Omiya Ardija

Omiya Ardija's crest features a squirrel on the right, which is the animal of Omiya. On the left, there are 5 lines, which reference the historic roads that run through Omiya, including the famous Nakasendō, which runs to the Hikawa Shrine, right near Nack5 Stadium.[1][2]

The team were founded in 1968 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 (JSL) Division 2 in 1987/88, and when the JSL folded, joined the former Japan Football League.[3]

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.[3][4]

Their matches against Urawa Red Diamonds have been called the "Saitama Derby".[5]

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).[6]

Omiya competed in the J1 League following an immediate promotion in 2015 after being relegated in 2014. Omiya was relegated again following the 2017 season. They competed in J1 2005 and continued to remain until 2014, following promotion from J2 in 2004 as the second placed team.

Omiya Ardija has two squirrels as its mascots, named Ardi and Miya. Both wear the team kits. According to the club website, Miya is one size smaller than Ardi, being then, slightly shorter than him.[7][3]

• All Japan Senior Football Championship
  • Champions: 1981
• Regional Promotion Series
  • Champions: 1986
• J2 League
  • Champions: 2015

As of 9 January 2023.[8][9]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  JPN Takashi Kasahara 3 DF  JPN Shuto Okaniwa (on loan from FC Tokyo) 5 DF  JPN Niki Urakami 6 MF  JPN Hisashi Ohashi 7 MF  JPN Masato Kojima 8 MF  JPN Hiroki Kurimoto 9 FW  JPN Seiya Nakano 10 FW  JPN Atsushi Kawata 13 FW  JPN Rin Yamazaki 14 MF  JPN Hidetoshi Miyuki 15 MF  JPN Keisuke Oyama 16 MF  JPN Toshiki Ishikawa 17 DF  JPN Ryo Shinzato 19 MF  BRA Rodrigo Angelotti (on loan from Kashiwa Reysol) 22 DF  JPN Rikiya Motegi

No. Pos. Nation Player 23 FW  JPN Kiichi Yajima 25 DF  JPN Yutaro Hakamata 28 FW  JPN Takamitsu Tomiyama 31 MF  JPN Raisei Abe 32 MF  JPN Fumiya Takayanagi 33 FW  JPN Keisuke Muroi 34 DF  JPN Rio Omori (on loan from FC Tokyo) 35 GK  JPN Yuta Minami 38 DF  JPN Shunya Suzuki 39 MF  JPN Jin Izumisawa 40 GK  JPN Ko Shimura 46 DF  JPN Masato Nuki 48 MF  JPN Masaya Shibayama 49 MF  JPN Tomoya Osawa 50 GK  JPN Manafu Wakabayashi

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  JPN Yūki Katō (On loan at Giravanz Kitakyushu) — DF  JPN Shoi Yoshinaga (On loan at Ehime FC) — DF  JPN Keisuke Nishimura (On loan at Montedio Yamagata)

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  JPN Kanji Okunuki (On loan at Górnik Zabrze) — MF  JPN Soya Takada (On loan at Tokushima Vortis)

• Past (and present) players who are the subjects of Wikipedia articles can be found here

For the 2023 season.

Position	Staff
Manager	Naoki Soma
Assistant manager	Masato Harasaki
First-team coach	Shin Kanazawa
Goalkeeping coach	Noriyuki Yamagishi
Physical coach	Tomonobu Yokoyama
Technical staff	Yuki Fukuro
Physiotherapist	Yukihiso Miyama
Trainer	Tetsuji Wada Ryosuke Kaji
Chief manager	Yosuke Hakamada
Manager	Shoki Kokawa
Interpreter	Leonardo Uehara
Athletic trainer	Takafumi Kazama Ryosuke Kaji Natsuya Yashiro
Chief doctor	Daisuke Iwasawa
Doctor	Shoichi Hasegawa

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Omiya Ardija.

• Omiya Ardija Homepage (in Japanese)
• Omiya Ardija Homepage (in English)