Gamba Osaka
ガンバ大阪
Full nameGamba Osaka
Nickname(s)Nerazzurri (Black-and-Blues)
Founded1980 (1980)[1] as Matsushita Electric S.C.
GroundPanasonic Stadium Suita
Capacity39,694
OwnerPanasonic (70%), The Kansai Electric Power Company (10%), Osaka Gas (10%), JR West (10%)
ChairmanTakashi Yamauchi
ManagerDani Poyatos
LeagueJ1 League
2023J1 League, 16th of 18
WebsiteClub website

Gamba Osaka (ガンバ大阪, Ganba Ōsaka) is a Japanese professional football club based in Suita, Osaka Prefecture. The club plays in the J1 League, which is the top tier of football in the country. The club's home stadium is Panasonic Stadium Suita. They form a local rivalry with Osaka city-based Cerezo Osaka.

Gamba Osaka is among the most accomplished Japanese clubs, having won several top-tier domestic titles, as well as the 2008 AFC Champions League.

Name origin

The club's name Gamba comes from two words: the Japanese ganbaru (頑張る), meaning "to do your best" or "to stand firm" and the Italian word "gamba" which means "leg". Also the name in another Italian expression, "essere in gamba", means "be smart, intelligent".

History

It was founded in 1980 as Matsushita Electric SC by the mononymous company, which is now known as Panasonic, in Nara Prefecture and became a member of the Japan Soccer League.[2] It was mostly made of remaining players and staff of the defunct Yanmar Club, the former B-team of Yanmar Diesel SC, later to be known as Cerezo Osaka. Gamba Osaka was an original member ("Original Ten"[lower-alpha 1]) of the first J.League season.[2]

In 2005, the club claimed its first J.League championship on a dramatic final day during which any of five clubs could have claimed the championship. Gamba needed to win, and have cross town rivals Cerezo Osaka draw or lose. Gamba defeated a valiant Kawasaki Frontale 4–2, while victory was snatched from Cerezo by a last-minute FC Tokyo equalizer.[3] In an AFC Champions League match in 2006, Gamba Osaka defeated Vietnamese side Da Nang FC in a record-equaling victory of 15–0.[4] In the 2008 Pan-Pacific Championship final, Gamba Osaka beat MLS club Houston Dynamo 6–1 to win the tournament, in large part because of Bare who scored 4 goals in the final (5 in all at the tournament).[5] After his brilliant display and having just scored 10 goals in 18 games for Gamba in the domestic league, he was sold to UAE club Al-Ahli for 1 billion yen.[6]

Gamba Osaka playing against the Melbourne Victory in the 2008 AFC Champions League

In October 2008, Gamba for the first time in their history, reached the final of the AFC Champions League after defeating fellow Japanese league rivals Urawa Red Diamonds 4–2 on aggregate after a 1–1 draw at home in the first leg, Gamba registered one of the most historic comebacks in Champions League history when they came back from being behind 1–0 before half time to win 1–3 with all goals scored in the second half at Saitama. Gamba Osaka went on to win the 2008 AFC Champions League title after winning 5–0 on aggregate against the giant-killing Australian club Adelaide United in the Final. They became the fifth Japanese club to win the maximum Asian title, after Urawa, Júbilo Iwata, then-company-affiliated Yomiuri (now Tokyo Verdy), and Furukawa Electric (now JEF United Ichihara Chiba).[7]

In December 2008, Gamba made it to the semi-finals of the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup after beating Australian club Adelaide United 1–0. They were beaten in the semifinals by 2007–08 Premier League and UEFA Champions League winners Manchester United. On 21 December 2008 they played for third place against Mexican side C.F. Pachuca with Gamba winning the match 1–0.[8]

In December 2012, Gamba were relegated from Division 1 after losing 2–1 to Júbilo Iwata. Gamba finished 17th in the league despite scoring more goals than any other club, including Champion Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Ultimately, although Gamba had a positive goal difference at the end of the season, Gamba could not overcome their poor defense, which allowed the second most goals in Division 1 after Consadole Sapporo. This also made Gamba Osaka the fastest club to suffer relegation from the top division after winning the AFC Champion's League and playing in the FIFA Club World Cup, the relegation being only four years later.[9] However, the club bounced back in the 2013 season, becoming the J2 Champion and directly promoting to Division 1 again after only one season.[10]

In 2014, Gamba won the Division 1 title, a year after winning the second division, becoming the second club in the professional era to achieve this feat (after Kashiwa Reysol in 2011). That same year, Gamba also became the second club to win the domestic treble (after Kashima Antlers in 2000), by winning the J.League Cup and the Emperor's Cup as well.[11]

