Gamba Osaka

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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.

Full nameGamba Osaka
NicknameNerazzurri (Black-and-Blues)
Founded1980; 46 years ago (1980) as Matsushita Electric SC
Quick facts Full name, Nickname ...
Gamba Osaka
ガンバ大阪
Full nameGamba Osaka
NicknameNerazzurri (Black-and-Blues)
Founded1980; 46 years ago (1980) as Matsushita Electric SC
StadiumPanasonic Stadium Suita
Capacity39,694
Owner(s)Panasonic (70%)
The Kansai Electric Power Company (10%)
Osaka Gas (10%)
JR West (10%)
ChairmanTakashi Yamauchi
ManagerJens Wissing
LeagueJ1 League
2025J1 League, 9th of 20
Websitegamba-osaka.net
Current season
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Gamba is among the most accomplished Japanese clubs, having won 2 J1 League titles, 1 J2 League title, 5 Emperor's Cup, 2 J.League Cup and 2 Japanese Super Cup. Continentally, they have won the 2008 AFC Champions League. Internationally, the club has made a single appearance in the FIFA Club World Cup with their most recent appearance being in the 2008 edition finishing in third place.

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.[1] 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"[a]) of the first J.League season.[1] 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 title 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 Osaka defeated a valiant Kawasaki Frontale 4–2, while victory was snatched from Cerezo Osaka by a last-minute FC Tokyo equalizer.[2] In an AFC Champions League match in 2006, Gamba defeated Vietnamese side Đà Nẵng in a record-equaling victory of 15–0.[3] In the 2008 Pan-Pacific Championship final, Gamba 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).[4] 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.[5]

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

Asian champions

In October 2008, Gamba Osaka 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).[6]

In December 2008, Gamba Osaka 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.[7]

Yasuhito Endō is the club most successful player and J1 League highest number of appearances at 790.

In December 2012, Gamba Osaka were relegated from J1 League after losing 2–1 to Júbilo Iwata. Gamba Osaka 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.[8]

J2 League champions and domestic treble

However, the club bounced back in the 2013 season, becoming the J2 League title champion and directly promoting to Division 1 again after only one season.[9]

In 2014, Gamba Osaka won the J1 League 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 in 2014, Gamba Osaka 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.[10]

In 2015 saw Gamba Osaka 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 places, 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.[11] Gamba Osaka successfully defended their status as the 2015 Emperor's Cup winners, defeating Urawa Red Diamonds 2–1.[12]\

In 2020, Gamba Osaka 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 Osaka 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 Osaka 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.

AFC Champions League Two final

In the 2024 season, Gamba Osaka finished in fourth in the league which sees the club qualified to the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two group stage being drawn in Group F alongside Vietnamese club Nam Định, Thailand club Ratchaburi and Hong Kong club Eastern. On their return to continental tournament, Gamba Osaka won 3–1 against Hong Kong club Eastern on 17 September 2025. Gamba Osaka then qualified to the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two round of 16 as group leaders facing against Korean side Pohang Steelers in which Gamba Osaka won 3–2 on aggregate thus qualifying to the quarter-finals where they would face Ratchaburi. In the quarter-finals, Gamba Osaka went on to win 3–2 on aggregate thus seeing them advance to the semi-finals. Gamba Osaka went on to win 3–1 on aggregate in the semi-finals against Thailand club Bangkok United to book their spot in the AFC Champions League Two final.

Team image

Name origin

The club's name Gamba comes from the Japanese ganbaru (頑張る), meaning "to do your best" or "to stand firm".

In the Captain Tsubasa manga series, two characters are from Gamba Osaka: the defender Makoto Soda and the forward Takashi Sugimoto.

Rivalries

Osaka derby

Gamba's fiercest rival are fellow locals Cerezo Osaka with whom they contest the Osaka derby.[13] Also have a heavy rivalry with Saitama's Urawa Red Diamonds, which they make the "National Derby" of Japan.

Stadium

A panoramic view of Suita City Football Stadium

Gamba Osaka used the Expo '70 Commemorative Stadium in the Expo Commemoration Park as its home stadium from 1980 through 2015, which seats around 21,000.

Gamba Osaka then began construction of a new modern stadium only meant for football in December 2013 called Suita City Football Stadium in the same park, with a seating capacity of 39,694.[14] The new stadium then opened in October 2015 and had its inaugural official match during the Panasonic Cup on 14 February 2016, an exhibition match during which Gamba Osaka hosted fellow J1 League club Nagoya Grampus.[15]

Suita City Football Stadium also make its debut in the EA Sports video game, FIFA 17 becoming the first Japanese club to feature its own stadium in a video game up until FIFA 22.[16]

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

Sponsors

More information Period, Kit manufacturer ...
Period Kit manufacturer Main sponsors
1981 Japan Asics No sponsors
1982–1984 England Admiral
1984–1990 Japan Asics Japan Matsushita Electric
1991–1992 Germany Adidas Japan Panasonic
1993–1996 Japan Mizuno
1997–1998 Germany Adidas
1999–2002 France Le Coq Sportif
2003–2022 England Umbro
2023–present Denmark Hummel
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Kit evolution

More information FP 1st ...
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More information FP 2nd ...
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More information FP Other ...
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Affiliated clubs

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.

