2009 J. League Division 2
Encyclopedia
The 2009 J. League Division 2 season was the 38th season of the second-tier club football in Japan and the 11th season since the establishment of J2 League. The season started on March 7 and ended on December 5.
In this season, the number of participating clubs was increased by three, making the total number, eighteen. The clubs played in triple round-robin format. Starting this season, all top three clubs were promoted by default and Pro/Rele Series
was eliminated accordingly. There were no relegation to the third-tier Japan Football League
.
to J2
, and were promoted from the JFL
.
.
A draw would be conducted, if necessary. However, if two clubs are tied at the first place, both clubs will be declared as the champions. The top three clubs will be promoted to J1.
Changes from Previous Year
Round 3
In this season, the number of participating clubs was increased by three, making the total number, eighteen. The clubs played in triple round-robin format. Starting this season, all top three clubs were promoted by default and Pro/Rele Series
J. League Promotion/Relegation Series
In 2004, J. League introduced a series of two test matches called League between the sixteenth-place J. Division 1 club and third-place J.league Division 2 club...
was eliminated accordingly. There were no relegation to the third-tier Japan Football League
Japan Football League
The is the 3rd tier of the Japanese association football league system, following J. League Division 1 and J. League Division 2. Also known as the JFL, it is generally considered as the top amateur league in Japan although in reality it is a semi-professional league as many full-time footballers...
.
Promotion and Relegation
and were relegatedPromotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
to J2
J. League Division 2
The or is the second division of and is the second-tier professional association football league in Japan. Currently, J. League Division 2 is the second level of the Japanese association football league system. The first tier is represented by J...
, and were promoted from the JFL
Japan Football League
The is the 3rd tier of the Japanese association football league system, following J. League Division 1 and J. League Division 2. Also known as the JFL, it is generally considered as the top amateur league in Japan although in reality it is a semi-professional league as many full-time footballers...
.
Changes in Competition Formats
- Fourth foreign slot (AFC slot) has been created to each club's roster.
- Promotion/Relegation SeriesJ. League Promotion/Relegation SeriesIn 2004, J. League introduced a series of two test matches called League between the sixteenth-place J. Division 1 club and third-place J.league Division 2 club...
had been eliminated to accommodate the 18-club J2; Division 2 club which finishes third place at the end of the season will receive automatic promotion to J1.
Participating Clubs
Eighteen clubs played in J. League Division 2 during the 2009 season. Of these clubs, Consadole Sapporo and Tokyo Verdy were relegated from Division 1 last year. Tochigi S.C., Kataller Toyama, and Fagiano Okayama newly joined from Japan Football LeagueJapan Football League
The is the 3rd tier of the Japanese association football league system, following J. League Division 1 and J. League Division 2. Also known as the JFL, it is generally considered as the top amateur league in Japan although in reality it is a semi-professional league as many full-time footballers...
.
- Consadole SapporoConsadole Sapporois a Japanese professional football club, currently playing in the J. League Division 2. The team is located in Sapporo, on the island of Hokkaidō....
- Vegalta SendaiVegalta Sendaiis a Japanese professional football club, currently playing in J. League Division 1. The team is located in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. Their home stadium is Yurtec Stadium Sendai, in Izumi-ku, Sendai, although a few home games have also been played at nearby Miyagi Stadium.-History:Founded in 1988...
- Mito HollyHockMito HollyHockis a Japanese professional football club, currently playing in the J. League Division 2. The team's hometown is located in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture....
- Tochigi S.C.Tochigi S.C.are a football club based in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. They play in the J. League Division 2. Their team colour is yellow.Tochigi, uniquely, is the only major Japanese professional club to retain the word "soccer" in its English name, despite efforts by football authorities to...
- Thespa KusatsuThespa Kusatsuis a professional football club based in Gunma Prefecture in Japan. The club plays in J. League Division 2. J. League Division 2 is the second professional football league in Japan....
- Tokyo Verdy
- Yokohama F.C.
- Shonan BellmareShonan Bellmareare a Japanese professional football club, currently playing in the J. League Division 2. The team is located in Hiratsuka, in the west of Kanagawa Prefecture; their home stadium is Hiratsuka Athletics Stadium in Hiratsuka. The name Bellmare is derived from the Latin "bellum" for "war" and "mare"...
- Ventforet KofuVentforet Kofuare a Japanese football club from Kofu. They compete in the J. League Division 1, and their home ground is the Kose Sports Stadium.The word "Ventforet" is coined combining two French words Vent and Forêt...
- Kataller ToyamaKataller ToyamaKataller Toyama is a football club in Japan that was formed from the merger of the old ALO's Hokuriku and YKK AP F.C. clubs. They currently play in J...
