2020 J2 League

The 2020 J2 League, also known as the 2020 Meiji Yasuda J2 League (Japanese: 2020 明治安田生命J2リーグ, Hepburn: 2020 Meiji Yasuda Seimei J2 Rīgu) for sponsorship reasons, will be the 28th season of J2 League, the top Japanese professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1993. The league will start on 21 February 2020. For this season, the league was planned to have season break to avoid clash with 2020 Summer Olympics due to be starting from June to August, as the Olympics have been postponed to a year.[1]

Meiji Yasuda J2 League
Season2020
Dates22 February
27 June - 20 December 2020
Relegatednone (for season 2020 only)
Matches played11
Goals scored15 (1.36 per match)
Top goalscorerKazuki Nishiya
(3 goals)
← 2019
2021 →
All statistics correct as of 2020/02/23.

Effects of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic

On February 25, all J.League matches until March 15 were postponed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] After that, it was announced that it would be postponed until March 29.[3] On March 19, 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.[4] On March 25, announced that it would be Suspended April 3 to May 6.[5]

On April 3, decided to starting over the official game schedule, which aims to gradually resume J3 from April 25, J2 from May 2, and J1 from May 9. Note that, considering a new schedule in the future, but it will resume it at least one month later and later in the month.[6]

On May 29, J.LEAGUE announced to decided to resume on June 27.[7] On June 9, announced to About schedule announcements of the 2020.[8] On June 15, announced to New dates. The first 2 matches in each league (J2 2nd-3rd sec. ) will be held without spectators. After July 10th, as a general rule, the maximum number of people will be 5,000 (stadiums with less capacity are those with less than 50% of the capacity of people, can't enter away supporters). After August, the maximum number of stadium capacity will be 50%, and it will be a “high alert spectator match”.[9]

After that, 11th J.League extraordinary executive committee on July 20, it was announced that the "super strict alert audience game" extended to August 10 in view of the spread of coronavirus infection.[10]

Clubs
Locations of the 2020 J2 League teams
Greater Tokyo Area J2 League Teams

After spending only one season in J2 Kashiwa Reysol became champions and have been promoted to 2020 J1 League along with Yokohama FC. 2019 J3 League champions Giravanz Kitakyushu and second place Thespakusatsu Gunma entered the league as promoted teams, replacing Kagoshima United and FC Gifu who were relegated to 2020 J3 League. Those teams that qualified for promotion playoffs in 2019 were unable to defeat their opponent and thus remain in 2020 J1 League season.

Giravanz Kitakyushu return to J2 after spending 3 seasons in J3, while Thespakusatsu Gunma return after spending two seasons.

Meanwhile, Matsumoto Yamaga and Júbilo Iwata will join 2020 J2 League as relegated teams from 2019 J1 League having placed 17th and 18th respectively.

