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, bor ...

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly ...

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 r ...

. 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 f ...

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the n ...

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 r ...

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 Albirex Niigata Ladies is a women's football club based in Niigata and affiliated with Albirex Niigata, founded in 2002. The team currently plays in the WE League, the highest division of women's football in Japan. Kits Kit suppliers and sh ...

( WE League) *

Japan Soccer College is a Japanese Association football, football academy from Kitakanbara District, Niigata, Kitakanbara, Niigata Prefecture, Niigata. Its main football team is currently playing in the Hokushinetsu Football League's 1st Division and has played in t ...

(

Hokushinetsu Football League is the Japanese fifth tier of league football, which is part of the Japanese Regional Leagues are a group of parallel association football leagues in Japan that are organized on the regional basis. They form the fifth tier of the Japanese a ...

) * 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 is a Japanese-born Indian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He is currently a youth coach with the Reliance Foundation Young Champs. Izumi began his professional career in Singapore with Albirex Niigata Singapore and ...

(2005) *

Yoshitaka Komori is a professional footballer who currently plays for Taiwanese team Taichung Futuro F.C. Born in Japan, he represents the Chinese Taipei national football team The Chinese Taipei national football team represents Taiwan (the Republic of Chi ...

(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, ReinMee ...

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

Takasuke Goto is a Japanese former footballer and beach soccer Beach soccer, also known as beach football, sand football or beasal, is a variant of association football played on a beach or some form of sand. Whilst football has been played informally on b ...

(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. Sh ...

(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 (2011–2014) * Toshikazu Soya (2012) * Masahiro Ishikawa (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 Sh ...

(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 (2015–2018) *

Shunkun Tani is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a goalkeeper for Azul Claro Numazu. Career In August 2019, Tani joined Taiwanese team Taichung Futuro F.C. on a short-term loan. On 14 December 2022, Tani announcement officially transfer to J3 c ...

(2016) *

Shuto Inaba is a Japanese football player. He is a midfielder currently playing for Blaublitz Akita. Personal life He graduated with first-class honours in Sports Science from Fukuoka University. Career Singapore He signed for Albirex Niigata FC (Singa ...

(2016–2017) * Hiroyoshi Kamata (2016–2020) * Takuya Akiyama (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 Singap ...

(2017) * Wataru Murofushi (2018) * Kenta Kurishima (2020) * Kosuke Chiku (2021) * Takahiro Koga (2021–2022) *

Daichi Omori is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a defender for J3 League club, Kataller Toyama. Club career Albirex Singapore (S) He won the 2022 Singapore Premier League with the team. Kataller Toyama He returned to his native Japan af ...

(2022) * Ilhan Fandi (2022)

Managers

* Bogdan Brasoveanu (2004–2010) * Koh Mui Tee (2011–) *

Yeo Junxian Yeo is a Chinese, English, and Korean surname. Origins As an English surname, Yeo is a toponymic surname meaning "river", either for people who lived near one of the Rivers Yeo, or any river in general. The word comes from Old English , via so ...

(2014–2015) * Koh Mui Tee (2016–)

Head coaches

* Hiroshi Ohashi (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 ru ...

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

Naoki Naruo is a former Japanese 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 (JFL) club Montedio Yamagata in 1997. He played many ...

(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 i ...

(2017–2018) *

Keiji Shigetomi is a Japanese football manager, currently the Assistant Coach at Singapore Premier League side Albirex Niigata Singapore. Career Shigetomi was appointed manager of Albirex Niigata Singapore for the 2019 season, following spells as a coach wit ...

(2019–2021) *

(2022–)

Team staff

Honours

League

: 5 **

2016 File:2016 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Bombed-out buildings in Ankara following the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt; the Impeachment of Dilma Rousseff, impeachment trial of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff; Damaged houses duri ...

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 s ...

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 t ...

, 2022

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 ...

* Singapore League Cup: 4 **

2011 File:2011 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: a protester partaking in Occupy Wall Street heralds the beginning of the Occupy movement; protests against Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, who was killed that October; a young man celebrates ...

Singapore Community Shield The Singapore Community Shield (also known as the AIA Community Shield due to sponsorship reasons; formerly the Charity Shield) is the curtain-raiser to the football season in Singapore. The match is contested between the champions of the previou ...

: 3 **

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