- F.C. GifuF.C. Gifuis a Japanese football club based in Gifu Prefecture. Gifu were promoted to J. League Division 2 for the first time at the end of 2007, and played their first season in 2008 where they finished 13th. The team colour is green.-History:...
- Cerezo OsakaCerezo Osakais a J. League Division 1 association football team. The team name Cerezo means cherry tree in Spanish, which is also the flower of Ōsaka city....
- Fagiano Okayama
- Tokushima VortisTokushima VORTISis a Japanese professional football club, currently playing in the J. League Division 2. The team is located in Tokushima, Tokushima Prefecture...
- Ehime F.C.Ehime F.C.Ehime F.C. is a professional football club based in Matsuyama, the capital city of Ehime Prefecture of Japan. After winning the JFL championship in 2005, the club now plays in J. League Division 2. Ehime F.C. is one of only four J. League clubs whose names simply consist of a place name and "F.C."...
- Avispa FukuokaAvispa FukuokaFor the record label, see Avispa. is a Japanese professional football club, currently playing in the J. League Division 1 having been promoted from J. League Division 2 in the 2010 season. The team is located in Hakata, Fukuoka. "Avispa" means "wasp" in Spanish.-In Fujieda:The club was founded as...
- Sagan TosuSagan Tosuis a Japanese professional football club, currently playing in the J. League Division 2. The team is located in Tosu, Saga Prefecture.Sagan is a coined word with a couple of meanings behind it. One of its homophones is in Japanese. This symbolises many small elements uniting to form one...
- Roasso KumamotoRoasso Kumamotois a Japanese football club based in Kumamoto, the capital city of Kumamoto Prefecture. Roasso Kumamoto was promoted to J. League Division 2 for the first time at the end of the 2007 season, and played their first season in 2008 where they finished 12th...
League Format
Eighteen clubs will play in triple round-robin format, a total of 51 games each. A club receives 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, and 0 points for a loss. The clubs are ranked by points, and tie breakers are, in the following order:- Goal differential
- Goals scored
- Head-to-head results
- Disciplinary points
A draw would be conducted, if necessary. However, if two clubs are tied at the first place, both clubs will be declared as the champions. The top three clubs will be promoted to J1.
Changes from Previous Year
- Eighteen participating clubs, increased by three from last year
- Number of games per club increased to 51, up from 42.
- The fourth foreign player slot (AFC player slot) is introduced
- Top three clubs now receives promotion by default; during 2004–2008 seasons, the third place club needed to win playoffsJ. League Promotion/Relegation SeriesIn 2004, J. League introduced a series of two test matches called League between the sixteenth-place J. Division 1 club and third-place J.league Division 2 club...
for the promotion.
Final League Table
Final Results
Rounds 1 and 2Round 3
Top scorers
| Rank | Scorer | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Shinji KagawaShinji Kagawa is a Japanese footballer who plays for German Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund. He previously played for Cerezo Osaka. He has been capped by Japan at international level.-Club career:... |
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| 2 | Ken Tokura |
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| 3 | Masashi Oguro Masashi Oguro is a Japanese football player from Toyonaka in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. He plays the forward position.-Club career:Oguro joined the J-league in 1999, with Gamba Osaka... |
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| 4 | Takashi Inui Takashi Inui is a Japanese football player who currently plays for the 2. Bundesliga team VfL Bochum. He is a midfielder who controls attacks by sharp dribbles and through passes to fatal spots. He has a brilliant sense of attacking and scoring, often with unpredictable shots.... |
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| 5 |  Maranhão |
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| Hiroyuki Takasaki Hiroyuki Takasaki is a Japanese football player currently playing for Urawa Red Diamonds.-Club:-External links:* at Urawa Red Diamonds official site * at Yahoo! Japan sports... |
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| Thiago Quirino Thiago Quirino da Silva Thiago Quirino da Silva or simply Quirino is a Brazilian football striker, who plays for Daegu FC in the K-League.-Career:... |
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| 8 | Yoshihiro Uchimura |
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| 9 | Tetsuya Okubo Tetsuya Okubo is a Japanese football player currently playing for Montedio Yamagata.Known by the nickname 'Jumbo' due to his size he plays primarily as a target man striker, getting the majority of his goals with his head... |
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| Koichi Sato Koichi Sato is a Japanese actor.He is the son of veteran Japanese actor Rentarō Mikuni.-Films:*The Last Chushingura *Nobody to watch over me * Shonen Merikensack * The Magic Hour * Smile Seiya no Kiseki... |
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| Marcelo Soares |
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