Albirex Niigata facts for kids
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| Full name | Albirex Niigata | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Albi | ||
| Founded | 1955 as Niigata Eleven SC | ||
| Ground | Denka Big Swan Stadium, Niigata |
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| Capacity | 42,300 | ||
| Chairman | Daisuke Korenaga | ||
| Manager | Toru Irie (interim) | ||
| League | J1 League | ||
| 2022 | J2 League, 1st of 22 (promoted) | ||
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Albirex Niigata (アルビレックス新潟, Arubirekkusu Nīgata) is a professional football club from Niigata, Japan. It started in 1955 as Niigata Eleven SC. The club changed its name to Albireo Niigata FC in 1995, and then to Albirex Niigata in 1997. They play in the top Japanese league, J1 League, after winning the J2 League championship in 2022.
Contents
Club History and Growth
Albirex Niigata began as a local amateur club called Niigata 11. For many years, it was hard for them to compete with bigger company teams in the old Japan Soccer League. But when the J. League was created, the club started to grow quickly.
Climbing the Leagues
In 1998, Albirex Niigata joined the Japan Football League. The next year, in 1999, they became part of the new J2 League. The team got better and better. They almost reached the J1 League in 2001 and 2002. Finally, in 2003, they won the J2 League and moved up to the top division.
Why the Name Albirex?
The team's name comes from two parts. Albireo is a bright star in the Cygnus constellation, which is also known as the Swan. The second part, Rex, is a Latin word that means 'king'. In 1997, the team had to change its name from Albireo Niigata to Albirex Niigata because of copyright reasons.
How the Team Name Changed
- Niigata Eleven SC (Soccer Club) (1955)
- Albireo Niigata FC (1995)
- Albirex Niigata (1997)
Home Stadium: The Big Swan
The main stadium for Albirex Niigata is the Niigata Stadium "Big Swan". It's called Denka Big Swan Stadium now because of a sponsorship deal. This stadium opened in 2001 and can hold 42,300 fans. Before 2004, the team used the Niigata Perfectural Sport Ground. Now, most of their games are played at the Big Swan.
In 2003, Albirex Niigata set a record for the highest number of fans attending games in the J. League. About 660,000 people came to watch their matches that year! The team also practices at the Albirex training facilities in Seiro Albillage and the Ijimino Sports Park (五十公野運動公園, Ijimino Undō Kōen) in Shibata.
The Big Swan stadium was also used for big events. It hosted two first-round matches and one Round of 16 match during the 2002 FIFA World Cup. It was also the place for the National Sports Festival in 2009.
Meet the Team: Current Players
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Players on Loan
Some players from Albirex Niigata are currently playing for other teams to gain more experience.
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Club Leadership
Here are some of the important people who help run the Albirex Niigata football club:
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager |  Toru Irie (interim) |
| Assistant manager | Takafumi Yoshimoto |
| Technical coach | Mirai Morita Namito Ikezawa |
| Physical coach | Tsutomu Anno |
| Goalkeeping coach | Ryuji Ishizue |
| Assistant goalkeeping coach | Yasuhiro Watanabe |
| Chief doctor | Satoshi Watanabe |
| Chief trainer | Seiichi Narahara |
| Training coaches | Tetsuo Hasegawa Koji Okamoto |
| Physiotherapist | Takeshi Iokawa |
| Interpreter | Yu Kusayanagi Yoshio Silvio Kanashiro Cantao |
| Competent | Takaaki Onozaki |
| Deputy officer | Ryo Doi |
| Equipment manager | Kota Tamakawa |
Team Managers Through the Years
Many different managers have led Albirex Niigata over the years. They help the team play its best and win games. The current interim manager is Toru Irie.
Team Performance and Achievements
Albirex Niigata has had many ups and downs in its league and cup history. They have played in both the J1 League (the top division) and the J2 League.
League Highlights
The team won the J2 League championship twice, in 2003 and again in 2022. Winning the J2 League means they get promoted to the J1 League. They have spent many seasons in the J1 League, showing they are a strong team. In 2024, they reached the finals of the J.League Cup, finishing as runners-up.
Key Achievements
Albirex Niigata has won several important titles:
- Hokushinetsu Football League
- Winners: 3 times (1986, 1996, 1997)
- J2 League
- Winners: 2 times (2003, 2022)
Team Colours and What They Mean
The main colours for Albirex Niigata are orange and blue. These colours have a special meaning for the team and the city of Niigata.
- Orange represents the beautiful sunsets seen in Niigata.
- Blue stands for the Sea of Japan, which is next to Niigata.
Other Albirex Clubs
Albirex Niigata is part of a bigger group of sports clubs. Since 2004, they have sent players to a team in the Singapore Premier League called Albirex Niigata Singapore. There is also a women's football team, Albirex Niigata Ladies, which won the L2 league in 2006 and moved up to L1 in 2007.
Clubs Connected to Albirex Niigata
- Albirex Niigata Ladies (a women's football team)
- Japan Soccer College (a football college team)
Albirex Niigata Singapore (a team in Singapore)
Past Connected Clubs
Albirex Niigata Phnom Penh (a team in Cambodia)
Besides football, there are other sports teams that share the Albirex name in Niigata. These include a basketball club in the B.League, a ski and snowboard team, a baseball team, and a track and field team. Even though they share the same name, each of these teams is managed and funded separately.
See also
In Spanish: Albirex Niigata para niños