Players

First-team squad

As of 9 April 2026.[19]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

More information No., Pos. ...
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Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

More information No., Pos. ...
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Management and staff

More information Position, Name ...
Position Name
ManagerGermany Jens Wissing
CoachJapan Yasuhito Endō
Japan Shota Uemura
Japan Kazumichi Takagi
Goalkeeper coachJapan Motohiro Yoshida
Physical coachJapan Koichiro Yoshimichi
AnalystJapan Kento Nashimoto
Assistant coach and interpreterJapan Takanori Okai
DoctorJapan Yusuke Enomoto
PhysiotherapistJapan Yuta Tanaka
Japan Yuki Nakamura
Trainer and physiotherapistJapan Ryosuke Kaji
TrainerJapan Satoshi Ikeguchi
Japan Shotaro Shinba
InterpreterJapan Masaki Kimura
Japan Kazushi Shimizu
Japan Yu Ono
Side manager and competentJapan Atsushi Hashimoto
Side manager and side affairsJapan Junji Yamashita
Japan Shunsuke Hitomi
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Honours

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

More information Type, Honours ...
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Bold is for those competition that are currently active.

Records and statistics

As of 18 March 2026.

More information Rank, Player ...
Top 10 all-time appearances
Rank Player Years Club appearance
1 Japan Yasuhito Endō 2001–2021 790
2 Japan Takahiro Futagawa 1999–2016 599
3 Japan Shu Kurata 2007–present 572
4 Japan Satoshi Yamaguchi 2001–2011 444
5 Japan Hideo Hashimoto 1998–2011 424
6 Japan Hiroki Fujiharu 2011−2024 418
7 Japan Masaaki Higashiguchi 2014–present 415
8 Japan Takashi Usami 2009–2016,

2019–present

415
9 Japan Yōsuke Fujigaya 2005–2013,

2015–2017

366
10 Japan Tomokazu Myojin 2006–2015 361
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More information Rank, Player ...
Top 10 all-time goalscorer
Rank Player Club appearance Total goals
1 Japan Takashi Usami 415 140
2 Japan Yasuhito Endō 790 125
3 Brazil Patric 242 85
4 Japan Shu Kurata 572 73
5 Japan Masanobu Matsunami 354 67
Japan Takahiro Futagawa 599
7 Japan Masashi Oguro 140 64
8 Brazil Magno Alves 75 52
9 Brazil Magrão 81 51
10 Brazil Leandro Montera 69 50
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Top scorers by season

Award winners

As of the end of the 2025 season.


Domestic

International

FIFA World Cup players

The following players have been selected by their country in the FIFA 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.[20]

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)
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

Managerial history

[21][22]

More information Name, Period ...
Name Period Honours Notes
Japan Yoji Mizuguchi 1980–1991 Emperor's Cup: 1990
Japan Kunishige Kamamoto 1991–1994 The competition formed as the J.League in 1993.
Germany Sigfried Held 1995
Croatia Josip Kuže 1995–1997
Austria Friedrich Koncilia 1997–1998
France Frédéric Antonetti 1998–1999 J.League Division 2 was launched in 1999.
Japan Hiroshi Hayano 1999–2001
Japan Kazuhiko Takemoto 2001
Japan Akira Nishino 2002–2012 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
Brazil José Carlos Serrão 2012
Japan Masanobu Matsunami 2012 Gamba was relegated to the J.League Division 2 2013.
Japan Kenta Hasegawa 2013–2017 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. Asst Coach Asaph S.D
J3 League was launched in 2014.
Brazil Levir Culpi 2018
Japan Tsuneyasu Miyamoto 2018–2021
Japan Tomohiro Katanosaka 2022
Japan Hiroshi Matsuda 2022
Spain Dani Poyatos 2023–2025
Germany Jens Wissing 2026–present
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Season by season record

