2008 J.League Division 1

J.League Division 1
Season2008
ChampionsKashima Antlers
6th J.League title
6th Japanese title
RelegatedTokyo Verdy
Consadole Sapporo
Champions LeagueKashima Antlers
Kawasaki Frontale
Nagoya Grampus
Gamba Osaka
(all to the group stage)
Matches played306
Goals scored783 (2.56 per match)
Top goalscorerMarquinhos (21 goals)
Highest attendance61,246 (Round 1,
Marinos vs. Reds)
Lowest attendance6,125 (Round 23,
Ardija vs. Marinos)
Average attendance19,202
← 2007
2009 →

The 2008 J.League Division 1 season was the 44th season of the top-flight club football in Japan and the 16th season since the establishment of J.League Division 1. The season began on March 8 and ended on December 6.

A total of eighteen clubs participated in double round-robin format. Starting this season, top three clubs received automatic qualification to the following years' AFC Champions League. The bottom two clubs were relegated to J.League Division 2 by default, while 16th-placed club had to defend their spot in the top-flight in the pro/rele series.

Clubs

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Location of the clubs in Japan

The following 18 clubs participated in J.League Division 1 during 2008 season. Of these clubs, Consadole Sapporo, Tokyo Verdy, and Kyoto Purple Sanga are newly promoted clubs.

Club Name Home Town(s) Note(s)
Albirex Niigata Niigata & Seirō, Niigata
Consadole Sapporo Sapporo, Hokkaido Promoted from J2 League in 2007
FC Tokyo Tokyo
Gamba Osaka Suita, Osaka 2008 ACL participant
JEF United Chiba Chiba & Ichihara, Chiba
Júbilo Iwata Iwata, Shizuoka
Kashima Antlers Southwestern cities/towns of Ibaraki 2008 ACL participant
Defending champions
Kashiwa Reysol Kashiwa, Chiba
Kawasaki Frontale Kawasaki, Kanagawa
Kyoto Purple Sanga Southwestern cities/town in Kyoto Promoted from J2 League in 2007
Nagoya Grampus Eight Nagoya, Aichi Renamed from Nagoya Grampus Eight
Oita Trinita All cities/towns in Ōita
Omiya Ardija Saitama
Shimizu S-Pulse Shizuoka
Tokyo Verdy Tokyo Promoted from J2 League in 2007
Renamed from Tokyo Verdy 1969
Urawa Red Diamonds Saitama 2008 ACL Participant
Vissel Kobe Kobe, Hyōgo
Yokohama F. Marinos Yokohama & Yokosuka

Personnel

Club Head coach
Albirex Niigata Japan Jun Suzuki
Consadole Sapporo Japan Toshiya Miura
FC Tokyo Japan Hiroshi Jofuku
Gamba Osaka Japan Akira Nishino
JEF United Chiba Scotland Alex Miller
Júbilo Iwata Netherlands Hans Ooft
Kashima Antlers Brazil Oswaldo de Oliveira
Kashiwa Reysol Japan Nobuhiro Ishizaki
Kawasaki Frontale Japan Tsutomu Takahata
Kyoto Purple Sanga Japan Hisashi Kato
Nagoya Grampus Eight Serbia Dragan Stojković
Oita Trinita Brazil Péricles Chamusca
Omiya Ardija Japan Yasuhiro Higuchi
Shimizu S-Pulse Japan Kenta Hasegawa
Tokyo Verdy Japan Tetsuji Hashiratani
Urawa Red Diamonds Germany Gert Engels
Vissel Kobe Japan Hiroshi Matsuda
Yokohama F. Marinos Japan Kokichi Kimura

Foreign players

Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Non-visa foreign Type-C contract Former players
Albirex Niigata Brazil Alessandro Brazil Davi Brazil Márcio Richardes New Zealand Michael Fitzgerald Brazil Luís Augusto
Consadole Sapporo Brazil Anderson Brazil Claiton Brazil Davi South Korea Chong Yong-de Brazil Alceu
Brazil Edson
Brazil Nonato
FC Tokyo Brazil Bruno Quadros Brazil Cabore Brazil Emerson Paulista
Gamba Osaka Brazil Lucas Severino Brazil Mineiro Brazil Rôni Brazil Baré
JEF United Chiba Australia Eddy Bosnar Brazil Michael Brazil Reinaldo South Korea Kim Dong-soo Bosnia and Herzegovina Mirko Hrgović
South Korea Park Jong-jin
Júbilo Iwata Brazil Ferrugem Brazil Gilsinho
Kashima Antlers Brazil Danilo Brazil Marcinho Brazil Marquinhos
Kashiwa Reysol Brazil Alex Brazil França Brazil Popó
Kawasaki Frontale Brazil Juninho Brazil Renatinho Brazil Vitor Júnior North Korea Jong Tae-se Brazil Hulk
Kyoto Purple Sanga Brazil Ataliba Brazil Fernandinho Brazil Sidiclei Brazil William Pinheiro Brazil Paulinho
Nagoya Grampus Eight Brazil Magnum Norway Frode Johnsen Serbia Miloš Bajalica
Oita Trinita Brazil Edmilson Alves Brazil Roberto Brazil Ueslei
Omiya Ardija Brazil Dênis Marques Brazil Leandro Euzébio Slovenia Klemen Lavrič Brazil Pedro Júnior
Shimizu S-Pulse Brazil Marcos Aurélio Brazil Marcos Paulo South Korea Kim Dong-sub Brazil Fernandinho
Tokyo Verdy Brazil Diego Souza Brazil Leandro Egypt Osama Elsamni Brazil Francismar
Brazil Hulk
Urawa Red Diamonds Brazil Edmílson Brazil Robson Ponte
Vissel Kobe Brazil Leandro Brazil Raphael Botti South Korea Kim Nam-il South Korea Park Kang-jo
Yokohama F. Marinos Brazil Lopes Tigrão South Korea Kim Kun-hoan Iran Ariajasuru Hasegawa Brazil Rôni

