Urawa Red Diamonds facts for kids
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| Full name | Urawa Red Diamonds | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Reds (レッズ, Rezzu) Red Devils (赤い悪魔, Akai Akuma) |
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| Founded | 1950 as Mitsubishi Motors FC | |||
| Stadium | Saitama Stadium 2002 Saitama, Japan |
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| Stadium capacity |
63,700 | |||
| Owner | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries | |||
| Chairman | Makoto Taguchi | |||
| Manager | Maciej Skorża | |||
| League | J1 League | |||
| 2022 | J1 League, 9th of 18 | |||
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The Urawa Red Diamonds, often called Urawa Reds, is a professional football club. They are based in Saitama, Japan, which is near Tokyo. The team plays in the J1 League, Japan's top football league.
Urawa Reds is one of Japan's most successful clubs. They have won the AFC Champions League three times, most recently in 2022. They also hold a record for winning the Emperor's Cup eight times. The club has also played in the FIFA Club World Cup three times.
The club's name comes from the old city of Urawa. It also comes from their original company, Mitsubishi. Mitsubishi's logo has three red diamonds, and one of these diamonds is still on the club's badge today.
Contents
Club History and Achievements
Early Years of the Club
The football club started in 1950 by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Kobe. In 1958, the club moved to Tokyo. In 1965, they helped form the Japan Soccer League (JSL). They were one of the "Original Eight" teams in this league.
Mitsubishi won their first JSL championship in 1969. They had some ups and downs, even falling to the Second Division. But in 1990, they were promoted back to the top. This meant they were ready when the J.League started in 1993. Urawa Red Diamonds was one of the "Original Ten" teams in the new J.League.
Winning Multiple Titles
In 1978, Mitsubishi became the first Japanese club to win a "domestic treble." This means they won three major titles in one year: the league championship, the Emperor's Cup, and the Japan Soccer League Cup.
The club's name changed to "Mitsubishi Urawa Football Club" in 1992. Their nickname was "Red Diamonds." Then, in 1996, the name officially became "Urawa Red Diamonds."
After the J-League started, the team had mixed results. They finished last in their first two seasons. In 1999, they were even relegated to the second division again. However, their performance improved. They won the Nabisco Cup in 2003.
In 2006, Urawa Reds won their first professional league title. They beat Gamba Osaka 3–2 in front of 63,000 fans. This win came after two close calls in previous years. In 2005, they finished second, just one point behind Gamba Osaka. In 2004, they lost the J.League Championship final in a penalty shootout.
Back-to-Back Cup Wins
Urawa Reds won the Emperor's Cup two years in a row, in 2005 and 2006. They beat Shimizu S-Pulse 2–1 in 2006. They kept the title in 2007 by beating Gamba Osaka 1–0. This also meant they won both the league and the cup in 2006.
In 2007, Urawa Reds were close to winning the league again. They had a big lead but only got two points from their last four games. Kashima Antlers then won the title on the final day.
AFC Champions League Success
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Urawa Reds won their first major Asian title in 2007. They beat Sepahan from Iran 3–1 over two games to win the 2007 AFC Champions League. They were the first Japanese team to win this cup since it was reorganized in 2003. Later that year, in the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup, Urawa Reds finished third. They were the first Asian club to do so.
In 2008, Urawa Reds tried to win the AFC Champions League again. They reached the semi-finals but lost to fellow Japanese club Gamba Osaka.
Urawa Reds had another great run in the 2017 AFC Champions League. They reached the final and beat Al-Hilal from Saudi Arabia 2–1 to win their second trophy.
They faced Al-Hilal again in the 2019 AFC Champions League final. However, Urawa Reds lost this time, 3–0 overall.
In the 2022 AFC Champions League, Urawa Reds had a strong path to the final. They beat teams from Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. In the semi-finals, they won a penalty shootout against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors from Korea. In the final, they played Al-Hilal for the third time. Urawa Reds won 2–1, earning their third Champions League title.
In 2023, the JFA announced that Urawa Reds would not play in the 2024 Emperor's Cup. This decision followed an incident involving supporters after a match in the 2023 tournament.
Club Connections and Friendships
International Connections
Many famous players have played for Urawa Reds. For example, Shinji Ono, a midfielder for Feyenoord, started his career here. He also returned to the club in 2006.
