During the 2008 season, Urawa Red Diamonds competed in the J. League 1, the top tier of Japanese football, in which they finished 7th. The club also competed in two domestic cup competitions, the Emperor's Cup and the J. League Cup, being eliminated in the fifth round of the former, and at the group stage in the latter competition.
Manager Holger Osieck was sacked two matches into Urawa's J1 League campaign on 16 March 2008, and was succeeded by Gert Engels.