Format

Eighteen clubs will play in double round-robin (home and away) format, a total of 34 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 bottom two clubs will be relegated to J2, while the 16th placed club plays a two-legged promotion/relegation Series. The champions of this season qualifies to the AFC Champions League and one to three more clubs may also qualify.

Changes from Previous Year

Table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Kashima Antlers (C) 34 18 9 7 56 30 +26 63 Qualification for 2009 AFC Champions League Group stage
2 Kawasaki Frontale 34 18 6 10 65 42 +23 60
3 Nagoya Grampus 34 17 8 9 48 35 +13 59
4 Oita Trinita 34 16 8 10 33 24 +9 56 Qualification for Pan-Pacific Championship 2009[a]
5 Shimizu S-Pulse 34 16 7 11 50 42 +8 55
6 FC Tokyo 34 16 7 11 50 46 +4 55
7 Urawa Red Diamonds 34 15 8 11 50 42 +8 53
8 Gamba Osaka 34 14 8 12 46 49 −3 50 Qualification for 2009 AFC Champions League Group stage[b]
9 Yokohama F. Marinos 34 13 9 12 43 32 +11 48
10 Vissel Kobe 34 12 11 11 39 38 +1 47
11 Kashiwa Reysol 34 13 7 14 48 45 +3 46
12 Omiya Ardija 34 12 7 15 36 45 −9 43
13 Albirex Niigata 34 11 9 14 32 46 −14 42
14 Kyoto Sanga 34 11 8 15 37 46 −9 41
15 JEF United Chiba 34 10 8 16 36 53 −17 38
16 Júbilo Iwata (O) 34 10 7 17 40 48 −8 37 2008 promotion/relegation series
17 Tokyo Verdy (R) 34 10 7 17 38 50 −12 37 Relegation to 2009 J.League Division 2
18 Consadole Sapporo (R) 34 4 6 24 36 70 −34 18
Updated to match(es) played on December 6, 2008. Source: J. League Division 1
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Qualified as the winner of 2008 J.League Cup.
  2. ^ Qualified as the winner of 2008 Emperor's Cup.