Urawa Reds has a special connection with German club Bayern Munich. Both clubs are nicknamed "The Reds." Bayern Munich's chairman said they wanted to connect with a strong and stable club like Urawa Reds. Other famous clubs like Arsenal and Manchester United have also played friendly games against Urawa Reds in Japan.
In 2004, Urawa Reds played in a friendly tournament in England. They lost their first match to Boca Juniors. Their second game against Manchester United was canceled because of a big electric storm.
Home Stadium and Facilities
Saitama Stadium 2002
When the J.League started in 1992, Urawa Reds used the Urawa Komaba Stadium as their home. As the team became more popular, Saitama City expanded the stadium. During renovations, the club used Ōmiya Park Soccer Stadium. Even when the team wasn't doing well, fans still filled the stadium.
In 2001, Saitama Prefecture built a new football-specific stadium called Saitama Stadium. This stadium was used for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. After the World Cup, Urawa Reds started playing more games there. By 2003, it became their official home stadium.
Training Facilities
Urawa Reds trains at Ohara City Field. In 2005, the club also opened Redsland. This facility has three grass fields, one artificial turf field, a baseball field, futsal courts, and tennis courts. Redsland is open to the public, and club members can use the facilities for a small fee.
Club Identity and Culture
Supporters and Community
Urawa Red Diamonds has a very passionate fan base. However, some groups of supporters have caused problems in the past. The club has faced penalties for their behavior. For example, in 2014, a banner was displayed that caused a league match to be played without any fans. The club has worked to address these issues and promote positive fan behavior.
In 2023, after a cup loss, some supporters entered the field. This led to the club being banned from the 2024 Emperor's Cup. The club is working to ensure all fans can enjoy matches safely.
Rivalries with Other Teams
Saitama Derby
Urawa Red Diamonds has a local rivalry with Omiya Ardija. Both teams are from Saitama City. They first played each other in 1987. The rivalry became a top-tier league match in 2005 when Omiya was promoted.
Marunouchi Big Three
In the past, Urawa's main rivals were JEF United Chiba and Kashiwa Reysol. These three clubs were known as the Marunouchi Gosanke (Marunouchi Big Three). This was because their former parent companies were all based in a part of Tokyo called Marunouchi. Matches between them were called Marunouchi derbies. This term is not used as much now because the clubs are in different areas.
Other Rivals
Urawa also has rivalries with other teams like Kashima Antlers, FC Tokyo, Yokohama Marinos, Kawasaki Frontale, and Gamba Osaka.
Friendships with Other Teams
Urawa Reds supporters have an unofficial friendship with fans of the Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua. Shanghai Shenhua is known as the "Blue Devils," which goes well with Urawa's "Red Devils" nickname. Fans of both clubs support each other in international competitions. For example, Shenhua fans might support Urawa Reds when they play against other Chinese teams. This friendship started in 2007 after a match in Shanghai.
Club Mascots
Urawa Red Diamonds has four mascots: Redia, Friendia, Schale, and Diarra. Redia does not appear often at Saitama Stadium. This is because the club wants the stadium to be a place for serious competition. When Redia does appear, he does not join in fan activities. Because of this, fans sometimes jokingly call him a "NEET mascot."
Redia and Friendia got married at a fan festival in 1997. Their twin mascots, Schale and Diarra, were born in 2006. This was the year Urawa Red Diamonds won their first J.League Championship.
Women's Team
The club also has a women's football team. They are called Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies and play in the WE League.
Team Colors and Kits
Club Colors
The main colors of the Urawa Red Diamonds are red, black, and white.
Kit History
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| Alternative kit - 3rd | ||||
     Cup 1st |
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     vs Eintracht Frankfurt |
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Players and Staff
Current Team Squad
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Players on Loan
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Club Officials
These are the main staff for the 2024 J1 League season.
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Sporting director |  Hisashi Tsuchida |
| Manager |  Maciej Skorża |
| Coach | Rafal Janas Wojciech Makowski Nobuyasu Ikeda Masato Maesako |
| Physical coach | Tatsuru Ishiguri Wojciech Ignatiuk |
| Goalkeeper coach |  Juan Miret |
| Assistant goalkeeper coach | Tomoyasu Ando |
| Coach & analyst | Maiki Hayashi |
Club Honours and Awards
Urawa Red Diamonds has won many titles both as Mitsubishi Motors (when it was an amateur team) and as Urawa Red Diamonds (as a professional team).
