Albirex Niigata Singapore FC, abbreviated as Albirex Niigata (S), is a

Singapore Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, borde ...

an football club that plays in the

Singapore Premier League The Singapore Premier League, commonly abbreviated as SPL, officially known as the AIA Singapore Premier League for sponsorship reasons, is a men's professional football league sanctioned by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS), which ...

. The club is a satellite team of

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. From 2023, Albirex will be playing on the J1 League, coming back to the fi ...

of Japan.

History

Albirex Niigata Singapore, a satellite team of Japanese club

, joined the

S. League The Singapore Premier League, commonly abbreviated as SPL, officially known as the AIA Singapore Premier League for sponsorship reasons, is a men's professional football league sanctioned by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS), which re ...

in 2004. It was in that year the

Football Association of Singapore The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) is the governing body responsible for the administration of football in Singapore. Established in 1892 as the Singapore Football Association (SFA), it is the oldest football association in all of A ...

decided to invite foreign teams in the league in a bid to deal with poor attendance issues. For the first years of the club's participation in the league it has settled in the mid-table in the standings. In 2008, Daisuke Korenaga became chairman of the club who introduced reforms in the club in order to improve its standing in the league. Among these was to secure sponsorship from Japanese companies with presence in Singapore, with the club having as many as 50 sponsors and improved fan engagement by setting up a Cheer Dance School and an academy. The club then improved its league performance finishing 7th in the 2008 season, 3rd in the 2012 season and as champions in the 2016 season. The club did not lose a match in their 2018 season.

Squad registration rule

Albirex Niigata Singapore has a different squad registration rule compared to the other team. Below are the rule for squad registration for the season 2021: * Albirex are required to have a squad size of at least 18 players, with a maximum of 25. * Albirex are required to register at least four U-23 players (born on or after 1 January 1998) of Singaporean nationality for a squad size of up to 23 players; this increases to five for a squad of 24 or 25 players. At least two players of Singaporean nationality have to be fielded throughout the entire first half of any match. * A maximum of two players of Singaporean nationality, without age restrictions, can be registered. * Albirex are required to register at least eight U-21 players (born on or after 1 January 2000) of Japanese nationality for a squad size of up to 24 players; this increases to nine for a squad of 25. * minimum of eight U-23 players (born on or after 1 January 1998) of Japanese nationality is also required for a squad of between 23 to 25 players. * A maximum of one player of Japanese nationality, without age restrictions, can be registered.

Affiliated clubs

The following clubs are affiliated with Albirex Niigata FC (Singapore): * Albirex Niigata Singapore Ladies (Women's Premier League) *

(

J1 League The , known as the for sponsorship reasons, is the top level of the system. Founded in 1992, it is one of the most successful leagues in Asian club football. Contested by 18 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the ...

) * Albirex Niigata Ladies (

WE League The , officially the , also known as the for sponsorship reasons, is the top flight of women's association football in Japan, starting from the 2021–22 season. It is the first fully-professional women's soccer league in Japan. History On 3 J ...

) * Japan Soccer College ( Hokushinetsu Football League) * Albirex Niigata Barcelona ( Quarta Catalana)

Players

Men's team

Women's team

:* Head coach: Nahar Daud :* GK coach: Quek Jun Ming Bryan :* Team manager: Tyrus Soo :* Team manager assistants: Koh Mui Tee; Dominic Wong :* Sport trainer: Nithiya R. :* Sport trainer assistants: She Xin Yu; Palma Julia Nicole Mallabo

Former players

This section contains a list of former players who have either played 100 league games for the club, gone on to represent their nation, or played in the JLeague at any level. * Issey Nakajima-Farran (2004–2006) * Arata Izumi (2005) * Yoshitaka Komori (2009) *

Akira Takase is a Japanese footballer who plays for ReinMeer Aomori is a Japanese football club based in Aomori, the capital city of Aomori Prefecture. They play in the Japan Football League. Their team colour is blue. History Founded in 1995, ReinM ...

