Albirex Niigata


Albirex Niigata is a professional football club based in Niigata, Japan. Formed in 1955 as Niigata Eleven SC, it was renamed Albireo Niigata FC in 1995, and Albirex Niigata in 1997. They currently compete in the J1 League after earning promotion from the J2 League as champions in 2022. However, after four years, in the upcoming season, they will return to the J2 League, the second tier of football in the country, following their relegation from the J1 League in the 2025 season.
WWW albirex.co.jp𝕏 albirex_prFB AlbirexNiigataTikTok albirex_officialIG albirex_niigata_official

History

For many years it had been a local autonomous amateur club, Niigata 11, that could never hope to see the light of day in an old Japan Soccer League dominated almost entirely by company teams. The creation of the J. League spurred the club to rise, and in the 1990s it began climbing fast through the divisions.
In 1998, Albirex Niigata joined the Japan Football League, and was merged into the J2 League after its creation in 1999. The team gradually became competitive and in 2001 and 2002 it came close to getting promoted to J1 and in 2003, it became the champion of J2 and finally joined the top flight.

Name changed

The team name is made from combining the star Albireo of the constellation Cygnus and the Latin word Rex meaning 'king'. In 1997, due to copyright issues, the team name was changed from Albireo Niigata to the current Albirex Niigata.

Team name transition

  • Niigata Eleven SC
  • Albireo Niigata FC
  • Albirex Niigata

Home stadium

Joining the J. League in 1999, its hometowns are Niigata and Seiro. Until 2003, it used Niigata Perfectural Sport Ground as the home ground but since 2004, the team began using Niigata Stadium Big Swan as well and now plays most of its games there. In 2003, it set a record for highest attendance in the J. League with the cumulative total of around 660,000. Its practice grounds are Albirex's training facilities in Seiro Albillage and the Ijimino Sports Park in Shibata.
The club plays its home games in the Niigata Stadium "Big Swan", which is currently called Denka Big Swan Stadium through a sponsorship deal. The stadium was opened in 2001 and has a capacity of 42,300. Prior to this the club had played its matches in the Niigata City Athletic Stadium constructed in 1938 with a capacity of 18,000.
The stadium was the site of two first round matches and one Round of 16 match in the past 2002 FIFA World Cup. It was also the venue for the 2009 National Sports Festival.

Club officials

PositionName
Manager

Managerial history

Correct as of 23 October 2022

League & cup record

;Key

Kit and colours

Colours

Orange represents the sunset of Niigata, and blue represents the Sea of Japan.

Affiliated clubs

Since 2004, Albirex Niigata has selected a number of players for its satellite team in the Singapore Premier League. Albirex also has a women's team and joined L2 league in 2004. Albirex Ladies won the L2 title in 2006, and went on to join L1 in 2007.

Currently affiliated clubs

Formerly affiliated club

In addition to the J1 Albirex Niigata football team, there is a Niigata Albirex basketball club in the B.League, as well as a ski, snowboard, baseball, and track and field team. Even though the teams share the same name, the management and finances are completely separate for each team.