Albirex Niigata
Full nameAlbirex Niigata
Nickname(s)Albi
Founded1955 (1955)
GroundDenka Big Swan Stadium,
Niigata
Capacity42,300
ChairmanDaisuke Korenaga
ManagerRikizo Matsuhashi
LeagueJ1 League
2023J1 League, 10th of 18
WebsiteClub website

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. From 2023, Albirex will be playing on the J1 League, coming back to the first division after five seasons.

History

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.

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.

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.[4]

Team name transition

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

Stadium

The Big Swan

Joining the J. League in 1999, its home towns 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,[5] it set a record for highest attendance in the J. League with the cumulative total of around 660,000.[4] 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.

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

Current squad

As of 15 August 2023.[6][7]

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 Japan JPN Ryosuke Kojima
2 DF Japan JPN Naoto Arai
3 DF Australia AUS Thomas Deng
5 DF Japan JPN Michael Fitzgerald
6 MF Japan JPN Hiroki Akiyama
7 FW Japan JPN Kaito Taniguchi
8 MF Japan JPN Takahiro Ko
9 FW Japan JPN Koji Suzuki
11 FW Japan JPN Shusuke Ota
14 MF Japan JPN Shunsuke Mito
15 DF Japan JPN Taiki Watanabe
16 FW Japan JPN Yota Komi
17 MF Brazil BRA Danilo Gomes
18 DF Japan JPN Fumiya Hayakawa
19 MF Japan JPN Yuji Hoshi
20 MF Japan JPN Yuzuru Shimada
21 GK Japan JPN Koto Abe
No. Pos. Nation Player
22 MF Japan JPN Eitaro Matsuda (on loan from Yokohama F. Marinos)
23 FW Brazil BRA Gustavo Nescau
24 GK Japan JPN Takuya Seguchi
25 MF Japan JPN Soya Fujiwara
27 FW Japan JPN Motoki Nagakura
29 MF Peru PER Kazuyoshi Shimabuku
30 GK Japan JPN Shota Uchiyama Type 2
31 DF Japan JPN Yuto Horigome (captain)
32 DF Japan JPN Takumi Hasegawa
33 MF Japan JPN Yoshiaki Takagi
35 DF Japan JPN Kazuhiko Chiba
39 GK Japan JPN Haruki Nishimura
40 MF Japan JPN Aozora Ishiyama Type 2
44 DF Japan JPN Riita Mori DSP
45 DF Japan JPN Hayato Inamura DSP
47 MF Japan JPN Jimpei Yoshida
50 DF Japan JPN Daichi Tagami

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 Japan JPN Kazuki Fujita (to Tochigi SC)
— DF Japan JPN Ryo Endo (to Iwaki FC)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— DF Japan JPN Shosei Okamoto (to Kagoshima United)
— FW Japan JPN Ken Yamura (to Fujieda MYFC)

Notable players

Technical staff

As of January 2023.
PositionName
Manager Japan Rikizo Matsuhashi
Assistant manager Japan Toru Irie
Japan Motoharu Watanabe
First Team coach Japan Yusuke Ogura
Japan Tatsuya Tanaka
Goalkeeping coach Japan Ryuji Ishizue
Technical coach Japan Yoshiro Akano
Japan Namito Ikesawa
Physical coach Japan Tsutomu Yasuno
Chief doctor Japan Satoshi Watanabe
Chief trainer Japan Seiichi Narahara
Trainer Japan Tetsuo Hasegawa
Japan Koji Akamoto
Physiotherapist Japan Takeshi Iokawa
Interpreter Japan Yu Kusayanagi
Brazil Victor da Silva
Chief team coordinator Japan Shuhei Ikekame
Team coordinator Japan Ryo Doi
Equipment manager Japan Kota Tamakawa

Managerial history

Correct as of 23 October 2022

ManagerNationalityTenureManagerial Record
League
StartFinishPWDLW %
Frans van Balkom Netherlands1 February 199531 January 1998 [8] 36 28 3 5 077.78
Yoshikazu Nagai  Japan1 February 199831 December 2000 [8] 76 35 7 34 046.05
Yasuharu Sorimachi Japan1 February 200131 January 2006 [8] 196 97 40 59 049.49
Jun Suzuki Japan1 February 200631 January 2010 [8][9][10][11] 136 51 32 53 037.50
Hisashi Kurosaki Japan1 February 201021 May 2012 [12][13][14][15] 80 24 25 31 030.00
Nobuhiro Ueno (caretaker) Japan22 May 201210 June 2012 [15][16] 1 0 0 1 000.00
Masaaki Yanagishita Japan11 June 201231 January 2016 [14][15][17] 68 20 18 30 029.41
Tatsuma Yoshida Japan1 February 201627 September 2016 [18] 30 7 6 17 023.33
Koichiro Katafuchi (caretaker) Japan27 September 201631 January 2017 [18] 4 1 0 3 025.00
Fumitake Miura  Japan1 February 20177 May 2017 10 1 2 7 010.00
Koichiro Katafuchi (caretaker) Japan8 May 201710 May 2017 0 0 0 0 !—
Wagner Lopes Japan11 May 201731 December 2017 23 6 5 12 026.09
Masakazu Suzuki Japan1 February 20187 August 2018 27 8 5 14 029.63
Koichiro Katafuchi Japan8 August 201813 April 2019 24 10 6 8 041.67
Kazuaki Yoshinaga Japan14 April 201931 January 2020 33 14 7 12 042.42
Albert Puig Ortoneda Spain1 February 202031 January 2022 84 32 29 23 038.10
Rikizo Matsuhashi Japan1 February 2022Current 43 25 9 9 058.14

Honours

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 -
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 -
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

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 J-1 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. 1 2 "Club guide : Albirex Niigata" (in Japanese). J.League. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  4. 1 2 "Venture spirits, Hiroshi Ikeda interview" (in Japanese). Biz STYLE. 27 December 2007. Archived from the original on 30 October 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  5. ↑ "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.
  6. ↑ "2023アルビレックス新潟 選手・スタッフ 新体制について". アルビレックス新潟 公式サイト｜ALBIREX NIIGATA OFFICIAL WEBSITE (in Japanese). Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  7. ↑ "トップチーム（選手） - アルビレックス新潟 公式サイト". アルビレックス新潟 公式サイト｜ALBIREX NIIGATA OFFICIAL WEBSITE (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  8. 1 2 3 4 The 11-year History of Albirex Niigata (in Japanese). Albirex Niigata. 2007. ISBN 4861322219.
  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. 1 2 "League Table 2012 J.LEAGUE Division 1". J. League. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  15. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 "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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