kids encyclopedia robot

Gamba Osaka facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Gamba Osaka
ガンバ大阪
Gamba Osaka logo.svg
Full name Gamba Osaka
Nickname(s) Nerazzurri (Black-and-Blues)
Founded 1980; 44 years ago (1980) as Matsushita Electric SC
Ground Panasonic Stadium Suita
Ground Capacity 39,694
Owner Panasonic (70%), The Kansai Electric Power Company (10%), Osaka Gas (10%), JR West (10%)
Chairman Takashi Yamauchi
Manager Dani Poyatos
League J1 League
2022 J1 League, 15th of 18

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 the Japanese ganbaru (頑張る), meaning "to do your best" or "to stand firm".

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. 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") of the first J.League season. Due to participation in the J League, the club name was changed to Panasonic Gamba Osaka in 1992.

In 1996, the club dropped the name Panasonic from its front while its corporate name was changed from "Matsushita Soccer Club Co., Ltd." to "Gamba Osaka Co., Ltd."

Record breaking

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. In an AFC Champions League match in 2006, Gamba Osaka defeated Vietnamese side Da Nang FC in a record-equaling victory of 15–0. 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). 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.

Melbourne Victory v Gamba Osaka mar08
Gamba Osaka playing against the Melbourne Victory in the 2008 AFC Champions League

Asian Champions

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).

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 semi-finals by 2007–08 Premier League and 2007–08 UEFA Champions League winners Manchester United. On 21 December 2008, they played for third place against Mexican side Pachuca with Gamba winning the match 1–0.

Yasuhito Endo - 2011
Yasuhito Endō is the club most successful player and J1 League highest number of appearances at 672.

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. However, the club bounced back in the 2013 season, becoming the J2 Champion and directly promoting to Division 1 again after only one season.

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.

In 2015 saw Gamba return to the AFC Champions League for the first time since 2012, where they advanced all the way to the semi-finals before being eliminated by eventual 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 2015 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. Gamba Osaka successfully defended their status as the 2015 Emperor's Cup winners, defeating Urawa Red Diamonds 2–1.\

In 2020, Gamba finished as the 2020 J1 League runners up in which saw the club returned to the 2021 AFC Champions League once again since 2017. Gamba was than drawn in Group H alongside South Korean giants Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Thailand club Chiangrai United and Singaporean side Tampines Rovers. On 7 July 2021, Gamba managed to record their highest ever win in the AFC Champions League after thrashing Tampines Rovers 8–1 at the Bunyodkor Stadium where Shuhei Kawasaki scored a hat-trick in the match. However, the club failed to qualified to the Round of 16 even when they finished the group as runners up due to accumulating 9 points.

Affiliated clubs

  • Thailand Chonburi (2023–present)

On 6 February 2023, Gamba Osaka sign partnership with Thai League 1 club, Chonburi. The alliance intends to strengthen the top team through player transfers, training-type loans and other mutual exchange of coaching staff and players. In conjunction with this new agreement, JFA-certified S-class coaches are currently undergoing overseas training at Chonburi (from 30 January 2023 to 12 February 2023) under the tutelage of Daisuke Machinaka. Under this agreement the teams will share and cooperate with player scouting information to mutually improve both teams.

On 4 March 2024, Gamba Osaka and 36-time Eredivisie champions announce a strategic partnership to advance talent identification and development initiatives in Japan. This exclusive collaboration is scheduled to extend over an initial three-year period. For Ajax, this partnership represents a significant opportunity to strengthen its global football network and identify and nurture young talents in the Japanese football landscape. Gamba Osaka, in turn, gains access to Ajax's renowned training methodologies for its youth development program while establishing connections within the global football community.

Kit and colours

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
2024
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
2024 –
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

Home stadium

SCFS-panorama
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. The new stadium had its inaugural official match during the Panasonic Cup on 14 February 2016, an exhibition match during which Gamba Osaka hosted fellow J1 club Nagoya Grampus.

Rivalries

Osaka derby

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

Players

Current squad

No. Position Player
1 Japan GK Masaaki Higashiguchi
2 Japan DF Shota Fukuoka
3 Japan DF Riku Handa
4 Japan DF Keisuke Kurokawa
5 Japan DF Genta Miura
6 Israel MF Neta Lavi
7 Japan FW Takashi Usami (captain)
8 Japan FW Ryotaro Meshino
9 Japan MF Kota Yamada
10 Japan MF Shu Kurata
11 Tunisia FW Issam Jebali
13 Japan FW Isa Sakamoto
14 Japan MF Yuya Fukuda
15 Japan DF Takeru Kishimoto
16 Japan MF Tokuma Suzuki
17 Japan FW Ryoya Yamashita
20 Japan DF Shinnosuke Nakatani (vice-captain)
No. Position Player
22 Japan GK Jun Ichimori
23 Brazil MF Dawhan
24 Japan DF Yusei Egawa
25 Japan GK Kei Ishikawa
27 Japan MF Rin Mito
31 Japan GK Zhang Aolin
33 Japan DF Shinya Nakano
46 Japan DF Riku Matsuda
47 Brazil MF Juan Alano (vice-captain)
48 Japan MF Hideki Ishige
91 Japan FW Daichi Hayashi
97 Brazil FW Welton Felipe
Japan GK Rui Araki Type 2
Japan GK Joshua Sotaro Stayman Type 2
Japan MF Kanta Furukawa Type 2