| Honour | No. | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Japan Soccer League Division 1/J1 League | 5 | 1969, 1973, 1978, 1982, 2006 |
| Japan Soccer League Division 2 | 1 | 1989–90 |
| Emperor's Cup | 8 | 1971, 1973, 1978, 1980, 2005, 2006, 2018, 2021 |
| JSL Cup/J.League Cup | 4 | 1978, 1981, 2003, 2016 |
| Japanese Super Cup | 5 | 1979, 1980, 1983, 2006, 2022 |
| AFC Champions League Elite | 3 | 2007, 2017, 2022 |
| J.League Cup / Copa Sudamericana Championship | 1 | 2017 |
Individual Player Awards
World Cup Players
These players played for their country in the World Cup while they were playing for Urawa Red Diamonds:
- World Cup 2018
- Wataru Endo
- Tomoaki Makino
Andrew Nabbout
Club Captains
- Koichi Shitani 1992–1993
- Masahiro Fukuda 1994–1997
- Takashi Tsuchida 1998–1999
- Shinji Ono 2000–2001
- Masami Ihara 2001–2002
- Hideki Uchidate 2003
- Nobuhisa Yamada 2004–2008
- Keita Suzuki 2009–2011
- Yuki Abe 2012–2017
- Yōsuke Kashiwagi 2018–2019
- Shusaku Nishikawa 2020–2022
- Hiroki Sakai 2023–present
Former Players
International Players Who Played for Urawa Reds
Manager History
| Manager | Nationality | Tenure | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start | Finish | ||
| Hiroshi Ninomiya | Japan |
1 February 1967 | 31 January 1975 |
| Kenzo Yokoyama | Japan |
1 February 1975 | 31 January 1984 |
| Kuniya Daini | Japan |
1 February 1984 | 30 June 1989 |
| Kazuo Saito | Japan |
1 July 1989 | 30 June 1992 |
| Takaji Mori | Japan |
1 July 1993 | 31 January 1994 |
| Kenzo Yokoyama (2) | Japan |
1 February 1994 | 31 January 1995 |
| Holger Osieck |  Germany |
1 February 1995 | 31 December 1996 |
| Horst Köppel | Germany |
1 February 1997 | 31 December 1998 |
| Hiromi Hara | Japan |
1 February 1998 | 30 June 1999 |
| Aad de Mos |  Netherlands |
1 July 1999 | 3 December 1999 |
| Yasushi Yoshida | Japan |
4 December 1999 | 31 January 2000 |
| Kazuo Saito (2) | Japan |
2 February 2000 | 2 October 2000 |
| Kenzo Yokoyama (3) | Japan |
3 October 2000 | 31 January 2001 |
| Tita |  Brazil |
1 February 2001 | 27 August 2001 |
| Pita | Brazil |
28 August 2001 | 31 January 2001 |
| Hans Ooft | Netherlands |
1 February 2002 | 31 January 2004 |
| Guido Buchwald | Germany |
1 February 2004 | 31 January 2007 |
| Holger Osieck (2) | Germany |
1 February 2007 | 16 March 2008 |
| Gert Engels | Germany |
16 March 2008 | 27 November 2008 |
| Volker Finke | Germany |
1 February 2009 | 31 January 2011 |
| Željko Petrović |  Montenegro |
1 February 2011 | 20 October 2011 |
| Takafumi Hori (caretaker) | Japan |
20 October 2011 | 31 January 2012 |
| Mihailo Petrović |  Serbia |
1 February 2012 | 30 July 2017 |
| Takafumi Hori | Japan |
31 July 2017 | 2 April 2018 |
| Tsuyoshi Otsuki | Japan |
3 April 2018 | 24 April 2018 |
| Oswaldo de Oliveira | Brazil |
25 April 2018 | 28 May 2019 |
| Tsuyoshi Otsuki (2) | Japan |
29 May 2019 | 22 December 2020 |
| Ricardo Rodríguez | Spain |
22 December 2020 | 30 October 2022 |
| Maciej Skorża | Poland |
10 November 2022 | 30 December 2023 |
| Per-Mathias Høgmo |  Norway |
1 January 2024 | 27 August 2024 |
| Nobuyasu Ikeda (interim) | Japan |
27 August 2024 | 1 September 2024 |
| Maciej Skorża (2) | Poland |
1 September 2024 | Current |
League and Cup Performance
| Champions | Runners-up | Third place | Promoted | Relegated |