Year 2015 saw Gamba Osaka return to the AFC Champions League for the first time since 2012, where they advanced to the semi-finals before being eliminated by The Tournament Winner and 2015 FIFA Club World Cup Fourth Place Guangzhou Evergrande 1–2 on aggregate. Domestically, Gamba Osaka advanced to the final of both the J.League Cup and the J1 League Championship, losing to Kashima Antlers 0–3 and Club World Cup Third Place Sanfrecce Hiroshima 3–4 respectively.[12] Gamba Osaka successfully defended their status as Emperor's Cup winners, defeating Urawa Red Diamonds 2–1.[13]

Stadium

A panoramic view of Suita City Football Stadium

Gamba Osaka used the Osaka Expo '70 Stadium in the Expo Commemoration Park as its home stadium from 1980 through 2015, which seats around 21,000.

The club began construction in December 2013 of a new soccer-specific stadium called Suita City Football Stadium in the same park, with a seating capacity of 39,694.[14] The new stadium had its inaugural official match during the Panasonic Cup on February 14, 2016, an exhibition match during which Gamba Osaka hosted fellow J1 club Nagoya Grampus.[15]

Rivalries

Gamba's fiercest rival are fellow locals Cerezo Osaka with whom they contest the Osaka derby.[16] Also have a heavy rivalry with Saitama's Urawa Red Diamonds, which they make the "National Derby" of Japan.

Record as J.League member

Champions Runners-up Third place Promoted Relegated
SeasonDiv.TeamsPos.PW(OTW/PKW)DL(OTL/PKL)FAGDPtsAttendanceJ.League CupEmperor's CupAFC CLFIFA CWC
1992 ––––––––––––Group stageQuarter final––
1993 J1107th3616–205165-14–21,571Semi-final2nd round––
1994 1210th4415–296682-16–22,367Semi-finalSemi-final––
1995 1414th5218–31 (0/3)87107-205713,310–Semi-final––
1996 1612th3011–19385921338,004Group stageSemi-final––
1997 174th3218 (2/0)–11 (1/0)664620588,443Group stageSemi-final––
1998 1815th347 (4/1)20 (1/1)4761-14308,723Group stage3rd round––
1999 1611th309 (2)116 (2)3646-10327,9962nd roundRound of 16––
2000 166th3013 (2)210 (3)47434459,7942nd roundSemi-final––
2001 167th3012 (2)210 (4)504824211,7232nd roundQuarter final––
2002 163rd3015 (4)1105932275412,762Semi-finalRound of 16––
2003 1610th3010911504643910,222Quarter finalRound of 16––
2004 163rd3015696948215112,517Quarter finalSemi-final––
2005 181st34186108258246015,966Runners-upSemi-final––
2006 183rd3420688048326616,259Quarter finalRunners-upGroup stage–
2007 183rd34191057137346717,439WinnersSemi-final––
2008 188th34148124649-35016,128Semi-finalWinnersWinners3rd Place
2009 183rd34186106244186017,712Quarter finalWinnersRound of 16–
2010 182nd3418886544216216,654Quarter finalSemi-finalRound of 16–
2011 183rd3421767851277016,411Semi-final3rd roundRound of 16–
2012 1817th3491114676523814,778Quarter finalRunners-upGroup stage–
2013 J2221st42251259946538712,286Not eligible3rd round––
2014 J1181st3419695931286314,749WinnersWinners––
2015 182nd3418975637196315,999Runners-upWinnersSemi-final–
2016 184th34177105342115825,342Runners-upQuarter finalGroup stage–
2017 1810th34111013484174324,277Semi-finalQuarter finalGroup stage–
2018 189th34146144146-54823,485Quarter final2nd round––
2019 187th34121111544864727,708Semi-final3rd round––
2020 † 182nd34205946424657,597Group stageRunners-up––
2021 2013th38128183349-16445,345Group stageQuarter finalGroup stage–
2022 1815th34910153344-113717,669Group stageRound of 16––
2023 1816th3497183861-233423,273Quarter-finals2nd round––
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 = Average home league attendance per game
  • † 2020 season attendance reduced by COVID-19 worldwide pandemic.
  • Source: J. League Data Site

Players

Current squad

As of 16 August 2023.[17]

