Full name Omiya Ardija Chairman Shigeru Suzuki Arena/Stadium NACK5 Stadium Omiya League J1 League | Ground Capacity 15,500 2016 J1 League, 5th Founded 1969 | |
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Nickname(s) Risu (The Squirrels) กระรอกส้ม Owner Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Profiles | ||
Omiya Ardija (大宮アルディージャ, Ōmiya Arudīja) is a professional association football club which play in the J1 League, and are based in Ōmiya in Saitama, Japan. Its "hometown" as designated by the league is the whole of Saitama city, which is shared with neighbours Urawa Red Diamonds. Omiya currently compete in the J1 League following an immediate promotion in 2015 after being relegated in 2014. They competed in J1 2005 and continued to remain in J1 between 2005 and 2014, following promotion from J2 in 2004 as the second placed team.
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Their home field is Nack5 Stadium Ōmiya (Nack5スタジアム大宮, Nakku-faibu Sutajiamu Ōmiya): Ōmiya Park Soccer Stadium by the naming rights.
History
The team were founded in 1964 as NTT Saitama Soccer Selection in Urawa, Saitama and later known as the NTT Kantō Soccer Club in 1969. They were first promoted to the Japan Soccer League Second Division in 1987, and when the JSL folded, joined the former Japan Football League.
In 1998 it was separately incorporated as NTT Sport Community K.K. based in Ōmiya to participate in the J. League. The name "Ardija" is a transcription of the Spanish language ardilla (squirrel) which is the mascot of Ōmiya and the park in which their home stadium is located.
Their matches against Urawa Red Diamonds have been called the "Saitama Derby".
In 2005–2007 most of Omiya's home matches were held at Saitama Stadium 2002 and Urawa Komaba Stadium due to expansion works at their home ground. In October 2007 the expansion was complete. On November 11, the re-opening match was held as a J. League season match between the Ardija and Ōita Trinita (1–2).
Record as J. League member
Current players
As of 25 January 2017.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Managers
As of 16 May 2015.
‡ As caretaker manager