2016 J2 League

The 2016 Meiji Yasuda J2 League (2016 明治安田生命J2リーグ) season is the 45th season of second-tier club football in Japan and the 18th season since the establishment of J2 League.

Meiji Yasuda J2 League
Season2016
ChampionsHokkaido Consadole Sapporo
6th D2 title
PromotedHokkaido Consadole Sapporo
Shimizu S-Pulse
Cerezo Osaka
RelegatedGiravanz Kitakyushu
Matches played462
Goals scored1,108 (2.4 per match)
Top goalscorerJong Tae-se
(Shimizu S-Pulse)
(26 goals)
Highest attendance33,697
Sapporo vs Kanazawa
(20 November)
Lowest attendance1,795
Giravanz Kitakyushu vs Kanazawa
(6 June)
Average attendance6,973
← 2015
2017 →

Clubs
Locations of the 2016 J2 League teams

Omiya Ardija have stayed in the second division for just a year, winning promotion as the champions. Júbilo Iwata have spent only 2 seasons in J2 after their first relegation from the J1 League in 2013 after 20 seasons. Third-placed Avispa Fukuoka won the promotion playoffs and will return to the first division after playing in the J2 for four years. Matsumoto Yamaga were relegated from the J1 immediately after their inaugural promotion. Shimizu S-Pulse also suffered their first relegation to the J2 after 23 seasons in the J1, while Montedio Yamagata returned after one season.

On the other end of the table, Renofa Yamaguchi have been promoted from the 2015 J3 League as the champions of the second season of the J3 League, replacing Tochigi SC and becoming the first club based in Yamaguchi Prefecture to play in the second tier since Eidai SC back in 1973. J3 runners-up Machida Zelvia were also promoted by beating Oita Trinita in the promotion-relegation playoffs.

The participating clubs are listed in the following table:

Club Name Home Town(s) Note(s)
Cerezo Osaka Osaka & Sakai, Osaka 2015 Play-off finalist
Consadole Sapporo All cities/towns in Hokkaidō[lower-alpha 1]
Ehime FC All cities/towns in Ehime[lower-alpha 2] 2015 Play-off contestant
Fagiano Okayama All cities/towns in Okayama[lower-alpha 3]
FC Gifu All cities/towns in Gifu[lower-alpha 4]
Giravanz Kitakyushu Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Not eligible for J1 promotion in 2015
Mito HollyHock Mito, Ibaraki Not eligible for J1 promotion in 2015
JEF United Chiba Chiba & Ichihara, Chiba
Kamatamare Sanuki Takamatsu, Kagawa Not eligible for J1 promotion in 2015
Montedio Yamagata All cities/towns in Yamagata[lower-alpha 5] Relegated from J1 League in 2015
Renofa Yamaguchi All cities/towns in Yamaguchi[lower-alpha 6] Promoted from J3 League in 2015
Roasso Kumamoto Kumamoto, Kumamoto
Kyoto Sanga Southwestern cities/towns in Kyoto[lower-alpha 7]
Thespakusatsu Gunma All cities/towns in Gunma[lower-alpha 8] Not eligible for J1 promotion in 2015
Shimizu S-Pulse Shizuoka, Shizuoka Relegated from J1 League in 2015
V-Varen Nagasaki All cities/towns in Nagasaki[lower-alpha 9] 2015 J2 League Play-off contestant
Tokyo Verdy All cities/towns in Tokyo
Tokushima Vortis All cities/towns in Tokushima[lower-alpha 10]
Matsumoto Yamaga Central cities/towns in Nagano[lower-alpha 11] Relegated from J1 League in 2015
Yokohama FC Yokohama, Kanagawa
Machida Zelvia Machida, Tokyo Promoted from J3 League in 2015
Zweigen Kanazawa Kanazawa, Ishikawa
  1. centering on Sapporo
  2. centering on Matsuyama
  3. centering on Okayama, Kurashiki, Tsuyama
  4. centering on Gifu
  5. centering on Yamagata, Tendo, Tsuruoka
  6. centering on Yamaguchi, Shimonoseki, Sanyoonoda, Ube
  7. Kyoto, Uji, Joyo, Kyotanabe, Muko, Nagaokakyo, Kizugawa, Kameoka
  8. centering on Kusatsu, Maebashi
  9. centering on Nagasaki, Isahaya
  10. centering on Tokushima, Naruto, Mima, Matsushige, Itano, Aizumi, Kitajima
  11. Matsumoto, Azumino, Yamagata, Shiojiri, Omachi, Ikeda

Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Date of separation Manner of departure Incoming manager Date of announcement
Shimizu S-Pulse Kazuaki Tasaka 25 November 2015 Resigned[1] Shinji Kobayashi 25 November 2015
Tokushima Vortis Shinji Kobayashi 26 November 2015 Contract expired[2] Hiroaki Nagashima 26 November 2015
Yokohama FC Hitoshi Nakata 1 December 2015 Retired from coaching[3] Miloš Rus 1 December 2015
Roasso Kumamoto Takeshi Ono 25 November 2015 Contract expired[4] Hiroyuki Kiyokawa[5] 28 December 2015
Yokohama FC Miloš Rus 15 June 2016 Resigned[6] Hitoshi Nakata[7] 15 June 2016
FC Gifu Ruy Ramos 22 July 2016 Sacked[8] Megumu Yoshida[9] 22 July 2016
JEF United Ichihara Chiba Takashi Sekizuka 25 July 2016 Sacked[10] Shigetoshi Hasebe 25 July 2016

Foreign players
Clubs Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Asian Player Non-Visa Foreign Type-C Contract
Cerezo Osaka Ricardo Santos Souza Besart Abdurahimi Kim Jin-hyeon Ahn Joon-soo
Consadole Sapporo Julinho Macedo Reis Gu Sung-yun Irfan Bachdim
Ehime FC Park Kwang-il Park Chan-yong
Fagiano Okayama Wang Jingbin Kim Jin-kyu
FC Gifu Evandro Leo Mineiro Leonardo Rocha Choi Sung-keun
Giravanz Kitakyushu Rodrigo
Mito HollyHock Romero Frank Yoo Lomon Song Ju-hun Nguyễn Công Phượng
JEF United Chiba Élton Eduardo Aranda Lee Joo-young
Kamatamare Sanuki Allan Evson Miguel Han Chang-joo
Montedio Yamagata Alceu Diego Diego Rosa Lee Je-seung Koo Bon-hyeok
Renofa Yamaguchi Luciano Romero Yoon Sin-young
Roasso Kumamoto Anderson Kim Tae-yeon
Kyoto Sanga Andrei Girotto Daniel Lovinho Kiros Lee Yong-jae
Shimizu S-Pulse Mitchell Duke Dejan Jaković Kim Byeom-yong Byeon Jun-byum Jong Tae-se
Thespakusatsu Gunma Lucas Gaúcho Matheus Park Gon Lim Jung-bin Park Seung-ri
Tokyo Verdy Alan Pinheiro Douglas Weslley Lim You-hwan
V-Varen Nagasaki Baek Sung-dong Park Hyung-jin Cho Min-woo Ri Yong-jik
Tokushima Vortis Alex Carlinhos Achille Emaná Kim Kyung-jung
Matsumoto Yamaga Obina Paulinho Willians Han Seung-hyeon
Yokohama FC Ibba Laajab Rok Štraus Nguyễn Tuấn Anh Na Sung-soo An Yong-hak
Zweigen Kanazawa David Mendes Romarinho Kim Young-heon An Byong-jun Kim Tea-sung
Machida Zelvia Calvin Jong-a-Pin Kim Song-gi Ri Han-jae

