Cerezo Osaka is one of Japan’s professional football clubs rooted in Osaka City and Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan, carrying a distinctive sakura-pink identity and a strong local presence. Founded in 1957, the club grew from Yanmar Diesel SC into a modern professional institution with a recognizable place in the country’s football culture. Its home setting in Nagai Park, Osaka Derby rivalry and links to youth development add depth to the club story. The page captures that identity alongside the team’s latest documented competitive and personnel context.
Cerezo Osaka Upcoming matches by league
J1 League
-
- Regular Season - 14
Gamba OsakaNo H2HCerezo Osaka
Saitama Stadium 2002 -
- Regular Season - 15
Cerezo OsakaNo H2HFC Tokyo
Yodoko Sakura Stadium -
- Regular Season - 16
UrawaNo H2HCerezo Osaka
-
- Regular Season - 17
Kyoto SangaNo H2HCerezo Osaka
Sanga Stadium by Kyocera
J-League Cup
-
- Quarter-finals
UrawaNo H2HCerezo Osaka
-
- Quarter-finals
Cerezo OsakaNo H2HUrawa
Yodoko Sakura Stadium
Cerezo Osaka Last matches by league
J1 League
-
- Regular Season - 13
Kashima4 - 1Cerezo Osaka
Kashima Soccer Stadium -
- Regular Season - 12
Cerezo Osaka2 - 2JEF United Chiba
Yodoko Sakura Stadium -
- Regular Season - 11
Nagoya Grampus1 - 1Cerezo Osaka
Toyota Stadium -
- Regular Season - 10
Cerezo Osaka2 - 4Kawasaki Frontale
Yodoko Sakura Stadium
J-League Cup
-
- Round of 16
Mito Hollyhock1 - 3Cerezo Osaka
Yodoko Sakura Stadium -
- Round of 32
Gainare Tottori2 - 3Cerezo Osaka
Axis Bird Stadium -
- Round of 64
Fujieda MYFC1 - 2Cerezo Osaka
Fujieda City General Sports Park
Emperor Cup
-
- Round of 32
Cerezo Osaka2 - 0Kagoshima United
Yodoko Sakura Stadium
Friendlies Clubs
Cerezo Osaka Team Roster
Cerezo Osaka’s recorded squad contains 28 players. It has nine attackers, seven defenders, nine midfielders and three goalkeepers, giving the group a balanced positional spread. The attacking unit includes P. Sabbag, R. Sakata, S. Kagawa, Thiago Andrade and Y. Yokoyama. Defensive options include Dion-Johan Cools, R. Inoue, S. Hatanaka and T. Takahashi. The midfield group includes Lucas Fernandes, J. Irvine, S. Tanaka and T. Nakamura, while Kosuke Nakamura is one of the three goalkeepers.
position Goalkeeper
position Defender
Rikito Inoue
Kyohei Noborizato
Javier Hernández Cabrera
Hayato Okuda
Dion-Johan Chai Cools
Shinnosuke Hatanaka
Travis Takahashi
position Midfielder
Takumi Nakamura
Satoki Uejo
Shinji Kagawa
Shunta Tanaka
Yumeki Yokoyama
Reiya Sakata
Kosei Okazawa
Jackson Alexander Irvine
Yota Komi
Ayumu Ohata
Lucas Fernandes
position Attacker
Solomon Sakuragawa
Thiago Eduardo de Andrade
Pablo David Sabbag Daccarett
T. Shiojiri
K. Nagasoe
Masaya Shibayama
Last Cerezo Osaka Coachs
The latest recorded coaching appointment is Arthur Thomas Papastamatiou, listed under A. Papastamatis, with a start date of 1 December 2024. The available chronology does not establish him as current, so the timeline is best presented neutrally. Akio Kogiku’s spell ran from August 2021 to December 2024, while Levir Culpi was recorded from December 2020 to August 2021. Miguel Ángel Lotina appears for December 2018 to January 2021, providing earlier context. Papastamatiou is Australian; Kogiku is Japanese, Culpi Brazilian and Lotina Spanish.