| Season | Div. | Teams | Pos. | Avg. Attd. | J.League Cup | Emperor's Cup | Super Cup | AFC CL | Others | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | – | – | – | – | Group stage | Semi-final | – | – | – | – |
| 1993 | J1 | 10 | 10th | 11,459 | Group stage | 2nd round | – | – | – | – |
| 1994 | 12 | 12th | 18,475 | 3rd round | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1995 | 14 | 4th | 19,560 | – | Quarter-final | – | – | – | – | |
| 1996 | 16 | 6th | 24,329 | Semi-final | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1997 | 17 | 10th | 20,504 | Round of 16 | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1998 | 18 | 6th | 22,706 | Group stage | Quarter-final | – | – | – | – | |
| 1999 | 16 | 15th | 21,206 | Round of 16 | – | – | – | – | ||
| 2000 | J2 | 11 | 2nd | 16,923 | Round of 16 | – | – | – | – | |
| 2001 | J1 | 16 | 10th | 26,720 | Quarter-final | Semi-final | – | – | – | – |
| 2002 | 16 | 11th | 26,296 | Runners-up | 3rd round | – | – | – | – | |
| 2003 | 16 | 6th | 28,855 | Winners | 3rd round | – | – | – | – | |
| 2004 | 16 | 2nd | 36,660 | Runners-up | Semi-final | – | – | – | – | |
| 2005 | 18 | 2nd | 39,357 | Semi-final | Winners | – | – | – | – | |
| 2006 | 18 | 1st | 45,573 | Quarter-final | Winners | Winners | – | – | – | |
| 2007 | 18 | 2nd | 46,667 | Quarter-final | Round of 16 | Runners-up | Winners | A3 | 3rd place | |
| FIFA CWC | 3rd place | |||||||||
| 2008 | 18 | 7th | 47,609 | Group stage | 5th round | – | Semi-finals | – | – | |
| 2009 | 18 | 6th | 44,210 | Quarter-final | 2nd round | – | – | – | – | |
| 2010 | 18 | 10th | 39,941 | Group stage | Quarter-final | – | – | – | – | |
| 2011 | 18 | 15th | 33,910 | Runners-up | Quarter-final | – | – | – | – | |
| 2012 | 18 | 3rd | 36,634 | Group stage | Round of 16 | – | – | – | – | |
| 2013 | 18 | 6th | 37,100 | Runners-up | 3rd round | – | Group stage | – | – | |
| 2014 | 18 | 2nd | 35,516 | Quarter-final | 3rd round | – | – | – | – | |
| 2015 | 18 | 3rd | 38,745 | Quarter-final | Runners-up | Runners-up | Group stage | – | – | |
| 2016 | 18 | 2nd | 36,935 | Winners | Round of 16 | – | Round of 16 | – | – | |
| 2017 | 18 | 7th | 33,542 | Quarter-final | Round of 16 | Runners-up | Winners | Suruga | Winners | |
| FIFA CWC | 5th place | |||||||||
| 2018 | 18 | 5th | 34,798 | Play-off stage | Winners | – | – | – | – | |
| 2019 | 18 | 14th | 34,184 | Quarter-final | Round of 16 | Runners-up | Runners-up | – | – | |
| 2020 † | 18 | 10th | 7,869 | Group stage | Did not qualify | – | – | – | – | |
| 2021 † | 20 | 6th | 8,244 | Semi-final | Winners | – | – | – | – | |
| 2022 | 18 | 9th | 23,617 | Semi-final | 3rd round | Winners | Winners | – | – | |
| 2023 | 18 | 4th | 30,509 | Runners-up | Round of 16 | – | Group stage | FIFA CWC | 4th Place | |
| 2024 | 20 | 13th | 37,519 | Group stage (3) | Banned | |||||
| 2025 | 20 | TBD | TBD | FIFA CWC | Group stage | |||||
- Key
- Attendance/G = Average home league attendance
- † 2020, 2021 seasons attendance reduced by COVID-19 worldwide pandemic
League History Overview
Urawa Reds has almost always played in Japan's top football league. This means they have spent more seasons in the top division than any other club.
- Mitsubishi (Amateur era)
- Urawa Red Diamonds (Professional era)
- Division 1 (J.League): 1993–99
- Division 2 (J.League Div.2): 2000
- Division 1 (J.League Div.1): 2001–
- Top scorer: Masahiro Fukuda with 152 goals
See also
In Spanish: Urawa Red Diamonds para niños