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 Masaaki Higashiguchi
2 DF Japan JPN Shota Fukuoka
3 DF Japan JPN Riku Handa
4 DF Japan JPN Hiroki Fujiharu
5 DF Japan JPN Genta Miura
7 MF Japan JPN Takashi Usami (captain)
8 MF Japan JPN Ryotaro Meshino
9 FW Japan JPN Musashi Suzuki
10 MF Japan JPN Shu Kurata
11 FW Tunisia TUN Issam Jebali
13 DF Japan JPN Ryu Takao
14 MF Japan JPN Yuya Fukuda
16 DF Japan JPN Yota Sato
18 MF Israel ISR Neta Lavi
19 DF Japan JPN Ibuki Konno DSP
20 DF South Korea KOR Kwon Kyung-won (vice-captain)
21 MF Japan JPN Dai Tsukamoto
23 MF Brazil BRA Dawhan
No. Pos. Nation Player
24 DF Japan JPN Keisuke Kurokawa
25 GK Japan JPN Kei Ishikawa
26 DF Japan JPN Ko Yanagisawa
27 MF Japan JPN Rin Mito DSP
28 MF Japan JPN Naohiro Sugiyama
29 MF Japan JPN Yuki Yamamoto (vice-captain)
31 GK Japan JPN Zhang Aolin Type 2
32 MF Japan JPN Daiki Miyagawa Type 2
33 DF Japan JPN Shinya Nakano (on loan from Sagan Tosu)
34 DF Japan JPN Yusei Egawa
35 GK Japan JPN Akinori Ichikawa (on loan from Yokohama FC)
37 FW Japan JPN Hiroto Yamami
40 FW Japan JPN Shoji Toyama
41 MF Japan JPN Jiro Nakamura
47 MF Brazil BRA Juan Alano
48 MF Japan JPN Hideki Ishige
— GK Japan JPN Rui Araki Type 2
— GK Japan JPN Joshua Sotaro Stayman Type 2

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
6 MF Japan JPN Rihito Yamamoto (on loan at Sint-Truiden)
99 GK Japan JPN Kosei Tani (on loan at Dender)
— GK Japan JPN Jun Ichimori (on loan at Yokohama F. Marinos)
— MF Japan JPN Kohei Okuno (on loan at Shonan Bellmare)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF Japan JPN Ryuta Takahashi (on loan at Nara Club)
— FW Japan JPN Harumi Minamino (on loan at Tegevajaro Miyazaki)
— FW Japan JPN Isa Sakamoto (on loan at Fagiano Okayama)

Notable players

Yasuhito Endō, most capped player and number-one goalscorer in Gamba's history.
Greatest ever team

In 2011, as part of the club's official celebration of their 20th anniversary, supporters cast votes to determine the greatest ever team.[18]

Japan Yōsuke Fujigaya (2005–2013, 2015–2017)
Japan Akira Kaji (2006–2014)
Brazil Sidiclei (2004–2007)
Japan Tsuneyasu Miyamoto (1995–2006)
Japan Satoshi Yamaguchi (2001–2011)
Japan Yasuhito Endō (2001–2021)
Japan Tomokazu Myojin (2006–2015)
Japan Hideo Hashimoto (1998–2011)
Japan Takahiro Futagawa (1999–2016)
Cameroon Patrick M'Boma (1997–1998)
Brazil Araújo (2005)

Coaching staff

For the 2023 season.

PositionStaff
ManagerSpain Dani Poyatos
Assistant managersSpain Marcel Sans
Japan Arata Kodama
First-team coachJapan Yoshitaka Yasuda
Japan Shota Uemura
Goalkeeper coachJapan Motohiro Yoshida
Fitness coachJapan Ryo Yano
DoctorJapan Yusuke Enomoto
PhysiotherapistJapan Yuta Tanaka
TrainerJapan Chikashi Masui
Japan Kento Fujita
Japan Shotaro Shinba
InterpreterJapan Masaki Kimura
Kit manJapan Atsushi Hashimoto
Japan Jyunji Yamashita
South Korea Lee Song-in
Technical staffJapan Kento Nashimoto
Member of administrative boardJapan Masahiro Wada
Academy ManagerJapan Masanobu Matsunami

Honours

As both Matsushita (amateur era) and Gamba Osaka (professional era)

National

League

Cups

International

Manager history

[19][20]