Arthur Thomas Papastamatiou
History
| Coach | Coach country | Coach since | Coach until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arthur Thomas Papastamatiou | Australia | 1 December 2024 | |
| Akio Kogiku | Japan | 1 August 2021 | 1 December 2024 |
| Levir Culpi | Brazil | 1 December 2020 | 1 August 2021 |
| Miguel Ángel Lotina Oruecheberría | Spain | 1 December 2018 | 1 January 2021 |
| Jong-Hwan Yoon | Korea Republic | 1 January 2017 | 1 December 2018 |
| 1 July 2016 | |||
| Paulo Autuori de Mello | Brazil | 1 January 2015 | 1 November 2015 |
| Yuji Okuma | Japan | 1 September 2014 | 1 December 2014 |
| Marco Pezzaiuoli | Germany | 1 June 2014 | 1 September 2014 |
| Ranko Popović | Kosovo | 1 January 2014 | 1 June 2014 |
| Levir Culpi | Brazil | 1 August 2012 | 1 December 2013 |
| Sérgio Soares da Silva | Brazil | 1 January 2012 | 1 August 2012 |
| Levir Culpi | Brazil | 1 May 2007 | 1 December 2011 |
Cerezo Osaka Transfers
Recent listed arrivals through 4 August 2026 show several forms of squad movement rather than one single pattern. J. Irvine arrived from FC St. Pauli in a recorded transfer, while Y. Yokoyama, A. Ohata, R. Inoue and Dion-Johan Cools also came through entries marked as transfers. Loans brought Y. Komi, K. Abe, H. Tanaka and K. Yengi from Kashiwa Reysol, Jubilo Iwata, Kashiwa Reysol and Aberdeen respectively. Several players, including K. Konomi, K. Okazawa, Go Kambayashi, Niko Takahashi Cendagorta and R. Osako, were listed as returning from loans. Other arrivals carry no specified movement type, so this recent list is not a complete total.
Latest player transfers from
| Player | Team from | Transfer type | Transfer date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Javi Hernández |
Leganes
|
Loan | 27 August 2026 |
| P. Sabbag |
Al Ahli Tripoli
|
- | 9 August 2026 |
| J. Irvine |
FC St. Pauli
|
Transfer | 4 August 2026 |
| Y. Komi |
Kashiwa Reysol
|
Loan | 2 July 2026 |
| K. Abe |
Jubilo Iwata
|
Loan | 30 June 2026 |
| K. Konomi |
Kitakyushu
|
Return from loan | 30 June 2026 |
| Niko Takahashi Cendagorta |
Almere City FC
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
| Go Kambayashi |
Matsumoto Yamaga
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
| K. Okazawa |
Fujieda MYFC
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
| H. Tanaka |
Kashiwa Reysol
|
Loan | 31 January 2026 |
| R. Osako |
Sagamihara
|
Return from loan | 30 January 2026 |
| N. Matsumoto |
Sagan Tosu
|
Return from loan | 30 January 2026 |
| N. Ishiwatari |
Iwaki
|
Return from loan | 30 January 2026 |
| K. Okazawa |
Fujieda MYFC
|
Return from loan | 30 January 2026 |
| J. Nishikawa |
Sagan Tosu
|
Return from loan | 30 January 2026 |
Recent listed departures through 11 August 2026 include a mixture of loans, transfers, returns and one free-agent entry. Niko Takahashi Cendagorta moved to Holstein Kiel on loan, while N. Ishiwatari, K. Yoshino, M. Nakajima, K. Fukui, R. Osako and Vitor Bueno are listed under transfers to St. Truiden, Persija, Vegalta Sendai, Urawa, Tochigi SC and Remo. Loans also sent Uiki Kanemoto to Fujieda MYFC, K. Konomi to Consadole Sapporo and Kim Jin-Hyeon to Tochigi City. Y. Hirano was recorded as a free agent, with several returns and unspecified entries also present. The list is a recent selection, not a complete departure total.
Latest player transfers to
| Player | Team to | Transfer type | Transfer date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eiji Kubo |
Biwako Shiga
|
Loan | 26 August 2026 |
| H. Kida |
JEF United Chiba
|
Transfer | 24 August 2026 |
| Niko Takahashi Cendagorta |
Holstein Kiel
|
Loan | 11 August 2026 |
| N. Ishiwatari |
St. Truiden
|
Transfer | 16 July 2026 |
| K. Yoshino |
Persija
|
Transfer | 13 July 2026 |
| K. Yoshino |
Persija
|
Transfer | 12 July 2026 |
| Kim Jin-Hyeon |
Tochigi City
|
Loan | 30 June 2026 |
| R. Osako |
Tochigi SC
|
Transfer | 30 June 2026 |
| K. Fukui |
Urawa
|
Transfer | 30 June 2026 |
| M. Nakajima |
Vegalta Sendai
|
Transfer | 30 June 2026 |
| K. Konomi |
Consadole Sapporo
|
Loan | 30 June 2026 |
| Uiki Kanemoto |
Fujieda MYFC
|
Loan | 30 June 2026 |
| S. Homma |
Urawa
|
Return from loan | 30 June 2026 |
| H. Tanaka |
Kashiwa Reysol
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
| K. Yengi |
Aberdeen
|
Return from loan | 14 June 2026 |
Transfers Synthesis
The recorded movement picture is defined by circulation as well as recruitment. Arrivals include direct transfers, loans and a substantial group of players returning from temporary spells, with additional entries whose movement type is unspecified. Departures show the same mixture in reverse: permanent transfers sit alongside loans, returns to parent clubs and a free-agent exit. The dates indicate activity concentrated in the 2026 calendar year, with further arrivals and departures recorded in 2025. The listed names also show movement across J.League clubs and a smaller international spread involving FC St. Pauli, Aberdeen, Holstein Kiel, St. Truiden and other overseas sides. Because both arrival and departure lists are limited recent selections, they should be read as a picture of the documented movement cycle rather than a full window total. No recorded amounts are provided, so the financial balance cannot be assessed from these entries.