Out on loan

No. Position Player
19 Japan DF Ibuki Konno (on loan at Ehime FC)
40 Japan FW Shoji Toyama (on loan at Roasso Kumamoto)
41 Japan MF Jiro Nakamura (on loan at Matsumoto Yamaga)
Japan GK Kosei Tani (on loan at Machida Zelvia)
Japan MF Naohiro Sugiyama (on loan at JEF United Chiba)
No. Position Player
Japan MF Rihito Yamamoto (on loan at Belgium Sint-Truiden)
Japan FW Harumi Minamino (on loan at Tochigi SC)
Japan FW Musashi Suzuki (on loan at Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo)
Japan FW Ryuta Takahashi (on loan at Giravanz Kitakyushu)
Japan FW Hiroto Yamami (on loan at Tokyo Verdy)

Club official

Position Staff
Manager Spain Dani Poyatos
Assistant manager Spain Marcel Sans
First-team coach Japan Yasuhito Endo
Japan Shota Uemura
Japan Kazumichi Takagi
Goalkeeper coach Japan Motohiro Yoshida
Physical coach Japan Koichiro Yoshimichi
Analyst Japan Kento Nashimoto
Assistant coach and interpreter Japan Takanori Okai
Doctor Japan Yusuke Enomoto
Physiotherapist Japan Yuta Tanaka
Japan Yuki Nakamura
Trainer and physiotherapist Japan Ryosuke Kaji
Trainer Japan Satoshi Ikeguchi
Japan Shotaro Shinba
Interpreter Japan Masaki Kimura
Japan Kazushi Shimizu
Japan Yu Ono
Side manager and competent Japan Atsushi Hashimoto
Side manager and side affairs Japan Junji Yamashita
Japan Shunsuke Hitomi

Honours

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

Gamba Osaka honours
Honour No. Years
All Japan Senior Football Championship 1 1983
Japan Soccer League Division 2 1 1985/86
Emperor's Cup 5 1990, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015
J1 League 2 2005, 2014
J.League Cup 2 2007, 2014
Japanese Super Cup 2 2007, 2015
AFC Champions League 1 2008
Pan-Pacific Championship 1 2008
J2 League 1 2013

Manager history

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

Greatest ever XI

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

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)
  • Midfielders
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)

Former players

International results

Opponent Season Home Away
Australia Adelaide United 2008 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 2008 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 2006 AFC Champions League Group Stage 3–0 0–2
China Shandong Luneng Taishan 2009 AFC Champions League Group Stage 3–0 1–0
China Henan Jianye 2010 AFC Champions League Group Stage 1–1 1–1
China Tianjin Teda 2011 AFC Champions League Group Stage 2–0 1–2
China Guangzhou R&F 2015 AFC Champions League Group Stage 0–2 5–0
China Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao 2015 AFC Champions League Semi-finals 0–0 1–2
China Shanghai SIPG 2016 AFC Champions League Group Stage 0–2 1–2
China Jiangsu Suning 2017 AFC Champions League Group Stage 0–1 0–3
Japan 2008 FIFA Club World Cup Semi-finals 3–5
France Paris Saint-Germain 2022 PSG Japan Tour 6–2
Indonesia Sriwijaya 2009 AFC Champions League Group Stage 5–0 3–0
Japan Urawa Red Diamonds 2008 AFC Champions League Semi-finals 1–1 3–1
Japan Kawasaki Frontale 2009 AFC Champions League Round of 16 2–3 N.A.
Japan Cerezo Osaka 2011 AFC Champions League Round of 16 0–1 N.A.
South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2006 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 1–2
South Korea Jeonnam Dragons 2008 AFC Champions League Group Stage 1–1 4–3
South Korea FC Seoul 2009 AFC Champions League Group Stage 1–2 4–2
2015 AFC Champions League Round of 16 3–2 3–1
South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings 2010 AFC Champions League Group Stage 2–1 0–0
2016 AFC Champions League Group Stage 1–2 0–0
South Korea Seongnam 2010 AFC Champions League Round of 16 N.A. 0–3
2015 AFC Champions League Group Stage 2–1 0–2
South Korea Jeju United 2011 AFC Champions League Group Stage 3–1 1–2
2017 AFC Champions League Group Stage 1–4 0–2
South Korea Pohang Steelers 2012 AFC Champions League Group Stage 0–3 0–2
Malaysia Johor Darul Ta'zim 2017 AFC Champions League Play-off 3–0 N.A.
Mexico Pachuca Japan 2008 FIFA Club World Cup Third place 1–0
Singapore Warriors FC 2010 AFC Champions League Group Stage 3–0 4–2
Singapore Tampines Rovers 2021 AFC Champions League Group Stage 8–1 2–0
Syria Al-Karamah SC 2008 AFC Champions League Quarter-finals 2–0 2–1
Thailand Chonburi 2008 AFC Champions League Group Stage 1–1 2–0
Thailand Buriram United 2015 AFC Champions League Group Stage 1–1 2–1
Thailand Chiangrai United 2021 AFC Champions League Group Stage 1–1 1–1
Uzbekistan Bunyodkor 2012 AFC Champions League Group Stage 3–1 2–3
Vietnam SHB Đà Nẵng 2006 AFC Champions League Group Stage 15–0 5–1

