The 2020 J1 League, also known as the 2020 Meiji Yasuda J1 League (Japanese: 2020 明治安田生命J1リーグ, Hepburn: 2020 Meiji Yasuda Seimei J1 Rīgu) for sponsorship reasons, was the 28th season of the J1 League, the top Japanese professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1992. This was sixth season of J1 League as renamed from J. League Division 1. The league began on 21 February and eventually ended on 19 December 2020. The league was planned to have a season break to avoid clashing with the 2020 Summer Olympics,[2] but the Olympics were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.[3]
| Season | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 21 February – 19 December 2020 |
| Champions | Kawasaki Frontale (3rd title) |
| Relegated | None |
| Champions League | Kawasaki Frontale Gamba Osaka Nagoya Grampus Cerezo Osaka |
| Matches played | 306 |
| Goals scored | 857 (2.8 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Michael Olunga (28 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Urawa Red Diamonds 6–0 Vegalta Sendai (18 October 2020) |
| Biggest away win | Consadole Sapporo 1–6 Kawasaki Frontale (15 August 2020) |
| Highest scoring | Nagoya Grampus 6–2 Urawa Red Diamonds (8 August 2020) Yokohama F. Marinos 6–2 Urawa Red Diamonds (14 November 2020) |
| Longest winning run | 12 matches Kawasaki Frontale |
| Longest unbeaten run | 13 matches Kawasaki Frontale |
| Longest winless run | 17 matches Vegalta Sendai |
| Longest losing run | 7 matches Shimizu S-Pulse |
| Highest attendance | 34,521[1] Yokohama F. Marinos 1–2 Gamba Osaka (23 February 2020) |
| Lowest attendance | 1,948[1] Sanfrecce Hiroshima 4–1 Shimizu S-Pulse (9 September 2020) (excluding matches played behind closed doors) |
| Total attendance | 1,773,481[1] |
| Average attendance | 5,796[1] (including matches played behind closed doors) |
← 2019 2021 → | |
Yokohama F. Marinos were the defending champions while Kashiwa Reysol and Yokohama FC entered the league as promoted teams from the 2019 J2 League, replacing Júbilo Iwata and Matsumoto Yamaga who were relegated to the 2020 J2 League.
Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic
editOn 25 February, all J.League matches until 15 March were postponed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.[4] After that, it was announced that it would be postponed until 29 March.[5] On 19 March, the J.League announced no relegation would take place for the 2020 season, with the J1 League expanding to 20 clubs for the 2021 season.[6] On 25 March, the league announced that it would be suspended 3 April to 6 May.[7]
On 3 April, the Japan Professional Football League decided to resume the league, gradually resumed J3 from 25 April, J2 from 2 May, and J1 from 9 May.[8] However the league was postponed again.
On 29 May, the JPFL decided to resume the season on 27 June.[9] The season is projected to resume on 4 July.[10] On 9 June, the JPFL announced the new schedule of the 2020 season.[11] On 15 June, it was announced that the first 2 matches in each league (J1, J2, and J3) would be held without spectators. After 10 July, as a general rule, the maximum number of people allowed is 5,000. The stadiums with less than 10,000 capacity would have up to 50% of the capacity. Away supporters are not allowed. After August, the maximum stadium capacity was 50%, and there would be "high alert spectator matches".[12]
After the 11th J.League extraordinary executive committee meeting on 20 July, it was announced that the "super strict alert audience game" extended to 10 August in view of the spread of coronavirus infection.[13]
Clubs
edit
For the 2020 season, there were only two changes in the league. Kashiwa Reysol returned as the 2019 J2 League champions and Yokohama FC as runners-up after 13 seasons absence from the top tier of Japanese football. They replaced Matsumoto Yamaga (one season in J1) and Júbilo Iwata (four seasons in J1), who were relegated to the 2020 J2 League.
Meanwhile, Shonan Bellmare remained in the J1 League after defeating Tokushima Vortis in the 2019 J2 League play-off final.
