Nagoya Grampus facts for kids
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| Full name | Nagoya Grampus | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Grampus Eight | ||
| Founded | 1946 as Toyota Motor SC | ||
| Stadium | Toyota Stadium | ||
| Stadium capacity |
44,692 | ||
| Owner | Toyota | ||
| Chairman | Toyo Kato | ||
| Manager | Kenta Hasegawa | ||
| League | J1 League | ||
| 2022 | J1 League, 8th of 18 | ||
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Nagoya Grampus (名古屋グランパス), once known as Nagoya Grampus Eight, is a Japanese football club. They play in the J1 League, which is Japan's top football league. They have been in the J1 League for almost every season since it started, except for one year in 2017.
The club is based in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. It was started in 1939 by the Toyota Motor Corp. as their company team. Nagoya Grampus plays its home games at two stadiums: Mizuho Athletic Stadium and the larger Toyota Stadium. Toyota Stadium is in the city of Toyota and can hold about 45,000 fans.
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About Nagoya Grampus
The team's name comes from two important symbols of Nagoya. The first is the shachihoko (tiger-headed carp) statues on top of Nagoya Castle. The word shachi sounds like the Japanese word for orca, which used to be called "grampus." The second symbol is the maru-hachi (circle-eight), which is Nagoya's official emblem. The team's mascot is Grampus-kun, a friendly orca!
Club History and Success
Nagoya Grampus has a long and exciting history in Japanese football. They have seen many ups and downs, but always aim for the top.
Early Years: Japan Soccer League Era
The club started as Toyota Motor SC in 1939. In 1972, they were one of the first teams in the JSL's Second Division and won the championship that year. They played in the Japan Soccer League (JSL) until the J.League began in 1993. In 1990, the club changed its name to "Nagoya Grampus Eight."
Joining the J.League
Nagoya Grampus Eight was one of the first ten teams to join the J.League when it started in 1993.
In 1995 and 1996, a famous manager named Arsène Wenger led the team. He later became very well-known for managing Arsenal in England. Under Wenger, Grampus had a great time, winning the Emperor's Cup in 1995 and finishing second in the J.League in 1996. Their captain, Dragan Stojković, was even named the J.League's best player!
The team's name was shortened to just "Nagoya Grampus" in 2008. That same year, former player Dragan Stojković became the manager. He led the club to win their first J.League championship in 2010! This was a huge moment for the team.
After a tough 2016 season, Grampus was moved down to the J2 League for the first time. But they didn't stay there long! They fought hard and earned their way back to the J1 League in 2017.
In 2021, under manager Massimo Ficcadenti, Nagoya Grampus won the J.League Cup. Now, Kenta Hasegawa is the team's manager.
The Kashima Soccer Stadium Challenge
For many years, playing against Kashima Antlers at their home stadium was very difficult for Grampus. They lost 22 games in a row there! But in 2008, after 15 years, Nagoya Grampus finally won a game at the Kashima Soccer Stadium. It was a big victory!
Team Players and Staff
Current Team Players
Here are the players who are part of the Nagoya Grampus team right now:
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Players on Loan
Some players are currently playing for other teams to gain more experience:
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Youth Team: Nagoya Grampus U-18
Nagoya Grampus also has a youth team for players under 18 years old. They play in the Prince Takamado U-18 Premier League, which is the top league for youth clubs in Japan. This helps young players develop their skills.
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Club Staff
The team has a dedicated staff to help the players. This includes the manager, coaches, and medical staff.
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager |  Kenta Hasegawa |
| Head coach | Kosuke Takeya |
| Goalkeeper coach | Kazumasa Kawano |
| Assistant goalkeeper coach | Seigo Narazaki |
| Chief doctor | Shinya Ishizuka |
Team Achievements and Awards
Nagoya Grampus has won several important trophies and its players have received many awards.
Major Honours
These are the main championships and cups Nagoya Grampus has won:
| Honour | No. | Years |
|---|---|---|
| All Japan Senior Football Championship | 2 | 1968, 1970 |
| Japan Soccer League Division 2 | 1 | 1972 |
| Konica Cup | 1 | 1991 |
| Emperor's Cup | 2 | 1995, 1999 |
| Japanese Super Cup | 2 | 1996, 2011 |
| J1 League | 1 | 2010 |
| J.League Cup | 2 | 2021, 2024 |
Player and Manager Awards
Many players and managers from Nagoya Grampus have been recognized for their amazing skills:
- J.League Player of the Year
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Dragan Stojković (1995)- Seigo Narazaki (2010)
- J.League Top Scorer
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Ueslei (2003)
Joshua Kennedy (2010, 2011)- Jô (2018)
- J.League Best Eleven
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- Dragan Stojković (1995, 1996, 1999)
- Seigo Narazaki (2003, 2008, 2010, 2011)
- Joshua Kennedy (2010, 2011)
- Marcus Tulio Tanaka (2010, 2011, 2012)
- Jô (2018)
- Mitchell Langerak (2021)
- J.League Rookie of the Year
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- Yoshizumi Ogawa (2008)
- J.League Manager of the Year
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Arsène Wenger (1995)- Dragan Stojković (2010)
World Cup Players
These players were chosen to play for their country in the World Cup while they were playing for Nagoya Grampus:
Takashi Hirano (1998)- Dragan Stojković (1998)
- Seigo Narazaki (2002, 2006, 2010)
- Keiji Tamada (2006, 2010)
- Joshua Kennedy (2010)
- Marcus Tulio Tanaka (2010)
League Journey Over Time
Nagoya Grampus has played in different leagues throughout its history:
- Regional League (Tokai Adult Soccer League): 1966–71
- Division 2 (JSL Div. 2): 1972
- Division 1 (JSL Div. 1): 1973–77
- Division 2 (JSL Div. 2): 1978–86
- Division 1 (JSL Div. 1): 1987
- Division 2 (JSL Div. 2): 1988–89
- Division 1 (JSL Div. 1): 1990–91
- Division 1 (J.League Div. 1): 1992–2016
- Division 2 (J2 League): 2017
- Division 1 (J.League Div. 1): 2018
In total, they have spent 33 seasons in the top league, 12 seasons in the second league, and 6 seasons in regional leagues.
Club Sponsors
Nagoya Grampus works with many important companies that help support the team. These sponsors are often featured on the team's jerseys.
| Season(s) | Kit Manufacturer | Main Shirt Sponsor | Collarbone Sponsor | Additional Sponsor(s) | |||||
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| 2019 | Mizuno | Toyota | Senon (Left) | Tokai Tokyo Securities (Right) | Denso | Toyota Tsusho | TS3 | Toyota Gazoo Racing | Before the ban is lifted |
| 2020 | Toyota / GR Yaris | Goo Net (Left) | au 5G (Right・1st) au (Right・2nd) |
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| 2021 | GR Yaris | Toyota Industries | |||||||
| 2022 | GR 86 | au 5G (Right) | V Vantelin | ||||||
| 2023 | Waku Sutaffu (Right) | AISIN | V Vantelin | - | |||||
| 2024 | |||||||||
Images for kids
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Nagoya Grampus former crest from 1990 to 2023
See also
In Spanish: Nagoya Grampus para niños
- Grampus-kun (The team mascot)