Club Name Home Town Stadium Capacity Last season licence
Albirex Niigata Niigata & Seiro, Niigata Denka Big Swan Stadium 42,300 J2 (10th) J1
Avispa Fukuoka Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Level5 Stadium 22,563 J2 (16th) J1
Ehime FC All cities/towns in Ehime[lower-alpha 1] Ningineer Stadium 20,000 J2 (19th) J1
Fagiano Okayama All cities/towns in Okayama[lower-alpha 2] City Light Stadium 20,000 J2 (9th) J1
Giravanz Kitakyushu Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Mikuni World Stadium Kitakyushu 15,066 Promoted from J3 (Champions) J1
JEF United Chiba Chiba & Ichihara, Chiba Fukuda Denshi Arena 18,500 J2 (17th) J1
Júbilo Iwata Iwata, Shizuoka Yamaha Stadium 15,165 Relegated from J1 (18th) J1
Kyoto Sanga Cities/towns in Kyoto[lower-alpha 3] Sanga Stadium by Kyocera 21,600 J2 (8th) J1
Machida Zelvia Machida, Tokyo Machida Athletic Stadium 10,600 J2 (18th) J1
Matsumoto Yamaga Cities/towns in Nagano[lower-alpha 4] Sunpro Alwin 20,396 Relegated from J1 (17th) J1
Mito HollyHock Cities/towns in Ibaraki[lower-alpha 5] K's denki Stadium Mito 12,000 J2 (7th) J2
Montedio Yamagata All cities/towns in Yamagata[lower-alpha 6] ND Soft Stadium 20,315 J2 (6th) J1
Omiya Ardija Saitama, Saitama NACK5 Stadium Omiya 15,500 J2 (3rd) J1
Renofa Yamaguchi All cities/towns in Yamaguchi Yamaguchi Ishin Park Stadium 20,000 J2 (15th) J1
FC Ryukyu All cities/towns in Okinawa[lower-alpha 7] Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium 25,000 J2 (14th) J1
Tochigi SC Utsunomiya, Tochigi Tochigi Green Stadium 18,025 J2 (20th) J1
Thespakusatsu Gunma All cities/towns in Gunma[lower-alpha 8] Shoda Shoyu Stadium Gunma 15,253 Promoted from J3（2nd） J1
Tokushima Vortis All cities/towns in Tokushima[lower-alpha 9] Pocarisweat Stadium 20,441 J2 (4th) J1
V-Varen Nagasaki All cities/towns in Nagasaki Prefecture[lower-alpha 10] Nagasaki Athletic Stadium 20,246 J2 (12th) J1
Ventforet Kofu All cities/towns in Yamanashi Prefecture[lower-alpha 11] Yamanashi Chuo Bank Stadium 17,000 J2 (5th) J1
Tokyo Verdy All cities/towns in Tokyo Ajinomoto Stadium 49,970 J2 (13th) J1
Zweigen Kanazawa All cities/towns in Ishikawa[lower-alpha 12] Ishikawa Kanazawa Stadium 20,000 J2 (11th) J1
  1. centering on Matsuyama
  2. centering on Okayama, Kurashiki, Tsuyama
  3. Kyoto, Uji, Joyo, Kyotanabe, Muko, Nagaokakyo, Kizugawa, Kameoka, Nantan, Kyotanba, Fukuchiyama, Maizuru, Ayabe
  4. Matsumoto, Azumino, Yamagata, Shiojiri, Omachi, Ikeda, Ikusaka, Minowa, Asahi
  5. Mito, Hitachinaka, Kasama, Naka, Omitama, Ibaraki, Shirosato, Oarai, Tokai
  6. centering on Yamagata, Tendo, Tsuruoka
  7. centering on Okinawa
  8. centering on Kusatsu and Maebashi
  9. centering on Tokushima, Naruto, Mima, Matsushige, Itano, Aizumi, Kitajima
  10. centering on Nagasaki and Isahaya
  11. centering on Kofu and Nirasaki
  12. centering on Kanazawa, Nonoichi, Kahoku, Tsubata, Tsubata

Personnel and kits
Club Manager Captain Kit manufacturer
Albirex Niigata Albert Puig [11] Adidas
Avispa Fukuoka Shigetoshi Hasebe[12] YONEX
Ehime FC Kenta Kawai[13] Mizuno
Fagiano Okayama Kenji Arima[14] Penalty
Giravanz Kitakyushu Shinji Kobayashi[15] Penalty
JEF United Chiba Yoon Jong-hwan[16] Kappa
Júbilo Iwata Fernando Jubero[17] Puma
Kyoto Sanga Noritada Saneyoshi[18] Puma
Machida Zelvia Ranko Popović [19] SVOLME
Matsumoto Yamaga Keiichiro Nuno[20] Adidas
Mito HollyHock Tadahiro Akiba[21] GAViC
Montedio Yamagata Kiyotaka Ishimaru[22] Penalty
Omiya Ardija Takuya Takagi[23] Under Armour
Renofa Yamaguchi Masahiro Shimoda[24] Finta
FC Ryukyu Yasuhiro Higuchi[25] sfida
Tochigi SC Kazuaki Tasaka[26] ATHLETA
Thespakusatsu Gunma Ryosuke Okuno [27] Kelme
Tokushima Vortis Ricardo Rodríguez[28] Mizuno
V-Varen Nagasaki Makoto Teguramori[29] Umbro
Ventforet Kofu Akira Ito[30] Mizuno
Tokyo Verdy Hideki Nagai [31] ATHLETA
Zweigen Kanazawa Masaaki Yanagishita[32] Adidas

