2015 J1 League
The 2015 Meiji Yasuda J1 League (2015 明治安田生命J1リーグ) season[1] was the 50th season of top-flight football in Japan, and the 23rd since the establishment of the J.League in 1993.
Season | 2015 |
---|---|
Champions | Sanfrecce Hiroshima 3rd J.League title 8th Japanese title |
Relegated | Matsumoto Yamaga Montedio Yamagata Shimizu S-Pulse |
Champions League | Sanfrecce Hiroshima Urawa Red Diamonds Gamba Osaka FC Tokyo |
Club World Cup | Sanfrecce Hiroshima |
Matches played | 306 |
Goals scored | 820 (2.68 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Yoshito Ōkubo (23 goals) |
Highest attendance | 53,148 Urawa vs Gamba Osaka (2 May) |
Lowest attendance | 6,100 Yamagata vs Nagoya (29 July) |
Average attendance | 17,803 |
← 2014 2016 →
All statistics correct as of 22 November 2015. |
For a five-year period starting in 2015, the J.League changed to a newly conceived multistage system, with the year split into two halves and a third and final championship stage. The winners of the first and second stages and the highest ranking club of the aggregate table (other than the first or second stage winners) will qualify for the Championship Stage. Sanfrecce Hiroshima won the Championship Stage and advanced to the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup as the host nation's entrant.
Clubs
Managerial changes
Team | Outgoing manager | Date of separation | Manner of departure | Incoming manager | Date of announcement |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ventforet Kofu | 13 May | Mutual consent[2] | 13 May | ||
Kashima Antlers | 21 July | Sacked[3] | 21 July | ||
Shimizu S-Pluse | 1 August | Resigned[4] | 11 August | ||
Foreign players
Format changes
Teams play a single round-robin in the first stage and a single round-robin in the second stage.[6] After that an overall table is calculated and a championship stage is played. The winners of the first and second stages and any team that finishes in the top 3 of the overall rankings advance to the championship stage. The team that finishes atop the overall table automatically qualifies for the final, while the remaining teams play-off for the other spot in the final.
League table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Urawa Red Diamonds (Q) | 17 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 39 | 17 | +22 | 41 | Qualification to J.League Championship Stage |
2 | FC Tokyo | 17 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 24 | 18 | +6 | 35 | |
3 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 17 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 29 | 16 | +13 | 34 | |
4 | Gamba Osaka | 17 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 24 | 13 | +11 | 32 | |
5 | Kawasaki Frontale | 17 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 32 | 26 | +6 | 30 | |
6 | Yokohama F. Marinos | 17 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 21 | 17 | +4 | 26 | |
7 | Vegalta Sendai | 17 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 27 | 20 | +7 | 23 | |
8 | Kashima Antlers | 17 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 27 | 25 | +2 | 22 | |
9 | Nagoya Grampus | 17 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 22 | |
10 | Shonan Bellmare | 17 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 20 | 24 | −4 | 22 | |
11 | Sagan Tosu | 17 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 22 | 32 | −10 | 20 | |
12 | Ventforet Kofu | 17 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 12 | 22 | −10 | 20 | |
13 | Vissel Kobe | 17 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 17 | 19 | −2 | 19 | |
14 | Kashiwa Reysol | 17 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 22 | 25 | −3 | 18 | |
15 | Matsumoto Yamaga | 17 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 17 | 26 | −9 | 15 | |
16 | Montedio Yamagata | 17 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 24 | −10 | 14 | |
17 | Albirex Niigata | 17 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 20 | 33 | −13 | 14 | |
18 | Shimizu S-Pulse | 17 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 22 | 32 | −10 | 13 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated.
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Q) | 17 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 44 | 14 | +30 | 40 | Qualification to J.League Championship Stage |
2 | Kashima Antlers | 17 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 30 | 16 | +14 | 37 | |
3 | Gamba Osaka | 17 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 32 | 24 | +8 | 31 | |
4 | Urawa Red Diamonds | 17 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 30 | 23 | +7 | 31 | |
5 | Yokohama F. Marinos | 17 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 24 | 15 | +9 | 29 | |
6 | FC Tokyo | 17 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 21 | 15 | +6 | 28 | |
7 | Kawasaki Frontale | 17 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 30 | 22 | +8 | 27 | |
8 | Kashiwa Reysol | 17 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 24 | 18 | +6 | 27 | |
9 | Shonan Bellmare | 17 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 26 | |
10 | Nagoya Grampus | 17 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 26 | 30 | −4 | 24 | |
11 | Albirex Niigata | 17 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 21 | 25 | −4 | 20 | |
12 | Sagan Tosu | 17 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 15 | 22 | −7 | 20 | |
13 | Vissel Kobe | 17 | 6 | 1 | 10 | 27 | 30 | −3 | 19 | |
14 | Ventforet Kofu | 17 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 14 | 21 | −7 | 17 | |
15 | Matsumoto Yamaga | 17 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 13 | 28 | −15 | 13 | |
16 | Vegalta Sendai | 17 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 17 | 28 | −11 | 12 | |
17 | Shimizu S-Pulse | 17 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 33 | −18 | 12 | |
18 | Montedio Yamagata | 17 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 29 | −19 | 10 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated.