Dates Name Honours Notes
1980–1991 Japan Yoji Mizuguchi Emperor's Cup: 1990
1991–1994 Japan Kunishige Kamamoto The competition formed as the J.League in 1993.
1995 Germany Sigfried Held
1995–1997 Croatia Josip Kuže
1997–1998 Austria Friedrich Koncilia
1998–1999 France Frédéric Antonetti J.League Division 2 was launched in 1999.
1999–2001 Japan Hiroshi Hayano
2001 Japan Kazuhiko Takemoto
2002–2012 Japan Akira Nishino J.League Division 1: 2005
J.League Cup: 2007
Emperor's Cup: 2008, 2009
AFC Champions League: 2008
J.League Manager of the Year: 2005
AFC Coach of the Year: 2008
2012 Brazil José Carlos Serrão
2012 Japan Masanobu Matsunami Gamba was relegated to the J.League Division 2 2013.
2013–2017 Japan Kenta Hasegawa J.League Division 2: 2013
J.League Division 1: 2014
J.League Cup: 2014
Emperor's Cup: 2014, 2015
J.League Manager of the Year: 2014		 Gamba was promoted to the J.League Division 1 2014.
J3 League was launched in 2014.
2018 Brazil Levir Culpi
2018–2021 Japan Tsuneyasu Miyamoto
2022 Japan Tomohiro Katanosaka
2022 Japan Hiroshi Matsuda
2023– Spain Dani Poyatos

Player statistics

Top scorers by season

Season Name Goals
1993Japan Akihiro Nagashima 12
1994Japan Toshihiro Yamaguchi 16
1995Netherlands Hans Gillhaus 20
1996Croatia Mladen Mladenović 11
1997Cameroon Patrick M'Boma 25
1998Japan Hiromi Kojima 17
1999Japan Hiromi Kojima
Brazil Luizinho Vieira		 6
2000Japan Hiromi Kojima 9
2001Croatia Nino Bule 17
2002Brazil Magrão 22
2003Brazil Magrão 15
2004Japan Masashi Oguro 20
2005Brazil Araújo 33
2006Brazil Magno Alves 26
2007Brazil Baré 20
  
Season Name Goals
2008Brazil Baré 10
2009Brazil Leandro 11
2010Japan Shoki Hirai 14
2011South Korea Lee Keun-ho 15
2012Brazil Leandro 14
2013Japan Takashi Usami 19
2014Japan Takashi Usami 10
2015Japan Takashi Usami 19
2016Japan Shun Nagasawa
Brazil Ademilson		 9
2017Japan Shun Nagasawa 10
2018South Korea Hwang Ui-Jo 16
2019Brazil Ademilson 10
2020Brazil Patric 11
2021Brazil Patric 23
2022Brazil Patric 10

Award winners

The following players have won the awards while at Gamba Osaka:

Domestic

International

World Cup players

The following players have been selected by their country in the World Cup, while playing for Gamba Osaka:

Olympic players

The following players have represented their country at the Summer Olympic Games whilst playing for Gamba Osaka:

Former players

International results

Opponent Season Home Away
Australia Adelaide United FC2008 AFC Champions League Final 3–0 2–0
Japan 2008 FIFA Club World Cup Quarter-finals 1–0
2012 AFC Champions League Group Stage 0–2 0–2
2017 AFC Champions League Group Stage 3–3 3–0
Australia Melbourne Victory FC2008 AFC Champions League Group Stage 2–0 4–3
2011 AFC Champions League Group Stage 5–1 1–1
2016 AFC Champions League Group Stage 1–1 1–2
China Dalian Shide F.C.2006 AFC Champions League Group Stage 3–0 0–2
China Shandong Luneng Taishan F.C.2009 AFC Champions League Group Stage 3–0 1–0
China Henan Jianye F.C.2010 AFC Champions League Group Stage 1–1 1–1
China Tianjin Teda F.C.2011 AFC Champions League Group Stage 2–0 1–2
China Guangzhou R&F F.C.2015 AFC Champions League Group Stage 0–2 5–0
China Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao F.C.2015 AFC Champions League Semi-finals 0–0 1–2
China Shanghai SIPG F.C.2016 AFC Champions League Group Stage 0–2 1–2
China Jiangsu Suning2017 AFC Champions League Group Stage 0–1 0–3
England Manchester United F.C.Japan 2008 FIFA Club World Cup Semi-finals 3–5
France Paris Saint-Germain2022 PSG Japan Tour 6–2
Indonesia Sriwijaya FC2009 AFC Champions League Group Stage 5–0 3–0
Japan Urawa Red Diamonds2008 AFC Champions League Semi-finals 1–1 3–1
Japan Kawasaki Frontale2009 AFC Champions League Round of 16 2–3 N.A.
Japan Cerezo Osaka2011 AFC Champions League Round of 16 0–1 N.A.
South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors2006 AFC Champions League Group Stage 1–1 2–3
2015 AFC Champions League Quarter-finals 3–2 0–0
2021 AFC Champions League Group Stage 2–2[lower-alpha 2] 1–2[lower-alpha 2]
South Korea Jeonnam Dragons2008 AFC Champions League Group Stage 1–1 4–3
South Korea FC Seoul2009 AFC Champions League Group Stage 1–2 4–2
2015 AFC Champions League Round of 16 3–2 3–1
South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings2010 AFC Champions League Group Stage 2–1 0–0
2016 AFC Champions League Group Stage 1–2 0–0
South Korea Seongnam FC2010 AFC Champions League Round of 16 N.A. 0–3
2015 AFC Champions League Group Stage 2–1 0–2
South Korea Jeju United FC2011 AFC Champions League Group Stage 3–1 1–2
2017 AFC Champions League Group Stage 1–4 0–2
South Korea Pohang Steelers2012 AFC Champions League Group Stage 0–3 0–2
Malaysia Johor Darul Ta'zim2017 AFC Champions League Play-off 3–0 N.A.
Mexico C.F. PachucaJapan 2008 FIFA Club World Cup Third place 1–0
Singapore Warriors FC2010 AFC Champions League Group Stage 3–0 4–2
Singapore Tampines Rovers2021 AFC Champions League Group Stage 8–1[lower-alpha 2] 2–0[lower-alpha 2]
Syria Al-Karamah SC2008 AFC Champions League Quarter-finals 2–0 2–1
Thailand Chonburi F.C.2008 AFC Champions League Group Stage 1–1 2–0
Thailand Buriram United F.C.2015 AFC Champions League Group Stage 1–1 2–1
Thailand Chiangrai United F.C.2021 AFC Champions League Group Stage 1–1[lower-alpha 2] 1–1[lower-alpha 2]
Uzbekistan FC Bunyodkor2012 AFC Champions League Group Stage 3–1 2–3
Vietnam SHB Đà Nẵng F.C.2006 AFC Champions League Group Stage 15–0 5–1