(2007–2009) * Taisuke Akiyoshi (2008–2009) *

Ryota Kobayashi is a Japanese football player for Grulla Morioka is a Japanese association football club based in Morioka, Iwate. It played in the inaugural season of J3 League in 2014 after winning the Tohoku Soccer League, one of the Japanese Regional Le ...

(2008–2009) * Takasuke Goto (2009) * Shota Matsuoka (2009–2010) *

Atsushi Shimono is a Japanese football player. He has played for Albirex Niigata Singapore FC, Woodlands Wellington and Hougang United FC in the S.League, primarily as a defensive midfielder. He can also operate effectively as a deep-lying playmaker. Shimono i ...

(2009–2012) *

Bruno Suzuki Bruno Junichi Suzuki Castanheira, commonly referred to as Bruno Suzuki (鈴木ブルーノ) or Bruno Castanheira (born 20 May 1990), is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Malaysia Super League club PDRM. Born in Brazil, Castanheira was rai ...

(2010–2011) *

Shuhei Hotta is a Japanese football player currently playing for Nara Club. Career He previously played for Consadole Sapporo and Kashiwa Reysol. Club stats ''Updated to 30 November 2018''.Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出� ...

(2011–2014) *

Toshikazu Soya is a Japanese football player. He plays for MIO Biwako Shiga. Playing career Toshikazu Soya joined to Albirex Niigata Singapore in 2012. In September, he moved to Grulla Morioka and played to 2015. In 2016, he moved to Saurcos Fukui, then he ...

(2012) *

Masahiro Ishikawa is a former Japanese football player. Career He is naturally a full back, but was utilised mainly as a centre back when playing for Albirex Niigata Singapore in the S.League, due to injuries suffered by Yuki Ichikawa at the beginning of th ...

(2013) *

Kento Nagasaki is a Japanese footballer. He is a midfielder who currently plays for Nongbua Pitchaya in Thai League 2. Kento has spent most of his playing career playing for clubs in Singapore and Thailand. Club career Kento studied at and played for Shiz ...

(2013–2017) *

Atsushi Kawata is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward for club Sagan Tosu. During his time at Albirex Niigata (S), Kawata led the White Swans to being the first club in Singapore football history to achieve all the unprecedented sweep ...

(2015–2016) *

Yōsuke Nozawa is a Japanese retired football player. Playing career Nozawa was born in Shizuoka on November 9, 1979. He joined J1 League club Shimizu S-Pulse from youth team in 1998. However he could not play at all in the match behind Masanori Sanada in 2 s ...

(2015–2018) * Shunkun Tani (2016) * Shuto Inaba (2016–2017) * Hiroyoshi Kamata (2016–2020) *

Takuya Akiyama is a Japanese footballer who plays as a defender for Osaka. Career Albirex Niigata (S) Akiyama joined Albirex Niigata S on 7 January 2017. He made his league debut against Tampines Rovers on 26 February 2017. Akiyama scored his first league ...

(2017) *

Tsubasa Sano is a Japanese footballer. He is a forward, who plays for Criacao Shinjuku from 2023. Personal life He was educated at and played for Shimizu Commercial High School & Juntendo University before moving to Singapore after his graduation in 20 ...

(2017) *

Yasutaka Yanagi is a Japanese footballer who plays as a centre-back for J2 League side, Fagiano Okayama. Early career He was educated at the Kashima Antlers Junior Youth team and played for Yachiyo High School and Senshu University before moving to Singapor ...

(2017) *

Wataru Murofushi is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for South Korean club Bucheon FC 1995. Mainly acting as a central midfielder, he can also play in more offensive or more defensive positions of the midfield. Club career Albirex ...

(2018) *

Kenta Kurishima is a Japanese professional footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Tokyo United. Club career Albirex Niigata Singapore Ishihara joined the White Swans for the 2020 Singapore Premier League season after completion of his University s ...

