OSAKA, JAPAN--(Business Wire/Korea Newswire) December 17, 2014 -- On December 13, 2014, Gamba Osaka, a J-League football club sponsored by Panasonic, beat Montedio Yamagata at the final match of the Emperor‘s Cup, a national championship that boasts the longest tradition in the nation’s football history.

This year, Gamba Osaka had already claimed the “2014 J-League Yamazaki Nabisco Cup,” an 18-team domestic league tournament, as well as the J-League title, prior to achieving the rare ‘domestic treble.’ Gamba Osaka is the only team to accomplish this feat since Kashima Antlers in 2000.

Last year, Gamba Osaka was relegated to J2. Although the team had managed to rejoin J1 this year, at one point it was once again threatened by relegation, having dropped to 16th place in the rankings. Even amongst the setbacks, the team has made an amazing comeback during the final leg to win the tournament.

At an unofficial ceremony held at the Panasonic headquarters on December 15, 2014, Panasonic's Chairman, Shusaku Nagae congratulated the team with the following words: “All the employees of Panasonic are overjoyed by the domestic treble. We look to the spirit and strengths of the team and hope to bring those same strengths to our overall business. I hope that Gamba Osaka will reach to new heights by taking the number 1 title at the Asia Champions League next year and world champions title at the FIFA Club World Cup!”

About Gamba Osaka

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (now Panasonic Corporation) founded a soccer club in 1980, which became Gamba Osaka today, and since then Panasonic has continued to support the team as a key sponsor. Amongst the activities, the two are now working together to boast the club's presence in Southeast Asia by hosting local football clinics for the younger generation.

Related Links:

More Photos: http://news.panasonic.net/archives/2014/1216_30448.html

GAMBA OSAKA Official Website: http://www.gamba-osaka.net/en/index/
Panasonic Kicks Off Football Clinic to Nurture the Next Generation (Nov 18, 2014)
http://news.panasonic.net/archives/2014/1118_30102.html

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=51004062&lang=en