Kit evolution

FP 1st
1993 - 1994
1995 - 1996
1997 - 1998
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 -
FP 2nd
1993 - 1994
1995 - 1996
1997 - 1998
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 -
FP Other
2003 - 2004
3rd
2005 - 2006
3rd
2008 - 2009
ACL
2010 ACL
2011 3rd
2011 ACL
2011
20周年記念
2012
万博蹴結記念
2015 ACL
2016 ACL
2017 ACL
2017
GAMBA EXPO
2018
GAMBA EXPO
2019
GAMBA EXPO
2020
#ホームで勝とう
2021
ACL 1st
2021
ACL 2nd

In the Captain Tsubasa manga series, two characters are from Gamba Osaka: the defender Makoto Soda and the forward Takashi Sugimoto.

Notes

    References

    1. ↑ Gamba Osaka Profile at J.League Official Website
    2. 1 2 "Gamba Osaka: Club Introduction". J.League. Archived from the original on 13 January 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
    3. ↑ "Top 10 derby title races: 6. Gamba Osaka & Cerezo Osaka (2005)". Goal.com. 5 April 2013. Archived from the original on 13 January 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
    4. ↑ "Gamba hammer Da Nang 15–0 to pick up first ACL points". Japan Times. 5 April 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
    5. ↑ "Bare, Gamba Osaka roll over Dynamo 6–1: Brazilian striker nets four in Pan-Pacific final". Houston Dynamo. 24 February 2008. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
    6. ↑ "Bare set to leave Gamba for Al Ahli". ESPN soccernet. 23 July 2008. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
    7. ↑ "Origins and History: Ninety Years of the JFA". JFA. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
    8. ↑ "FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2008 – Overview". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on 13 January 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
    9. ↑ "Niigata's great escape". J.League. 1 December 2012. Archived from the original on 13 January 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
    10. ↑ "Urawa Reds and Gamba Osaka in the last J.League title race for some time". theguardian.com. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
    11. ↑ "Gamba Osaka complete domestic treble". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on 10 January 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
    12. ↑ "Hiroshima hold off Gamba to win 3rd J-League title in 4 years". The Mainich. The Mainichi Newspapers. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
    13. ↑ "Gamba gives Urawa Reds the blues with Emperor's Cup win". AFP. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
    14. ↑ Kaz Nagatsuka (28 December 2013). "Gamba wait for new site". Japan Times. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
    15. ↑ "Gamba open new stadium with preseason victory". japantimes. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
    16. ↑ "The story behind the Osaka derby". goal.com. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
    17. ↑ "選手 / スタッフ" (in Japanese). jleague.jp. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
    18. ↑ ガンバ大阪歴代ベストイレブン　遠藤、宮本らが選出. Ameba news (in Japanese). 2 October 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
    19. ↑ "History of Gamba Osaka". Gamba Osaka Official Site. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
    20. ↑ "Japan Football Hall of Fame". JFA. Japan Football Association.
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