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima (C) | 34 | 23 | 5 | 6 | 73 | 30 | +43 | 74 | Club World Cup, Champions League group stage and J.League Championship Final |
2 | Urawa Red Diamonds | 34 | 21 | 9 | 4 | 69 | 40 | +29 | 72 | Champions League group stage and J.League Championship 1st Round |
3 | Gamba Osaka | 34 | 18 | 9 | 7 | 56 | 37 | +19 | 63 | |
4 | FC Tokyo | 34 | 19 | 6 | 9 | 45 | 33 | +12 | 63 | Champions League qualifying play-off[lower-alpha 1] |
5 | Kashima Antlers | 34 | 18 | 5 | 11 | 57 | 41 | +16 | 59 | |
6 | Kawasaki Frontale | 34 | 17 | 6 | 11 | 62 | 48 | +14 | 57 | |
7 | Yokohama F. Marinos | 34 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 45 | 32 | +13 | 55 | |
8 | Shonan Bellmare | 34 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 40 | 44 | −4 | 48 | |
9 | Nagoya Grampus | 34 | 13 | 7 | 14 | 44 | 48 | −4 | 46 | |
10 | Kashiwa Reysol | 34 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 46 | 43 | +3 | 45 | |
11 | Sagan Tosu | 34 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 37 | 54 | −17 | 40 | |
12 | Vissel Kobe | 34 | 10 | 8 | 16 | 44 | 49 | −5 | 38 | |
13 | Ventforet Kofu | 34 | 10 | 7 | 17 | 26 | 43 | −17 | 37 | |
14 | Vegalta Sendai | 34 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 44 | 48 | −4 | 35 | |
15 | Albirex Niigata | 34 | 8 | 10 | 16 | 41 | 58 | −17 | 34 | |
16 | Matsumoto Yamaga (R) | 34 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 30 | 54 | −24 | 28 | Relegation to 2016 J2 League |
17 | Shimizu S-Pulse (R) | 34 | 5 | 10 | 19 | 37 | 65 | −28 | 25 | |
18 | Montedio Yamagata (R) | 34 | 4 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 53 | −29 | 24 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champion; (R) Relegated.
Notes:
- The winner of the 2015 Emperor's Cup qualified for the Group Stage of the 2016 AFC Champions League. Since the Emperor's Cup winner was Gamba Osaka who were the third-placed team, the Qualifying Play-off spot was awarded to the fourth-placed team.
Positions by round
First stage
Leader and qualification to 2015 J.League Championship |
Note 1: Matchday 10 results for 2015 AFC Champions League Participants (Kashiwa Reysol vs. Urawa Red Diamonds; Gamba Osaka vs. Kashima Antlers), held on 3 June 2015, are included in Matchday 15 ranking.
Note 2: Matchday 13 results for 2015 AFC Champions League quarterfinalists (Kashiwa Reysol vs. Gamba Osaka), held on 23 June 2015, are included in Matchday 17 ranking.
Second stage
Leader and qualification to 2015 J.League Championship |
Note 1: Matchday 6 results for Gamba Osaka vs. Sagan Tosu, held on 22 July 2015, are included in Matchday 4 ranking. Gamba Osaka is a finalist in 2015 Suruga Bank Championship, scheduled on 11 August 2015.
Note 2: Matchday 9 results for Matsumoto Yamaga vs. Montedio Yamagata, held on 23 September 2015, are included on Matchday 12 ranking.
Overall
Leader, qualification to 2015 J.League Championship Final and 2016 AFC Champions League group stage | |
Qualification to 2015 J.League Championship 1st Round and 2015 AFC Champions League group stage / qualifying play-off | |
Relegation to 2016 J2 League |
Note 1: Matchday 10 results for 2015 AFC Champions League Participants (Kashiwa Reysol vs. Urawa Red Diamonds; Gamba Osaka vs. Kashima Antlers), held on 3 June 2015, are included in Matchday 15 ranking.
Note 2: Matchday 13 results for 2015 AFC Champions League quarterfinalists (Kashiwa Reysol vs. Gamba Osaka), held on 23 June 2015, are included in Matchday 17 ranking.
Note 3: Matchday 23 results for Gamba Osaka vs. Sagan Tosu, held on 22 July 2015, are included in Matchday 21 ranking. Gamba Osaka is a finalist in 2015 Suruga Bank Championship, scheduled on 11 August 2015.
Note 4: Matchday 26 results for Matsumoto Yamaga vs. Montedio Yamagata, held on 23 September 2015, are included on Matchday 29 ranking.
Championship stage
The Championship stage consisted of a knockout tournament involving the champions of the First and Second Stages, and any team that finishes in the top 3 of the overall table. The team with the best aggregate record earned a bye to the final. The remaining teams playoff for the other spot in the final.