Champions Runners-up Third place Promoted Relegated
More information Season, Div. ...
SeasonDiv.TeamsPos.PW(OTW/PKW)DL(OTL/PKL)FAGDPtsAttendanceJ.League CupEmperor's CupAFC CLEFIFA CWC
1992 Group stageQuarter finalDid not qualifyDid not qualify
1993 J1107th3616205165−1421,571Semi-final2nd round
1994 1210th4415296682−1622,367Semi-final
1995 1414th521831 (0/3)87107−205713,310
1996 1612th301119385921338,004Group stage
1997 174th3218 (2/0)11 (1/0)664620588,443
1998 1815th347 (4/1)20 (1/1)4761−14308,7233rd round
1999 1611th309 (2)116 (2)3646−10327,9962nd roundRound of 16
2000 166th3013 (2)210 (3)47434459,794Semi-final
2001 167th3012 (2)210 (4)504824211,723Quarter final
2002 163rd3015 (4)1105932275412,762Semi-finalRound of 16
2003 1610th3010911504643910,222Quarter final
2004 163rd3015696948215112,517Semi-final
2005 181st34186108258246015,966Runners-up
2006 183rd3420688048326616,259Quarter finalRunners-upGroup stage
2007 1834191057137346717,439WinnersSemi-finalDid not qualify
2008 188th34148124649−35016,128Semi-finalWinnersWinners3rd Place
2009 183rd34186106244186017,712Quarter finalWinnersRound of 16Did not qualify
2010 182nd3418886544216216,654Semi-finalRound of 16
2011 183rd3421767851277016,411Semi-final3rd roundRound of 16
2012 1817th3491114676523814,778Quarter finalRunners-upGroup stage
2013 J2221st42251259946538712,286Not eligible3rd roundDid not qualify
2014 J1181st3419695931286314,749WinnersWinners
20152nd3418975637196315,999Runners-upWinnersSemi-final
20164th34177105342115825,342Runners-upQuarter finalGroup stage
201710th34111013484174324,277Semi-finalQuarter finalGroup stage
20189th34146144146−54823,485Quarter final2nd roundDid not qualify
20197th34121111544864727,708Semi-final3rd round
2020 2nd34205946424657,597Group stageRunners-up
2021 2013th38128183349−16445,345Group stageQuarter finalGroup stage
2022 1815th34910153344−113717,669Group stageRound of 16Did not qualify
202316th3497183861−233423,273Quarter-finals2nd round
2024 204th38181284935146626,0962nd roundRunners-up
20259th38176155355-25729,9233rd round3rd round
2026 10TBD18N/AN/A
2026-27 20TBD38TBDTBD
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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

Continental record

List of clubs that Gamba Osaka has faced outside of Japan in an official match.

More information Opponent, Season ...
OpponentSeasonHomeAway
Australia Adelaide United2008 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 Victory2008 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 Shide2006 AFC Champions League Group Stage 3–0 0–2
China Shandong Taishan2009 AFC Champions League Group Stage 3–0 1–0
China Henan Jianye2010 AFC Champions League Group Stage 1–1 1–1
China Tianjin Teda2011 AFC Champions League Group Stage 2–0 1–2
China Guangzhou R&F2015 AFC Champions League Group Stage 0–2 5–0
China Guangzhou Evergrande2015 AFC Champions League Semi-finals 0–0 1–2
China Shanghai Port2016 AFC Champions League Group Stage 0–2 1–2
China Jiangsu Suning2017 AFC Champions League Group Stage 0–1 0–3
England Manchester UnitedJapan 2008 FIFA Club World Cup Semi-finals 3–5
Hong Kong Eastern2025–26 AFC Champions League Two Group Stage 3–1 5–0
Indonesia Sriwijaya2009 AFC Champions League Group Stage 5–0 3–0
Japan Urawa Red Diamonds2008 AFC Champions League Semi-finals 1–1 3–1
Japan Kawasaki Frontale2009 AFC Champions League Round of 16 2–3 N.A.
Japan Cerezo Osaka2011 AFC Champions League Round of 16 0–1 N.A.
South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors2006 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[b] 1–2[b]
South Korea Jeonnam Dragons2008 AFC Champions League Group Stage 1–1 4–3
South Korea FC Seoul2009 AFC Champions League Group Stage 1–2 4–2
2015 AFC Champions League Round of 16 3–2 3–1
South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings2010 AFC Champions League Group Stage 2–1 0–0
2016 AFC Champions League Group Stage 1–2 0–0
South Korea Seongnam2010 AFC Champions League Round of 16 N.A. 0–3
2015 AFC Champions League Group Stage 2–1 0–2
South Korea Jeju United2011 AFC Champions League Group Stage 3–1 1–2
2017 AFC Champions League Group Stage 1–4 0–2
South Korea Pohang Steelers2012 AFC Champions League Group Stage 0–3 0–2
Malaysia Johor Darul Ta'zim2017 AFC Champions League Play-off 3–0 N.A.
Mexico PachucaJapan 2008 FIFA Club World Cup Third place 1–0
Singapore Warriors2010 AFC Champions League Group Stage 3–0 4–2
Singapore Tampines Rovers2021 AFC Champions League Group Stage 8–1[b] 2–0[b]
Syria Al-Karamah2008 AFC Champions League Quarter-finals 2–0 2–1
Thailand Chonburi2008 AFC Champions League Group Stage 1–1 2–0
Thailand Buriram United2015 AFC Champions League Group Stage 1–1 2–1
Thailand Chiangrai United2021 AFC Champions League Group Stage 1–1[b] 1–1[b]
Thailand Ratchaburi2025–26 AFC Champions League Two Group Stage 2–0 2–0
Uzbekistan Bunyodkor2012 AFC Champions League Group Stage 3–1 2–3
Vietnam SHB Đà Nẵng2006 AFC Champions League Group Stage 15–0 5–1
Vietnam Nam Định2025–26 AFC Champions League Two Group Stage 3–1 1–0
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Notes

References

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