Leagues Cerezo Osaka has participated in
Through the 2025 season, Cerezo Osaka has recent recorded participation in the J1 League, J-League Cup and Emperor Cup, with each competition logged from 2012 onward. The J1 League represents the club’s top-flight domestic setting, while the two cups provide separate knockout platforms. Earlier records place Cerezo Osaka in the J2 League in 2015 and 2016 and the AFC Champions League from 2018 to 2021. Friendlies Clubs are recorded for 2023 and 2024 but are not presented as a current competition. The available history therefore combines recent domestic activity with earlier second-tier and continental entries.
More about Cerezo Osaka
Cerezo Osaka is a Japanese professional football club rooted in Osaka City and Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture. The club was founded in 1957 and traces its lineage to Yanmar Diesel SC, a significant name in the old Japan Soccer League. It adopted the Cerezo Osaka identity as professional football expanded in Japan during the 1990s, preserving a connection to the Yanmar tradition while developing a distinct modern profile.
The name Cerezo is Spanish for cherry tree or cherry blossom, and the blossom is also the official municipal flower of Osaka City. That link shapes the club’s visual language: sakura pink is the primary color, supported by white and navy accents. The cherry blossom emblem is associated with Osaka’s waterways and the club’s wolf mascots, Lobby and Madame Lobina, which represent courage, nobility and community spirit. The pink identity is especially visible on matchdays, when the stands create a strong visual signature.
Yodoko Sakura Stadium, within Nagai Park in Higashisumiyoshi-ku, is the primary venue. Yanmar Stadium Nagai provides an alternative setting for fixtures requiring greater capacity or a larger occasion. The club’s local story is also defined by the Osaka Derby with Gamba Osaka, a major regional rivalry in Japanese football.
Cerezo is managed through Osaka Football Club Co., Ltd., with long-term corporate stewardship from Yanmar. Its football ecosystem combines senior professionals, international players and a youth pathway noted for producing high-level Japanese talent. The club’s competitive framework centers on the J1 League, J-League Cup and Emperor Cup, while its recorded history also includes AFC Champions League participation. Together, its pink symbolism, Osaka roots, stadium culture, derby and development structure give Cerezo Osaka a distinctive place in Japanese football.
Last matches statistics for Cerezo Osaka
| match | shots | Poss. | Pass % | Fouls | Cards | Saves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
V-varen Nagasaki
1 - 1
Cerezo Osaka
|
6 / 17 |
|
0% | 9 | 3 | 0 |
|
Fujieda MYFC
1 - 2
Cerezo Osaka
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Cerezo Osaka
2 - 0
Kagoshima United
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Cerezo Osaka
0 - 0
Yokohama F. Marinos
|
2 / 11 |
|
0% | 11 | 4 | 1 |
|
Gainare Tottori
2 - 3
Cerezo Osaka
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Cerezo Osaka
2 - 4
Kawasaki Frontale
|
3 / 12 |
|
0% | 10 | 2 1 | 1 |
|
Nagoya Grampus
1 - 1
Cerezo Osaka
|
4 / 9 |
|
0% | 10 | 4 | 2 |
|
Cerezo Osaka
2 - 2
JEF United Chiba
|
5 / 25 |
|
0% | 10 | 3 | 3 |
|
Mito Hollyhock
1 - 3
Cerezo Osaka
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Kashima
4 - 1
Cerezo Osaka
|
3 / 16 |
|
0% | 11 | 3 | 2 |
Detailed statistics Cerezo Osaka
Xtra rating history
Last rating points (most recent matches).
shots Cerezo Osaka
Warnings Cerezo Osaka
Passes Cerezo Osaka
Goalkeeper saves Cerezo Osaka
Latest start lineups Cerezo Osaka (XI)
Kashima vs Cerezo Osaka
J1 League 2027 - 1556122
Cerezo Osaka vs JEF United Chiba
J1 League 2027 - 1556111
Nagoya Grampus vs Cerezo Osaka
J1 League 2027 - 1556105
Cerezo Osaka vs Kawasaki Frontale
J1 League 2027 - 1556091
Cerezo Osaka vs Yokohama F. Marinos
J1 League 2027 - 1556082
V-varen Nagasaki vs Cerezo Osaka
J1 League 2027 - 1556079
2021
1st shirt
2021
2nd shirt
2021
4th shirt
2020
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