Foreign players

As 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.[33] 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.
Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5 Player 6 Player 7 Former players
Montedio Yamagata Vinícius Araújo Min Seong-jun
Mito HollyHock Halef Pitbull
Tochigi SC Han Yong-thae Woo Sang-ho
Thespakusatsu Gunma
Omiya Ardija Nermin Haskić Vitālijs Maksimenko Filip Kljajić Ippei Shinozuka
JEF United Chiba Alan Pinheiro Kléber Jang Min-gyu Jason Geria Hebert
Tokyo Verdy Leandro Klebinho Matheus Vidotto
Machida Zelvia Alen Mašović Ri Han-jae Dorian Babunski Jeong Chung-geun Stefan Šćepović Erick Noriega
Ventforet Kofu Dudu Junior Barros Rafael Marques
Matsumoto Yamaga Augusto César Serginho Alvaro Jael Isma
Albirex Niigata Fábio Silvinho Gonzalo González Pedro Manzi Mauro dos Santos
Zweigen Kanazawa Rodolfo Lucão
Jubilo Iwata Lulinha Lukian Juan Forlín Fozil Musaev
Kyoto Sanga Renan Mota Juninho Jordy Buijs Peter Utaka
Fagiano Okayama Paulinho Léo Mineiro Lee Yong-jae Yu Yong-hyeon Lee Kyeong-tae Choi Jung-won Hadi Fayyadh
Renofa Yamaguchi Renan Henik Iury Sandro
Tokushima Vortis Diego Dušan Cvetinović
Ehime FC Sisi
Avispa Fukuoka Douglas Grolli Jon Ander Serantes Carlos Gutiérrez Juanma Emil Salomonsson
Giravanz Kitakyushu
V-Varen Nagasaki Caio César Freire Luan Víctor Ibarbo
FC Ryukyu Felipe Tavares Danny Carvajal Lee Ji-seong Ri Yong-jik

League table

It 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,[34] 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). It was also announced that the J1/J2 play-offs will not be held.[35]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 V-Varen Nagasaki 9 7 2 0 13 5 +8 23 Promotion to 2021 J1 League and 2020 Emperor's Cup quarter-finals
2 Omiya Ardija 8 6 0 2 8 3 +5 18 Promotion to 2021 J1 League
3 Tokushima Vortis 9 5 1 3 17 9 +8 16
4 Giravanz Kitakyushu 9 5 1 3 13 6 +7 16
5 Kyoto Sanga 9 4 3 2 9 5 +4 15
6 Albirex Niigata 9 3 5 1 16 13 +3 14
7 Ventforet Kofu 9 3 5 1 14 13 +1 14
8 Júbilo Iwata 9 4 2 3 11 10 +1 14
9 Avispa Fukuoka 8 4 2 2 7 6 +1 14
10 Machida Zelvia 9 3 4 2 9 9 0 13
11 Mito HollyHock 9 3 3 3 16 14 +2 12
12 Zweigen Kanazawa 9 3 1 5 14 12 +2 10
13 JEF United Chiba 9 3 1 5 9 8 +1 10
14 Tokyo Verdy 9 2 5 2 9 10 −1 11
15 Tochigi SC 9 3 2 4 4 6 −2 11
16 Matsumoto Yamaga 9 2 3 4 8 10 −2 9
17 Fagiano Okayama 9 2 3 4 8 11 −3 9
18 Ehime FC 9 2 2 5 12 14 −2 8
19 Montedio Yamagata 9 1 5 3 5 8 −3 8
20 Renofa Yamaguchi 9 2 2 5 10 17 −7 8
21 FC Ryukyu 9 1 4 4 9 18 −9 7
22 Thespakusatsu Gunma 9 2 0 7 6 20 −14 6
Updated to match(es) played on 2 August 2020. Source: Meiji Yasuda J2 League
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