Personnel and kits
edit
Managerial changes
edit| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vissel Kobe |  Thorsten Fink
|
Change of director | 21 September 2020[32] |  Atsuhiro Miura
|
25 September 2020[33] |
| Shimizu S-Pulse |  Peter Cklamovski
|
Sacked | 1 November 2020[34] | Hiroaki Hiraoka
|
1 November 2020[35] |
Foreign players
editAs of 2020 season, there are no more restrictions on a number of signed foreign players, but clubs can only register up to five foreign players for a single match-day squad.[36] Players from J.League partner nations (Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia and Qatar) are exempt from these restrictions.
- Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window.
- Player's name in italics indicates the player has Japanese nationality in addition to their FIFA nationality, or is exempt from being treated as a foreign player due to having been born in Japan and being enrolled in, or having graduated from school in the country.[37]
League table
editIt was decided on 19 March to change the format regarding the rules for promotion/relegation for the end of the season for the J1, J2 and J3 leagues,[38] such that there would be no relegation this season, that two clubs from the J2 League would be promoted to the 2021 J1 League, and that two clubs from the J3 League would be promoted to the 2021 J2 League (subject to licensing regulations).
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kawasaki Frontale (C) | 34 | 26 | 5 | 3 | 88 | 31 | +57 | 83 | Qualification for AFC Champions League group stage[a] |
| 2 | Gamba Osaka | 34 | 20 | 5 | 9 | 46 | 42 | +4 | 65 | |
| 3 | Nagoya Grampus | 34 | 19 | 6 | 9 | 45 | 28 | +17 | 63 | |
| 4 | Cerezo Osaka | 34 | 18 | 6 | 10 | 46 | 37 | +9 | 60 | Qualification for AFC Champions League play-off round[a] |
| 5 | Kashima Antlers | 34 | 18 | 5 | 11 | 55 | 44 | +11 | 59 | |
| 6 | FC Tokyo | 34 | 17 | 6 | 11 | 47 | 42 | +5 | 57 | |
| 7 | Kashiwa Reysol | 34 | 15 | 7 | 12 | 60 | 46 | +14 | 52 | |
| 8 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 34 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 46 | 37 | +9 | 48 | |
| 9 | Yokohama F. Marinos | 34 | 14 | 5 | 15 | 69 | 59 | +10 | 47 | |
| 10 | Urawa Red Diamonds | 34 | 13 | 7 | 14 | 43 | 56 | −13 | 46 | |
| 11 | Oita Trinita | 34 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 36 | 45 | −9 | 43 | |
| 12 | Consadole Sapporo | 34 | 10 | 9 | 15 | 47 | 58 | −11 | 39 | |
| 13 | Sagan Tosu | 34 | 7 | 15 | 12 | 37 | 43 | −6 | 36 | |
| 14 | Vissel Kobe | 34 | 9 | 9 | 16 | 50 | 59 | −9 | 36 | |
| 15 | Yokohama FC | 34 | 9 | 6 | 19 | 38 | 60 | −22 | 33 | |
| 16 | Shimizu S-Pulse | 34 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 48 | 70 | −22 | 28 | |
| 17 | Vegalta Sendai | 34 | 6 | 10 | 18 | 36 | 61 | −25 | 28 | |
| 18 | Shonan Bellmare | 34 | 6 | 9 | 19 | 29 | 48 | −19 | 27 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goal scored; 6) Number of wins; 7) Goals scored; 8) Fair-play points.
(C) Champions
Notes:
- ^ a b Since the winners of the 2020 Emperor's Cup, Kawasaki Frontale, qualified for the Champions League group stage, the spot given to the Emperor's Cup winners (Champions League group stage) was passed to the third-placed team and the spot given to the third-place team (Champions League play-off round) was passed to the fourth-placed team.