Semifinal | Final | |||||||||
Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 3 | 1 | 4 | |||||||
Urawa Red Diamonds | 1 | Gamba Osaka | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||||
Gamba Osaka (a.e.t.) | 3 |
Urawa Red Diamonds | 1–3 (a.e.t.) | Gamba Osaka |
---|---|---|
Ljubijankić |
Report | Konno Fujiharu Patric |
Gamba Osaka | 2–3 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima |
---|---|---|
Nagasawa Konno |
Report | Douglas Sasaki Kashiwa |
Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 1–1 | Gamba Osaka |
---|---|---|
Asano |
Report | Konno |
Results
First stage
Second stage
Top scorers
Rank | Scorer | Club | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Kawasaki Frontale | 23 | |
2 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 21 | |
3 | Gamba Osaka | 19 | |
4 | Sagan Tosu | 16 | |
5 | Kashiwa Reysol | 14 | |
6 | Urawa Red Diamonds | 13 | |
7 | Urawa Red Diamonds | 12 | |
Gamba Osaka | |||
Sanfrecce Hiroshima | |||
10 | Shimizu S-Pulse | 11 |
Updated to games played on 22 November 2015
Source: J.League Data[7]
Awards
Individual
Award | Recipient | Club | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Most Valuable Player | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | ||
Rookie of the Year | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | ||
Manager of the Year | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | ||
Top scorer | Kawasaki Frontale | 23 goals. |
Best Eleven
Position | Footballer | Club | Nationality |
---|---|---|---|
GK | Shusaku Nishikawa (4) | Urawa Red Diamonds | |
DF | Kosuke Ota (2) | FC Tokyo | |
DF | Masato Morishige (3) | FC Tokyo | |
DF | Tsukasa Shiotani (2) | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | |
DF | Tomoaki Makino (2) | Urawa Red Diamonds | |
MF | Mu Kanazaki (1) | Kashima Antlers | |
MF | Toshihiro Aoyama (3) | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | |
MF | Yasuhito Endō (12) | Gamba Osaka | |
FW | Yoshito Ōkubo (3) | Kawasaki Frontale | |
FW | Takashi Usami (2) | Gamba Osaka | |
FW | Douglas (1) | Sanfrecce Hiroshima |
* The number in brackets denotes the number of times that the footballer has appeared in the Best 11.
Attendances
Pos | Team | Total | High | Low | Average | Change |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Urawa Red Diamonds | 658,668 | 53,148 | 22,363 | 38,745 | +9.1% |
2 | FC Tokyo | 489,336 | 42,604 | 12,727 | 28,784 | +14.3% |
3 | Yokohama F. Marinos | 411,759 | 44,226 | 8,038 | 24,221 | +4.9% |
4 | Albirex Niigata | 398,545 | 31,324 | 16,068 | 23,444 | +2.0% |
5 | Kawasaki Frontale | 356,976 | 24,992 | 14,881 | 20,999 | +26.0% |
6 | Matsumoto Yamaga | 285,992 | 18,906 | 11,743 | 16,823 | +32.1%† |
7 | Kashima Antlers | 279,185 | 29,030 | 6,923 | 16,423 | −7.0% |
8 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 278,499 | 33,210 | 7,966 | 16,382 | +9.2% |
9 | Vissel Kobe | 276,512 | 24,027 | 7,696 | 16,265 | +8.4% |
10 | Nagoya Grampus | 276,082 | 33,558 | 9,986 | 16,240 | −2.9% |
12 | Gamba Osaka | 271,984 | 18,842 | 10,702 | 15,999 | +8.5% |
11 | Shimizu S-Pulse | 239,406 | 19,736 | 11,348 | 14,083 | −0.9% |
13 | Vegalta Sendai | 234,442 | 19,375 | 12,488 | 13,791 | −9.1% |
14 | Sagan Tosu | 228,644 | 20,792 | 7,524 | 13,450 | −4.9% |
15 | Shonan Bellmare | 207,539 | 14,581 | 9,157 | 12,208 | +44.0%† |
16 | Ventforet Kofu | 192,042 | 14,176 | 7,015 | 11,297 | −7.2% |
17 | Kashiwa Reysol | 185,609 | 14,055 | 6,701 | 10,918 | +1.9% |
18 | Montedio Yamagata | 170,518 | 13,737 | 6,100 | 10,030 | +58.0%† |
League total | 5,447,602 | 53,148 | 6,100 | 17,803 | +3.3% |
Updated to games played on 22 November 2015
Source: J. League Data
Notes:
† Team played previous season in J2.
References
- "新年のご挨拶" (Press release) (in Japanese). J.League. 1 January 2015. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
- http://www.ventforet.jp/news/press_release/508693
- http://www.so-net.ne.jp/antlers/news/release/50018
- http://www.s-pulse.co.jp/news/detail/30231/
- "Player registration and contracts". J.League. Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
- "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- http://www.jleague.jp/en/stats/goal.html?s=J1