Positions by round
Leader and qualification to 2021 J1 League
Runner up and qualification to 2021 J1 League
Source: Meiji Yasuda J2 League

Top scorers
As of matches played August 4th, 2020.[36]
Rank Player Club Goals
1
 Lucão Zweigen Kanazawa
5
Lukian Júbilo Iwata
Peter Utaka Kyoto Sanga
4
 Kazuma Yamaguchi Mito HollyHock
4
Fábio Albirex Niigata
Yuki Kakita Tokushima Vortis
Arata Watanabe Albirex Niigata
Akira Silvano Disaro Giravanz Kitakyushu

Attendances
Pos Team Total High Low Average Change
1 Jubilo Iwata 21,667 14,526 0 4,333 −71.6%†
2 V-Varen Nagasaki 16,031 9,436 0 4,008 −48.2%†
3 Giravanz Kitakyushu 19,188 13,574 0 3,838 −36.6%‡
4 JEF United Chiba 15,116 9,701 0 3,779 −61.0%†
5 Fagiano Okayama 18,665 12,434 0 3,733 −60.5%†
6 Tokushima Vortis 12,807 9,033 0 3,202 −44.2%†
7 Renofa Yamaguchi 11,199 8,424 0 2,800 −50.3%†
8 Albirex Niigata 11,194 3,861 0 2,799 −81.1%†
9 Thespakusatsu Gunma 13,567 11,038 0 2,713 −24.5%‡
10 Mito HollyHock 10,223 7,029 0 2,045 −66.4%†
11 Ehime FC 7,961 5,681 0 1,990 −47.4%†
12 Kyoto Sanga 5,784 3,063 0 1,928 −75.4%†
13 Machida Zelvia 7,650 6,421 0 1,913 −59.5%†
14 Avispa Fukuoka 6,418 2,720 0 1,605 −77.0%†
15 Omiya Ardija 4,736 2,465 0 1,579 −83.3%†
16 Matsumoto Yamaga 4,683 2,815 0 1,561 −91.0%†
17 Ventforet Kofu 5,388 2,028 0 1,347 −83.7%†
18 Montedio Yamagata 5,175 2,304 0 1,294 −84.4%†
19 Tokyo Verdy 4,930 2,072 0 1,233 −77.0%†
20 Tochigi SC 2,400 1,456 0 800 −84.5%†
21 Zweigen Kanazawa 2,285 1,269 0 762 −85.4%†
22 FC Ryukyu 2,792 1,355 0 698 −85.9%†
League total 209,859 14,526 0 2,385 −66.8%†

Updated to games played on 29 July 2020
Source: J. League Data
Notes:
† Last year in J1 League
‡ Last year in J3 League。

gollark: ↑
gollark: Not really.
gollark: It does, in fact, sometimes take time to understand things.
gollark: It goes through (0, 1).
gollark: I think you are misunderstanding the way this works.

