 May 201731 December 2017 236512026.09
Masakazu Suzuki Japan1 February 20187 August 2018 278514029.63
Koichiro Katafuchi Japan8 August 201813 April 2019 241068041.67
Kazuaki Yoshinaga Japan14 April 201931 January 2020 3314712042.42
Albert Puig Ortoneda Spain1 February 202031 January 2022 84322923038.10
Rikizo Matsuhashi Japan1 February 2022Current 432599058.14

Record as J.League member
Champions Runners-up Third place Promoted Relegated
LeagueJ.League
Cup		Emperor's
Cup
SeasonDiv.TeamsPos.PW (OTW)DL (OTL)FAGDPtsAttendance/G
1999 J2104th3616 (4)213 (1)46406584,2111st round3rd round
2000 117th4011 (4)518 (2)54639464,0071st roundRound of 16
2001124th4422 (4)47 (7)7947327816,6591st roundRound of 16
2002 127th44231387547288221,478Not eligible3rd round
2003 121st44277108040408830,339Round of 16
2004 J11610th30107134758-113737,689Group stage4th round
2005 1812th34119144762-154240,114Group stageRound of 16
2006 1814th34126164665-194238,709Group stageRound of 16
2007 186th3415613484715138,276Group stage4th round
2008 1813th34119143246-143734,490Group stageRound of 16
2009 188th341311104231115033,446Group stageQuarter-finals
2010 189th3412139484534930,542Group stageRound of 16
2011 1814th34109153846-83926,049Quarter-finals3rd round
2012 1815th341010142934-54025,018Group stage3rd round
2013 187th3417413484265526,112Group stage3rd round
2014 1812th34128143036-64422,979Group stage3rd round
2015 1815th34810164158-173421,936Semi-finals3rd round
2016 1815th3486203349-163021,181Group stageRound of 16
2017 1817th3477202860-322822,034Group stage3rd round
2018 J22216th42158194856-85314,913Group stage3rd round
2019 2210th421711147152-196214,497Not eligible2nd round
2020 † 2211th4214151355550575,361Did not qualify
2021 † 226th421814106140216810,8793rd round
2022 221st4225987335388414,9542nd round
2023 J11810341112113640-44521,731Group stageQuarter-finals
2024 20TBA38
Key
  • Pos. = Position in league; P = 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 league home attendance
  • † 2020 & 2021 seasons attendance reduced by COVID-19 worldwide pandemic
  • Source: J.League Data Site

Honours
Albirex Niigata Honours
HonourNo.Years
Hokushinetsu Football League 3 1986, 1996, 1997
J2 League 2 2003, 2022

Kit and colours

Colours

In 2007, the uniform colour changed. Until 2006, the uniform was orange – blue – orange, but in 2007 the color became orange – orange – orange. This coordinate has not been adopted since 1996 when the team professionalized.

The success of Albirex Niigata had a big impact on the entire Japanese sporting world, including professional baseball. It showed people were more excited than expected for sports in local cities without the population of the metropolitan area in the past, and local citizens feelings influenced many other sports in the region.[5]

Kit evolution
Home kits - 1st
1999 - 2000
2001 - 2002
2003 - 2004
2005 - 2006
2007
2008 - 2009
2010 - 2011
2012 - 2013
2014 - 2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024 -
Away kits - 2nd
1999 - 2000
2001 - 2002
2003 - 2004
2005 - 2007
2008 - 2009
2010 - 2011
2012 - 2013
2014 - 2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024 -
3rd kits - Other
2015 Cup
2016 3rd
2016 Cup
2017 3rd
2017
Summer
2018
Isao Honma retirement match
2020
ONE NIIGATA
Memorial Blue

Affiliated clubs
Active departments of Albirex
Football
(Men's)		 Football
(Women's)		 Football
(Singapore)
Basketball
(Men's)		 Basketball
(Women's)		 Cheerleading
Skiing Athletics Baseball
Racing Snowboarding Football
(Affiliate)

Since 2004, Albirex Niigata has selected a number of players for its satellite team in the Singapore Premier League. Albirex also has a women's team and joined L2 league (an equivalent of J2) in 2004. Albirex Ladies won the L2 title in 2006,[19] and went on to join L1 in 2007.

The following clubs are affiliated with Albirex Niigata

Former affiliated club

In addition to the J1 Albirex Niigata football team, there is a Niigata Albirex basketball club in the B.League, as well as a ski, snowboard, baseball, and track and field team. Even though the teams share the same name, the management and finances are completely separate for each team.


References
  1. Niigata-Nippo. 11 years-History of Albirex Niigata (2007), pp. 2–10.
  2. "Albirex won the promotion slot" Niigata-Nippo: p. 1. 24 November 2003.
  3. "Club guide : Albirex Niigata" (in Japanese). J.League. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  4. "History of Niigata stadium" (in Japanese). Albirex Niigata. and Niigata Urban Flowering and Greenery Foundation Group. Archived from the original on 12 September 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  5. "Venture spirits, Hiroshi Ikeda interview" (in Japanese). Biz STYLE. 27 December 2007. Archived from the original on 30 October 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  6. "TEAM". アルビレックス新潟 公式サイト｜ALBIREX NIIGATA OFFICIAL WEBSITE (in Japanese). Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  7. "2024 スタッフ" (in Japanese). Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  8. The 11-year History of Albirex Niigata (in Japanese). Albirex Niigata. 2007. ISBN 978-4861322211.
  9. "League Table 2007 J.LEAGUE Division 1". J. League. Archived from the original on 28 June 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  10. "League Table 2008 J.LEAGUE Division 1". J. League. Archived from the original on 28 June 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  11. "League Table 2009 J.LEAGUE Division 1". J. League. Archived from the original on 28 June 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  12. "League Table 2010 J.LEAGUE Division 1". J. League. Archived from the original on 29 September 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  13. "League Table 2011 J.LEAGUE Division 1". J. League. Archived from the original on 9 February 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  14. "League Table 2012 J.LEAGUE Division 1". J. League. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  15. "Yanagishita named Albirex manager". The Japan Times. Kyodo News. 12 June 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  16. "SCORESHEET 2012 J.LEAGUE Division 1 2nd Day 13th Sec". J. League. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  17. "League Table 2013 J.LEAGUE Division 1". J. League. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  18. "2016 J.LEAGUE Division 1 Albirex Niigata". J. League. 11 January 2017. Archived from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  19. "2006 Nadeshiko League" (PDF) (in Japanese). Nadeshiko League. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 May 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
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