Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
How they qualified: 3rd place - J.League 2011
Established 1980 (as Matsushita), 1991 (renamed Gamba Osaka)
Nickname Ashi
Home stadium Expo '70 Commemorative Stadium (21,000)
Website www.gamba-osaka.net
Club Honours
AFC Champions League winners 1 - 2008
J.League champions 1 - 2005
Emperors' Cup winners 3 - 1990 (as Matsushita), 2008, 09
J.League Cup 1 - 2007
Previous ACL appearances
2006 - Group stage
2008 - Champions
2009 - Round of 16
2010 - Round of 16
2011 - Round of 16
With victory in 2008 and six appearances in the competition in seven seasons, Gamba Osaka could lay claim to being the most successful Japanese side in the AFC Champions League.
But since trouncing Adelaide United to win the tournament four years ago, the team from Japan's Osaka city have made a habit of crashing out in the round of 16 with perhaps the most painful of those losses coming last May when they were beaten 1-0 at home by their city rivals Cerezo Osaka.
One of the J.League's most consistent sides in recent seasons, Gamba are entering a brave new world in 2012 following the off-season departure of long-time manager Akira Nishino, who guided the Ashi to their first league title in 2005, eight top-three finishes in the past 10 years and a pair of Emperor's Cup triumphs.
Club stalwarts Satoshi Yamaguchi and Hideo Hashimoto have also left, along with Korean striker Lee Keun-ho, their leading scorer last season. But Gamba still look a formidable side with the acquisition of centre-back Yasuyuki Konno from FC Tokyo, Korean forward Lee Seung-yeoul from FC Seoul and Brazilian striker Paulinho from Ventforet Kofu during the off-season.
Expectations
Gamba are favourites to win their group but after going out in the last 16 for three consecutive years, the Japanese club will not be satisfied with just reaching the knockout stage and will be eyeing a long run in the competition that they won in 2008.
Coach
Jose Carlos Serrao
The well-travelled Jose Carlos Serrao will have his work cut out as the successor to Akira Nishino, who led Gamba to so much success during his decade in charge. While the 61-year-old has not previously coached in Japan, he will be ably assisted by Wagner Lopes, who was born in Brazil but became a naturalised Japanese citizen and played for the Blue Samurai at the 1998 World Cup.
Did you know?
Gamba's 19-match unbeaten run in the AFC Champions League from April 2006 to May 2009 is the longest in the competition's history. Even more impressive is the fact that they won 10 consecutive away games during that streak.
Key Player
Yasuhito Endo
The winner of the AFC Player of the Year award in 2009, Yasuhito Endo remains the driving force on the team that he has played for since 2001. Although the Japan international playmaker has already turned 32, his appetite for the game remains undiminished and he continues to cause headaches for opponents with his killer passes and his accuracy in dead-ball situations.