Cerezo Osaka

This team was originally known by the name of Yanmar Diesel as the company team of Yanmar. The team was also an original founded of the now-disbanded Japan Soccer League. There were four Japanese league titles to its credit, the team was a mainstay of the JSL First Division until 1990, when it got first relegated, joining the former Japan Football League in 1992.

By 1993, this club had incorporated by the name of Osaka Football Club Ltd, adopting the name Cerezo post a public contest. The following year in 1994, the team won the JFL Championship and was promoted to the J1 League in 1995. In 2001, the team was relegated to the J2 league, managing to finish in the second place for 2002 season, and returned to J1 in 2003.

In 2005, the team came quite close to becoming J-League champions, topping the league to the last match day. During their final match, they led F.C. Tokyo team and were on the course to winning the title. But, Tokyo equalized on 89 minutes, other than a number of other late goals around Japan with the team finishing in the fifth place. Their rival team, Gamba Osaka, ended up winning the title.

For the 2007 season, Cerezo Osaka returned to J2 title post finishing second to last in 2006. By 2009, the team were promoted and even returned to the top division, where they spent the majority of their career.

Major Achievements

Whilst with the Yanmar Osaka Soccer Club, the team won the Japan Soccer League in 1971, 1974, 1975 and in 1980. Cerezo Osaka won the JSL Cup, sharing the cup in 1973 and winning the title in 1983 and in 1984. Moreover, they won the Emperor’s Cup in 1968, 1970 and in 1974. Also, this team won the Japan Football League in 1994.