Record as J.League member

Champions Runners-up Third place Promoted Relegated
Season Div. Teams Pos. P W(OTW/PKW) D L(OTL/PKL) F A GD Pts Attendance J.League Cup Emperor's Cup AFC CL FIFA CWC
1992 Group stage Quarter final
1993 J1 10 7th 36 16 20 51 65 −14 21,571 Semi-final 2nd round
1994 12 10th 44 15 29 66 82 −16 22,367 Semi-final Semi-final
1995 14 14th 52 18 31 (0/3) 87 107 −20 57 13,310 Semi-final
1996 16 12th 30 11 19 38 59 21 33 8,004 Group stage Semi-final
1997 17 4th 32 18 (2/0) 11 (1/0) 66 46 20 58 8,443 Group stage Semi-final
1998 18 15th 34 7 (4/1) 20 (1/1) 47 61 −14 30 8,723 Group stage 3rd round
1999 16 11th 30 9 (2) 1 16 (2) 36 46 −10 32 7,996 2nd round Round of 16
2000 16 6th 30 13 (2) 2 10 (3) 47 43 4 45 9,794 2nd round Semi-final
2001 16 7th 30 12 (2) 2 10 (4) 50 48 2 42 11,723 2nd round Quarter final
2002 16 3rd 30 15 (4) 1 10 59 32 27 54 12,762 Semi-final Round of 16
2003 16 10th 30 10 9 11 50 46 4 39 10,222 Quarter final Round of 16
2004 16 3rd 30 15 6 9 69 48 21 51 12,517 Quarter final Semi-final
2005 18 1st 34 18 6 10 82 58 24 60 15,966 Runners-up Semi-final
2006 18 3rd 34 20 6 8 80 48 32 66 16,259 Quarter final Runners-up Group stage
2007 18 3rd 34 19 10 5 71 37 34 67 17,439 Winners Semi-final
2008 18 8th 34 14 8 12 46 49 −3 50 16,128 Semi-final Winners Winners 3rd Place
2009 18 3rd 34 18 6 10 62 44 18 60 17,712 Quarter final Winners Round of 16
2010 18 2nd 34 18 8 8 65 44 21 62 16,654 Quarter final Semi-final Round of 16
2011 18 3rd 34 21 7 6 78 51 27 70 16,411 Semi-final 3rd round Round of 16
2012 18 17th 34 9 11 14 67 65 2 38 14,778 Quarter final Runners-up Group stage
2013 J2 22 1st 42 25 12 5 99 46 53 87 12,286 Not eligible 3rd round
2014 J1 18 1st 34 19 6 9 59 31 28 63 14,749 Winners Winners
2015 18 2nd 34 18 9 7 56 37 19 63 15,999 Runners-up Winners Semi-final
2016 18 4th 34 17 7 10 53 42 11 58 25,342 Runners-up Quarter final Group stage
2017 18 10th 34 11 10 13 48 41 7 43 24,277 Semi-final Quarter final Group stage
2018 18 9th 34 14 6 14 41 46 −5 48 23,485 Quarter final 2nd round
2019 18 7th 34 12 11 11 54 48 6 47 27,708 Semi-final 3rd round
2020 18 2nd 34 20 5 9 46 42 4 65 7,597 Group stage Runners-up
2021 20 13th 38 12 8 18 33 49 −16 44 5,345 Group stage Quarter final Group stage
2022 18 15th 34 9 10 15 33 44 −11 37 17,669 Group stage Round of 16
2023 18 16th 34 9 7 18 38 61 −23 34 23,273 Quarter-finals 2nd round
2024 20 TBA 38 2nd Round Finalist -
;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

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Gamba Osaka para niños

kids search engine
Gamba Osaka Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.