Friday, 29 March 2024

The Urawa Red Diamonds, more commonly referred to as the "Reds", have a long and star-studded history as one of the most influential clubs in Japanese football, yet despite one of the league's most consistently large fan bases and financial backing, the team has struggled to turn raw individual talent into team success. Despite fanatical home town support and a decent record over the years, they repeatedly broke the hearts of loyal fans by failing to bring home a title..

The Urawa Reds make their home in Urawa, a gritty industrial city just north of Tokyo, and they boast the loudest and most boisterous fans in the league. Even when the team's performance on the pitch was less than convincing, Urawa fans have been loyal and vocal in their support (and occasionally in their anger, at lost matches). The Reds were formed in 1951, as the club team of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Even back then, they were referred to by their fans as the "Red Diamonds" in reference to the red diamond trademark of Mitsubishi that they wore on their uniforms. The Reds were a dominant team in the JSL during the 1970s and early 80s, when the team was coached by Kenzo Yokoyama, who would later serve as national team coach. Under his guidance the team won the Japan Soccer League championship four times, in 1969, 1973, 1978 and 1982, and finished second in 1970, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977.

But in the J.League era, the Reds have won the league just once, and they have earned a reputation as a club that cannot produce team results to match the individual talent of their star players. Despite having enough cash to sign just about any domestic player they set their sights on, the Reds have always been a bit short on teamwork and chemistry. They have won just a single league crown, in 2006, along with five domestic cups and two Asian Champions League titles. Fans hope the next 25 years will be a bit more succesful than the last 25.

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Home Uniform   --   Away Uniform

Management Corporation: Mitsubishi Motors Football Club Co., Ltd.
Established:  10 March 1992
President: Mitsuo Hashimoto
Investors: Mitsubishi Motors Corp., Saitama Prefecture, Saitama City & 27 companies
Address: 500 Nakanoda, Midori- ku, Saitama City, Saitama 336-8505

Hometown Area:  Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture
Home Stadium:  Saitama Stadium 2002 (capacity: 63,700)
Joined J. League: 1991