2002 J.League Division 2

The 2002 J.League Division 2 season is the 31st season of the second-tier club football in Japan and the 4th season since the establishment of J2 League.

J.League Division 2
Season2002
ChampionsOita Trinita
1st J2 title
1st D2 title
PromotedOita Trinita
Cerezo Osaka
Matches played264
Goals scored671 (2.54 per match)
Top goalscorerMarcus (19 goals)
← 2001
2003 →

Starting this season, extra-time rule was abolished and the league adopted the traditional 3-1-0 points system. The twelve clubs competed in the quadruple round-robin format. The top two received promotion to the J.League Division 1. There were no relegation to the third-tier Japan Football League.

Clubs
Locations of the 2002 J.League 2 teams

Following twelve clubs played in J.League Division 2 during 2002 season. Of these clubs, Cereso Osaka and Avispa Fukuoka were relegated from J1 League last year.

  • Montedio Yamagata
  • Mito HollyHocks
  • Omiya Ardija
  • Kawasaki Frontale
  • Yokohama F.C.
  • Shonan Bellmare
  • Ventforet Kofu
  • Albirex Niigata
  • Cerezo Osaka
  • Avispa Fukuoka
  • Sagan Tosu
  • Oita Trinita

League format

Twelve clubs will play in quadruple round-robin format, a total of 44 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

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 two clubs are promoted to J1.

Final league table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Oita Trinita (C, P) 44 28 10 6 67 34 +33 94 Promotion to 2003 J.League Division 1
2 Cerezo Osaka (P) 44 25 12 7 93 53 +40 87
3 Albirex Niigata 44 23 13 8 75 47 +28 82
4 Kawasaki Frontale 44 23 11 10 71 53 +18 80
5 Shonan Bellmare 44 16 16 12 46 43 +3 64
6 Omiya Ardija 44 14 17 13 52 42 +10 59
7 Ventforet Kofu 44 16 10 18 51 55 −4 58
8 Avispa Fukuoka 44 10 12 22 58 69 −11 42
9 Sagan Tosu 44 9 14 21 41 64 −23 41
10 Mito HollyHock 44 11 7 26 45 73 −28 40
11 Montedio Yamagata 44 6 17 21 29 57 −28 35
12 Yokohama FC 44 8 11 25 43 81 −38 35
Updated to match(es) played on November 24, 2002. Source: J.League Data Site
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champion; (P) Promoted.

Top scorers
PosFootballerClubGoalsPKGPShotsGoals Per Game
1st
 MarcusAlbirex Niigata
19
4/5
36
139
0.55
2nd
 Yoshito OkuboCerezo Osaka
18
1/2
29
65
0.91
AndradinaOita Trinita
18
1/1
39
117
0.50
4th
 BentinhoKawasaki Frontale
16
3/3
36
176
0.44
5th
 Takayoshi OnoMito HollyHock
14
2/2
36
85
0.46
Hiroshi MoritaSagan Tosu
14
0/0
38
86
0.45
David BiscontiSagan Tosu
14
4/4
39
92
0.42
8th
 Yasuo ManakaCerezo Osaka
13
1/1
28
67
1.05
Jorge Dely ValdésOmiya Ardija
13
2/2
32
72
0.46
10th
 Hiroaki MorishimaCerezo Osaka
12
0/0
37
75
0.34
MarlonKawasaki Frontale
12
0/0
23
74
0.58
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