References
  1. Orlowitz, Dan. "J. League season to include Olympic break". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  2. "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). 日本プロサッカーリーグ. 2020-02-25. Retrieved 2020-02-28.
  3. "J.LEAGUE to Extend Suspension of Matches" (Press release). Official. 2020-03-12. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
  4. "J. League to skip relegation as schedule threatened by coronavirus" (Press release). The Japan Times. 2020-03-19. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
  5. "J.LEAGUE Further Extends Suspension of Matches" (Press release). Official. 2020-03-25. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  6. "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). 日本プロサッカーリーグ. 2020-04-04. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  7. "About the resumption/opening dates of the J.LEAGUE" (Press release). Official. 2020-05-29. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  8. "About schedule announcements of the 2020 J.LEAGUE" (Press release). Official. 2020-06-09. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  9. "2020 J.LEAGUE Match Schedules" (Press release). Official. 2020-06-15. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  10. "【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" (Press release) (in Japanese). サッカーマガジン. 2020-07-20. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  11. "2020シーズン監督に アルベルト プッチ オルトネダ 氏 就任のお知らせ" (Press release). アルビレックス新潟. 2019-11-17. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  12. "長谷部 茂利氏 監督就任のお知らせ" (Press release). アビスパ福岡. 2019-11-26. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  13. "愛媛FC 川井 健太 監督 2020シーズン続投 のお知らせ" (Press release). 愛媛FC. 2019-11-14. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  14. "有馬賢二監督 契約更新のお知らせ" (Press release). ファジアーノ岡山. 2019-11-25. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  15. "小林 伸二 監督兼スポーツダイレクター 続投のお知らせ" (Press release). ギラヴァンツ北九州. 2019-12-14. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  16. "尹 晶煥(ユン ジョンファン)監督の就任内定について" (Press release). ジェフユナイテッド千葉. 2019-11-24. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  17. "フェルナンド・フベロ監督 続投のお知らせ" (Press release). ジュビロ磐田. 2019-12-03. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  18. "實好礼忠コーチ 監督就任のお知らせ" (Press release). 京都サンガF.C. 2019-11-29. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  19. "ランコ ポポヴィッチ氏 監督就任のお知らせ" (Press release). FC町田ゼルビア. 2019-12-09. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  20. "布 啓一郎 氏 監督就任のお知らせ" (Press release). 松本山雅FC. 2019-12-12. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  21. "秋葉 忠宏氏 2020シーズン監督就任のお知らせ" (Press release). 水戸ホーリーホック. 2019-12-02. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  22. "石丸 清隆 氏 監督就任のお知らせ" (Press release). モンテディオ山形. 2019-12-14. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  23. "高木琢也 監督 契約更新のお知らせ" (Press release). 大宮アルディージャ. 2019-12-06. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  24. "霜田正浩監督 続投のお知らせ" (Press release). レノファ山口FC. 2019-11-25. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  25. "樋口靖洋 監督 契約更新のお知らせ" (Press release). FC琉球. 2019-11-26. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  26. "田坂和昭氏 新監督就任のお知らせ" (Press release). 栃木SC. 2018-12-11. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
  27. "【トップチーム】2020シーズン 奥野 僚右氏 監督就任のお知らせ" (Press release). ザスパクサツ群馬. 2019-12-17. Retrieved 2019-12-17.
  28. "リカルド ロドリゲス監督 2020シーズン続投のお知らせ" (Press release). 徳島ヴォルティス. 2019-12-15. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
  29. "高木琢也 監督 契約更新のお知らせ" (Press release). 大宮アルディージャ. 2019-12-06. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  30. "伊藤 彰 監督 2020シーズン続投のお知らせ" (Press release). ヴァンフォーレ甲府. 2019-12-03. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  31. "永井秀樹監督 契約更新のお知らせ" (Press release). 東京ヴェルディ. 2019-11-22. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  32. "柳下正明監督 来季続投決定のお知らせ" (Press release). ツエーゲン金沢. 2019-11-07. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  33. "「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 2018-12-23.
  34. "J.LEAGUE to Change Format in the 2020 MEIJI YASUDA J.LEAGUE" (Press release). Official. 2020-03-19. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
  35. "Change of competition format of the 2020 MEIJI YASUDA J.LEAGUE" (Press release). Official. 2020-04-15. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
  36. https://www.jleague.jp/en/stats/goal.html?s=J2
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.