Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
How they qualified: Winners – J.League 2011
Established 1940
Nickname Sun Kings
Home stadium Hitachi Kashiwa Stadium (15,135)
Website www.reysol.co.jp
Club Honours
J.League champions 1 – 2011
Emperor’s Cup winners 2 – 1972, 75
J.League Cup 1 - 1999
Previous ACL appearances
Nil
Since they suffered relegation three years ago, Japanese side Kashiwa Reysol have engineered a remarkable turnaround which culminated in their first J.League championship last year.
The seeds of their revival were laid at the end of their disappointing campaign in 2009 when coach Nelsinho Baptista was retained for the following season and allowed to make the changes that were necessary to revive the fortunes of the Sun Kings.
Nelsinho made some astute signings and gave Kashiwa’s youngsters an opportunity to play. And the club’s faith in the Brazilian was amply rewarded as he assembled a formidable side that finished 10 points clear at the top of J2 in 2010 and then stormed to the J.League title last year in their first season back in the top flight.
Brazilian attacking midfielder Leandro Domingues, who joined Kashiwa in 2010, netted 15 goals and was named the J.League’s Most Valuable Player, while his compatriot Jorge Wagner and defenders Naoya Kondo and Hiroki Sakai were named in the league’s best eleven after a memorable campaign that culminated in a semi-final appearance in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Expectations
Kashiwa could hardly have asked for a tougher group for their AFC Champions League debut. But while the J.League champions lack experience on the continental stage, they will be buoyed by their solid performance at last year’s FIFA Club World Cup and they should be one of the leading contenders for a spot in the last 16.
Coach
Nelsinho Baptista
While the well-travelled Nelshino Baptista has gained vast experience as a football coach over the past three decades, the last two years have been perhaps the most successful of his long career. The 61-year-old Brazilian was deservedly named the J.League’s Manager of the Year last year after helping Kashiwa to become to win the league’s second and first division titles in consecutive seasons.
Did you know?
Despite their general lack of success before last season’s J.League championship, Kashiwa Reysol have enjoyed passionate support throughout their existence from their loyal and fanatical band of supporters who are known as the ‘Yellow Monkeys’. The name appears to have been inspired by the club’s yellow-coloured mascot Rey-kun, who resembles the Chinese Monkey King.
Key Player
Leandro Domingues
Midfielder Leandro Domingues has paid a key role in the success of Kashiwa since he joined the Japanese club from Brazilian side Vitoria two years ago. After he netted 13 goals to help Kashiwa to win promotion in 2010, the 28-year-old proved a real inspiration in last year’s championship campaign when he scored a club-leading 15 goals and won the J.League’s Player of the Year award.