Results table
editSeason statistics
editTop scorers
editHat-tricks
edit| Player | Club | Against | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Michael Olunga
|
Kashiwa Reysol | Vegalta Sendai | 5–1 (H) | 26 July 2020 |
 Everaldo
|
Kashima Antlers | Oita Trinita | 4–1 (A) | 1 August 2020 |
| Naoki Maeda4
|
Nagoya Grampus | Urawa Red Diamonds | 6–2 (H) | 8 August 2020 |
| Shun Nagasawa
|
Vegalta Sendai | Gamba Osaka | 4–0 (A) | 14 November 2020 |
| Júnior Santos
|
Yokohama F. Marinos | Urawa Red Diamonds | 6–2 (H) | 14 November 2020 |
| Akihiro Ienaga
|
Kawasaki Frontale | Gamba Osaka | 5–0 (H) | 25 November 2020 |
- 4 Player scored 4 goals
Attendances
edit| Pos | Team | Total | High | Low | Average | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kawasaki Frontale | 77,587 | 21,117 | 0 | 6,466 | −72.2% |
| 2 | Yokohama F. Marinos | 90,196 | 34,521 | 0 | 6,443 | −76.1% |
| 3 | Nagoya Grampus | 67,997 | 11,854 | 0 | 6,182 | −77.6% |
| 4 | Cerezo Osaka | 72,310 | 15,535 | 0 | 6,026 | −72.0% |
| 5 | Vissel Kobe | 69,243 | 25,059 | 0 | 5,476 | −74.5% |
| 6 | Urawa Red Diamonds | 66,463 | 9,831 | 0 | 5,113 | −85.0% |
| 7 | Gamba Osaka | 47,042 | 9,313 | 0 | 4,863 | −82.4% |
| 8 | Shimizu S-Pulse | 55,698 | 17,549 | 0 | 4,642 | −69.1% |
| 9 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 50,669 | 18,713 | 0 | 4,606 | −66.8% |
| 10 | Oita Trinita | 54,196 | 8,570 | 0 | 4,516 | −70.6% |
| 11 | FC Tokyo | 53,887 | 8,166 | 0 | 4,491 | −85.8% |
| 12 | Shonan Bellmare | 48,734 | 13,071 | 0 | 4,430 | −63.4% |
| 13 | Kashima Antlers | 33,760 | 6,982 | 0 | 3,943 | −80.8% |
| 14 | Sagan Tosu | 40,780 | 8,574 | 0 | 3,722 | −75.3% |
| 15 | Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo | 47,111 | 5,359 | 2,039 | 3,624 | −80.7% |
| 16 | Vegalta Sendai | 36,113 | 13,968 | 0 | 3,611 | −75.9% |
| 17 | Kashiwa Reysol | 36,144 | 12,468 | 0 | 3,012 | −68.2%† |
| 18 | Yokohama FC | 32,184 | 5,163 | 0 | 2,926 | −58.6%† |
| League total | 1,003,539 | 34,521 | 0 | 4,711 | −77.3% |
Updated to games played on 18 October 2020
Source: J. League Data
Notes:
† Promoted from J2
References
edit- ^ a b c d "2020 J1 league attendance". Japan Professional Football League. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
- ^ Orlowitz, Dan (18 December 2019). "J. League season to include Olympic break". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
- ^ "IOC, IPC, Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee and Tokyo Metropolitan Government Announce New Dates for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020". olympic.org. International Olympic Committee. 2020-03-30. Archived from the original on 30 March 2020. Retrieved 2020-03-30.