(2020) *

Kosuke Chiku is a Japanese footballer who plays as a midfielder for Gainare Tottori. Club career Having previously captained the University of Tsukuba football team, Chiku joined Singapore Premier League side Albirex Niigata Singapore ahead of the 2021 s ...

(2021) *

Takahiro Koga is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a goalkeeper for J3 League club, SC Sagamihara. Koga played a " sweeper-keeper" role because of his playing style and speed when rushing off his line to anticipate opponents, going out of the pe ...

(2021–2022) * Daichi Omori (2022) *

Ilhan Fandi Ilhan bin Fandi Ahmad (born 8 November 2002), more commonly known as Ilhan Fandi or mononymously as Ilhan, is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays as a midfielder or forward for Belgian First Division B club Deinze and the Singapore ...

(2022)

Managers

Bogdan Brasoveanu Bogdan or Bohdan (Cyrillic: Богдан) is a Slavic masculine name that appears in all Slavic countries as well as Romania and Moldova. It is derived from the Slavic words ''Bog/Boh'' (Cyrillic: Бог), meaning " god", and ''dan'' (Cyrillic: ...

(2004–2010) * Koh Mui Tee (2011–) * Yeo Junxian (2014–2015) * Koh Mui Tee (2016–)

Head coaches

Hiroshi Ohashi is a former Japanese football player and manager. He managed Japan women's national team. Coaching career Ohashi was born in Iga on October 27, 1959. After graduating from Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences, he became coach for yout ...

(2004) *

Otsuka Ichiro is a Japanese former footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rule ...

(2005–2006) * Hiroaki Hiraoka (2007–2008) *

Naoki Naruo is a former Japanese Association football, football player and manager. Playing career Naruo was born in Iwaizumi, Iwate on October 5, 1974. After graduating from Iwate University, he joined Japan Football League (1992–98), Japan Football Lea ...

(2009) * Koichi Sugiyama (2010–2013) * Tatsuyuki Okuyama (2014–2015) *

(2016) *

Kazuaki Yoshinaga Kazuaki Yoshinaga (吉永一明, ''Yoshinaga Kazuaki'', born March 17, 1968, in Fukuoka, Japan) is a Japanese coach. He is the current head coach at Albirex Niigata. Coaching career Yoshinaga was a coach for the main team at Ventforet Kofu in ...

(2017–2018) * Keiji Shigetomi (2019–2021) *

(2022–)

Team staff

Honours

League

: 5 ** 2016,

2017 File:2017 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The War Against ISIS at the Battle of Mosul (2016-2017); aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing; The Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 ("Great American Eclipse"); North Korea tests a ser ...

2018 File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the United ...

2020 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global social and economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, worldwide lockdowns and the largest economic recession since the Great Depression in ...

2022 File:2022 collage V1.png, Clockwise, from top left: Road junction at Yamato-Saidaiji Station several hours after the assassination of Shinzo Abe; Anti-government protest in Sri Lanka in front of the Presidential Secretariat; The global monkeyp ...

Cup

* Singapore Cup: 4 **

2015 File:2015 Events Collage new.png, From top left, clockwise: Civil service in remembrance of November 2015 Paris attacks; Germanwings Flight 9525 was purposely crashed into the French Alps; the rubble of residences in Kathmandu following the April ...

, 2016,

* Singapore League Cup: 4 ** 2011,

, 2016,

* Singapore Community Shield: 3 ** 2016,

References

External links

Albirex Niigata Singapore website

S.League website page on Albirex Niigata Singapore
{{Albirex Group Foreign teams in Singapore football leagues Expatriated football clubs Association football clubs established in 2004 Albirex Niigata 2004 establishments in Singapore Singapore Premier League clubs

History

Squad registration rule

Affiliated clubs

Sponsors

Players

Men's team

Women's team

Former players

Managers

Head coaches

Team staff

Honours

League

Cup

References

External links