Results

Home \ Away ALB ANT ARD CON FRO GAM GRA JEF JÚB REY SAN SSP TOK TRI RED VER VIS FMA
Albirex Niigata 0–2 2–2 2–1 2–1 3–2 2–1 2–2 1–0 2–1 1–0 3–0 2–3 0–1 0–1 0–0 3–2 0–0
Kashima Antlers 0–0 2–0 4–0 1–1 0–0 1–2 4–1 1–0 1–1 2–1 2–0 4–1 1–0 1–1 4–1 2–2 2–1
Omiya Ardija 2–0 1–1 1–2 2–1 2–0 1–2 2–1 1–2 0–4 1–1 0–0 0–3 2–0 0–1 2–0 0–2 1–0
Consadole Sapporo 0–1 0–1 1–2 0–2 3–3 1–3 2–3 2–1 0–2 1–2 2–2 1–2 0–0 1–2 1–3 1–1 1–2
Kawasaki Frontale 4–1 3–2 2–3 3–1 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–2 0–1 2–1 0–1 3–0 0–1 1–1 4–0 2–1
Gamba Osaka 2–2 0–0 2–3 4–2 2–1 0–1 0–0 2–1 2–1 1–0 2–0 1–3 0–1 1–0 2–1 1–1 2–2
Nagoya Grampus 2–0 0–4 4–0 3–1 1–2 1–2 3–2 0–0 1–0 1–1 3–2 0–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 0–0 2–0
JEF United Chiba 0–0 3–1 2–4 0–3 0–1 0–1 2–1 1–2 0–1 1–0 1–2 4–2 1–0 3–2 2–0 1–1 0–3
Júbilo Iwata 1–0 1–2 0–1 5–0 1–4 3–0 2–1 0–0 3–3 2–0 1–0 1–2 1–1 1–2 1–1 0–1 0–1
Kashiwa Reysol 0–0 1–1 1–0 1–2 2–5 1–0 2–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 0–2 0–1 0–2 2–1 5–1 3–0 1–3
Kyoto Sanga 1–0 2–1 2–1 1–0 1–2 1–2 2–3 0–1 2–0 0–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 0–4 0–0 2–1 1–0
Shimizu S-Pulse 3–0 1–0 0–0 3–1 2–0 3–1 0–2 3–2 1–1 3–2 2–1 1–0 1–2 1–2 1–0 0–1 1–1
FC Tokyo 1–0 3–2 3–1 1–0 4–2 1–1 0–1 1–1 5–1 0–1 3–3 1–5 1–0 0–1 1–2 1–1 1–1
Oita Trinita 3–1 0–1 1–0 3–2 0–0 1–2 0–0 0–0 2–1 2–0 1–0 2–2 1–0 2–0 2–0 1–0 1–0
Urawa Red Diamonds 3–0 2–0 0–0 4–2 1–3 2–3 0–2 3–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–2 2–0 0–0 3–2 0–1 1–6
Tokyo Verdy 4–0 0–2 1–0 1–1 0–2 1–3 2–0 3–0 1–2 2–1 0–1 4–1 1–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 3–2
Vissel Kobe 1–1 1–2 1–0 1–1 4–1 2–1 1–2 0–1 3–2 0–2 4–1 0–1 1–1 1–0 1–1 0–1 1–0
Yokohama F. Marinos 0–1 0–2 1–1 1–0 1–1 2–1 0–0 3–0 0–1 2–0 1–3 1–1 3–0 1–0 1–0 2–0 1–1
Updated to match(es) played on December 6, 2008. Source: J. League Division 1
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Awards

Individual awards

Award Recipient Club
Most Valuable Player Brazil Marquinhos Kashima Antlers
Rookie of the Year Japan Yoshizumi Ogawa Nagoya Grampus
Manager of the Year Brazil Oswaldo de Oliveira Kashima Antlers
Top Scorer Brazil Marquinhos Kashima Antlers

Best Eleven

Pos Footballer Club Nationality
GK Seigo Narazaki Nagoya Grampus  Japan
DF Atsuto Uchida Kashima Antlers  Japan
DF Daiki Iwamasa Kashima Antlers  Japan
DF Marcus Tulio Tanaka Nagoya Grampus  Japan
DF Satoshi Yamaguchi Gamba Osaka  Japan
DF Yuji Nakazawa Yokohama F. Marinos  Japan
MF Kengo Nakamura Kawasaki Frontale  Japan
MF Yasuhito Endō Gamba Osaka  Japan
MF Yoshizumi Ogawa Nagoya Grampus  Japan
FW Marquinhos Kashima Antlers  Brazil
FW Atsushi Yanagisawa Kyoto Sanga  Japan

Attendance

Pos Team Total High Low Average Change
1 Urawa Red Diamonds 809,353 57,050 16,225 47,609 +2.0%†
2 Albirex Niigata 586,325 40,359 22,740 34,490 −9.9%†
3 FC Tokyo 437,176 37,154 17,122 25,716 +1.7%†
4 Yokohama F. Marinos 402,593 61,246 9,583 23,682 −1.5%†
5 Oita Trinita 345,481 31,744 9,376 20,322 +2.8%†
6 Kashima Antlers 335,140 36,412 6,725 19,714 +21.4%†
7 Kawasaki Frontale 298,597 21,952 10,884 17,565 +1.3%†
8 Shimizu S-Pulse 282,190 20,330 13,855 16,599 +4.1%†
9 Nagoya Grampus 281,442 34,436 7,353 16,555 +6.2%†
10 Gamba Osaka 274,169 20,773 10,039 16,128 −7.5%†
11 Júbilo Iwata 262,911 27,866 8,216 15,465 −5.5%†
12 Tokyo Verdy 252,231 30,517 8,060 14,837 +102.5%†
13 Consadole Sapporo 247,305 28,901 7,010 14,547 +20.1%†
14 JEF United Chiba 239,436 17,152 8,694 14,084 −0.5%†
15 Kyoto Sanga 232,671 19,680 8,192 13,687 +106.5%†
16 Vissel Kobe 220,672 23,088 7,839 12,981 +4.2%†
17 Kashiwa Reysol 209,229 36,785 7,474 12,308 −5.1%†
18 Omiya Ardija 158,944 12,505 6,125 9,350 −18.4%†
League total 5,875,865 61,246 6,125 19,202 +0.7%†

Updated to games played on December 6, 2008
Source: J. League Division 1
Notes:
† Team played previous season in J2.

References

  1. ^ "2008 J1 Top Scorers". j-league.or.jp. J-League. Archived from the original on 28 June 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2010.