- ^ "2020Jリーグ 明治安田生命J1リーグ 第2節～第4節 明治安田生命J2リーグ 第2節～第4節 明治安田生命J3リーグ 第1節～第2節 JリーグYBCルヴァンカップ グループステージ第2節～第3節 開催延期のお知らせ" (Press release) (in Japanese). Japan Professional Football League. 2020-02-25. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
- ^ "J.LEAGUE to Extend Suspension of Matches" (Press release). Japan Professional Football League. 2020-03-12. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
- ^ "J. League to skip relegation as schedule threatened by coronavirus" (Press release). The Japan Times. 2020-03-19. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
- ^ "J.LEAGUE Further Extends Suspension of Matches" (Press release). Japan Professional Football League. 2020-03-25. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
- ^ "再開の日程は白紙に。第5回新型コロナウイルス対策連絡会議会見レポート" (Press release) (in Japanese). Japan Professional Football League. 2020-04-04. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
- ^ "About the resumption/opening dates of the J.LEAGUE" (Press release). Japan Professional Football League. 2020-05-29. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
- ^ "J.League top tier to restart on July 4". The World Game. Special Broadcasting Service. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "About schedule announcements of the 2020 J.LEAGUE" (Press release). Japan Professional Football League. 2020-06-09. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
- ^ "2020 J.LEAGUE Match Schedules" (Press release). Japan Professional Football League. 2020-06-15. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
- ^ "【Jリーグ】超厳戒態勢を8月10日まで延長。観客5000人以下の継続を決定". soccermagazine.jp (Press release) (in Japanese). 2020-07-20. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
- ^ "2020年シーズン 北海道コンサドーレ札幌 契約合意スタッフのお知らせ" (Press release). 北海道コンサドーレ札幌. 2020-01-06. Retrieved 2020-01-10.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "木山隆之氏 監督就任のお知らせ". ベガルタ仙台. 2019-12-19. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
- ^ "ザーゴ氏の新監督就任について". 鹿島アントラーズ. 2020-01-02. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
- ^ "大槻 毅監督続投のお知らせ" (Press release). 浦和レッドダイヤモンズ. 2019-12-08. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- ^ "2020シーズン トップチーム･アカデミー体制のお知らせ" (Press release). 柏レイソル. 2020-01-14. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
- ^ "長谷川健太監督 契約更新のお知らせ" (Press release). FC東京. 2019-10-24. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- ^ "下平隆宏監督契約更新のお知らせ" (Press release). 横浜FC. 2019-11-26. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- ^ "アンジェ ポステコグルー監督 契約更新のお知らせ" (Press release). 横浜F・マリノス. 2019-11-11. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- ^ "浮嶋敏監督 2020シーズン続投のお知らせ" (Press release). 湘南ベルマーレ. 2019-12-14. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- ^ "鬼木達監督契約更新のお知らせ" (Press release). 川崎フロンターレ. 2019-12-25. Retrieved 2019-12-25.
- ^ "ピーター クラモフスキー 監督就任のお知らせ" (Press release). 清水エスパルス. 2019-12-14. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- ^ "マッシモ フィッカデンティ監督、契約更新のお知らせ" (Press release). 名古屋グランパス. 2019-12-20. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
- ^ "1/8（水）2020シーズンキックオフイベント開催報告" (Press release). ガンバ大阪. 2020-01-08. Retrieved 2020-01-10.
- ^ "契約更新について（ロティーナ監督）" (Press release). セレッソ大阪. 2019-12-08. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
- ^ "三浦 淳寛新監督就任およびトップチーム新体制発表のお知らせ" (Press release). ヴィッセル神戸. 2020-09-24. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
- ^ "城福浩監督、2020シーズン契約更新のお知らせ" (Press release). サンフレッチェ広島. 2019-12-08. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- ^ "【重要】 片野坂知宏監督 からサポーターの皆様に重要なお知らせ" (Press release). 大分トリニータ. 2019-11-19. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- ^ "金明輝監督 契約更新のお知らせ" (Press release). サガン鳥栖. 2019-12-31. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
- ^ "トルステン フィンク監督退任のお知らせ" (Press release). ヴィッセル神戸. 2020-09-22. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
- ^ "三浦 淳寛新監督就任およびトップチーム新体制発表のお知らせ" (Press release). ヴィッセル神戸. 2020-09-24. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
- ^ "ピーター クラモフスキー監督 契約解除のお知らせ". Shimizu S-Pulse. 1 November 2020.
- ^ "平岡 宏章 監督就任のお知らせ" (in Japanese). Shimizu S-Pulse. 1 November 2020.
- ^ "「ホームグロウン制度」の導入と「外国籍選手枠」の変更について". J.LEAGUE.jp. Archived from the original on 2020-06-12. Retrieved 2020-02-01.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "プロサッカー選手の契約、登録および移籍に関する規則" (PDF). jfa.jp.
- ^ "J.LEAGUE to Change Format in the 2020 MEIJI YASUDA J.LEAGUE" (Press release). Official. 2020-03-19. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
External links
edit- Official website, JLeague.jp (in English)