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 | Rikizo Matsuhashi | ||
| 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. It is based in Niigata, Japan. The club started in 1955 as Niigata Eleven SC. It was later renamed Albireo Niigata FC in 1995. In 1997, it became Albirex Niigata. They currently play in the J1 League, which is Japan's top football league. They were promoted after winning the J2 League in 2022.
Contents
Club History
For many years, the club was a local amateur team called Niigata 11. It was hard for them to join the big leagues. But when the J. League was created, the club started to grow quickly. In the 1990s, they moved up through different divisions.
In 1998, Albirex Niigata joined the Japan Football League. Then, in 1999, they became part of the new J2 League. The team got better and better. In 2001 and 2002, they almost made it to the J1 League. Finally, in 2003, they won the J2 League and joined Japan's top football division.
Why the Name Changed
The team's name comes from two parts. Albireo is a bright star in the Cygnus constellation, which looks like a swan. Rex is a Latin word that means 'king'. So, Albirex means 'King of the Swans'. In 1997, the team had to change its name from Albireo Niigata to Albirex Niigata because of copyright reasons.
Team Name Journey
- Niigata Eleven SC (Soccer Club) (1955)
- Albireo Niigata FC (1995)
- Albirex Niigata (1997)
Home Stadium
Albirex Niigata plays its home games at the Niigata Stadium. It is also known as the Big Swan stadium. Its official name is now Denka Big Swan Stadium because of a sponsorship deal. The stadium opened in 2001 and can hold 42,300 fans.
Before the Big Swan, the club played at the Niigata City Athletic Stadium. That stadium was built in 1938 and could hold 18,000 people. The Big Swan stadium was used for some matches during the 2002 FIFA World Cup. It also hosted the 2009 National Sports Festival.
The club's training grounds are at Seiro Albillage and the Ijimino Sports Park (五十公野運動公園, Ijimino Undō Kōen) in Shibata.
Current Players
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Players on Loan
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Famous Players
Club Staff
Here are some of the main club officials for 2024:
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager |  Rikizo Matsuhashi |
| Head coach | Yusuke Ogura |
| Goalkeeping coach | Ryuji Ishizue |
| Chief doctor | Satoshi Watanabe |
Club Achievements
Albirex Niigata has won several titles throughout its history:
| Honour | No. | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Hokushinetsu Football League | 3 | 1986, 1996, 1997 |
| J2 League | 2 | 2003, 2022 |
Team Kit and Colours
Club Colours
The team's main colours are orange and blue. The orange stands for the beautiful sunsets in Niigata. The blue represents the Sea of Japan.
Kit Design Over Time
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     Summer |
    Isao Honma retirement match |
     ONE NIIGATA Memorial Blue |
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Affiliated Clubs
Since 2004, Albirex Niigata has also had a special connection with other clubs. They have sent players to a team in the Singapore Premier League. Albirex also has a women's team called Albirex Ladies. They joined the L2 league in 2004 and won the L2 title in 2006. This allowed them to join the L1 league in 2007.
Clubs Connected to Albirex Niigata
- Albirex Niigata Ladies (Japan Women's Football League)
- Japan Soccer College (Hokushinetsu Football League)
Albirex Niigata Singapore (Singapore Premier League)
Past Connected Club
Albirex Niigata Phnom Penh (Cambodian Premier League)
Besides the football team, there are other sports teams with the Albirex Niigata name. These include a basketball club in the B.League, and teams for ski, snowboard, baseball, and track and field. Even though they share the same name, each team is managed and funded separately.
See also
In Spanish: Albirex Niigata para niños
