Gamba Osaka was founded in 1980 as Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. soccer club. The team’s name comes from the Italian word “Gamba” meaning “leg” and the Japanese ganbaru, meaning ‘to do your best’ or ‘stand firm’. The original team was made up of mostly remaining players and management staff of the defunct Yammar Club. They are only one of six teams that have spent their entire existence in Japan’s top level J. League since the league was formed in 1992.
2005 witnessed their first J. League championship as they defeated Kawasaki Frontale 4 x 2. 2007 they won the J. League Cup and the Super Cup. In 2008 they captured the Pan-Pacific and AFC Champions League title, won the Emperor’s Cup and placed third in the FIFA Club World Cup. Their most recent trophy was earned in early 2009 in the Emperor’s Cup in Tokyo with a 1 x 0 victory over Kashiwa Reysol.
Notable Brazilian stars Magno Alves and Marcelinho Carioca have played for them in the past and two Japanese national team players Yasuhito Endo and Akira Kaji currently represent Gamba Osaka on the pitch.
| Full name | Gamba Osaka | |
| Nickname(s) | Gamba | |
| Founded | 1980 (originally) 1991 (Gamba Osaka) | |
| Ground | Osaka Expo '70 Stadium, Suita, Osaka (Capacity: 21,000) | |
| Chairman | Kikuo Kanamori | |
| Manager | Akira Nishino (2002 - ) | |
| League | J. League Div.1 | |