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Consadole Sapporo (C, P) 42 25 10 7 65 33 +32 85 Promotion to 2017 J1 League
2 Shimizu S-Pulse (P) 42 25 9 8 85 37 +48 84
3 Matsumoto Yamaga 42 24 12 6 62 32 +30 84 Qualification to promotion playoffs[lower-alpha 1]
4 Cerezo Osaka (O, P) 42 23 9 10 62 46 +16 78
5 Kyoto Sanga 42 18 15 9 50 37 +13 69
6 Fagiano Okayama 42 17 14 11 58 44 +14 65
7 Machida Zelvia 42 18 11 13 53 44 +9 65
8 Yokohama FC 42 16 11 15 50 51 −1 59
9 Tokushima Vortis 42 16 9 17 46 42 +4 57
10 Ehime FC 42 12 20 10 41 40 +1 56
11 JEF United Chiba 42 13 14 15 52 53 −1 53
12 Renofa Yamaguchi 42 14 11 17 55 63 −8 53
13 Mito HollyHock 42 10 18 14 45 49 −4 48
14 Montedio Yamagata 42 11 14 17 43 49 −6 47
15 V-Varen Nagasaki 42 10 17 15 39 51 −12 47
16 Roasso Kumamoto 42 12 10 20 38 53 −15 46
17 Thespakusatsu Gunma 42 11 12 19 52 66 −14 45
18 Tokyo Verdy 42 10 13 19 43 61 −18 43
19 Kamatamare Sanuki 42 10 13 19 43 62 −19 43
20 FC Gifu 42 12 7 23 47 71 −24 43
21 Zweigen Kanazawa (X) 42 8 15 19 36 60 −24 39 Qualification to relegation playoffs[lower-alpha 2]
22 Giravanz Kitakyushu (R) 42 8 14 20 43 64 −21 38 Relegation to 2017 J3 League
Updated to match(es) played on 20 November 2016. Source: 2016 MEIJI YASUDA J2 LEAGUE League table
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champion; (O) Play-off winner; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated; (X) Relegation play-off winner.
Notes:
  1. Only teams that meet J1 license criteria can participate in promotion playoffs. If one or more teams fail to meet the criteria, only eligible teams that finished 3rd to 6th will participate and no replacement teams will be added.
  2. The playoffs and direct exchange between J2 and J3 are subject to eligibility of J2-licensed teams in top 2 of 2016 J3 League.

Play-offs

J1 Promotion Playoffs
Semifinals Final
      
3 Matsumoto Yamaga 1
6 Fagiano Okayama 2
6 Fagiano Okayama 0
4 Cerezo Osaka 1
4 Cerezo Osaka 1
5 Kyoto Sanga 1

Semifinals
Matsumoto Yamaga1–2Fagiano Okayama
Paulinho  74' Report Oshitani  23'
Akamine  90+2'
Attendance: 12,200
Cerezo Osaka1–1Kyoto Sanga
Kakitani  13' Report Arita  90'
Attendance: 13,922

Final
Fagiano Okayama0–1Cerezo Osaka
Report Kiyohara  52'
Attendance: 17,086

J3 Relegation Playoffs
Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Tochigi SC 0–3 Zweigen Kanazawa 0–1 0–2
Tochigi SC0–1Zweigen Kanazawa
Report Koyanagi  89'
Attendance: 5,369
Zweigen Kanazawa2–0Tochigi SC
Nakami  34', 69' Report
Attendance: 7,130

Positions by round
Team \ Round 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
Consadole Sapporo1788647343213111111111111111111111111111111
Shimizu S-Pulse135611969964679109997856657656565545544333322
Matsumoto Yamaga179101412161484676664325333222222222222222222233
Cerezo Osaka431121112322443553222333334343333333444444
Kyoto Sanga914131315121213141489775664565564565656666666666555
Fagiano Okayama967534735754526432444445443434454455555666
Machida Zelvia17169752221131232246677786778888988777778777
Yokohama FC172122171713111213101281111111212141612141716151513111091077 7888887888
Tokushima Vortis1520212115191919171816171415131516121416161212131011131313121212 13121212111010999
Ehime FC131514181815131412111313131416131315111310111112131212121213111111999999101010
JEF United Chiba2105479561012111210888889999999910910910109101011121211111111
Renofa Yamaguchi9711161310101075453577797888788877778910111110101112121212
Mito HollyHock916191921181818161515151713151614161817181614161614141415141414 14131413141414131313
Montedio Yamagata171618192122222120201816161614141510121411101011121516161818181616181816171818161614
V-Varen Nagasaki2131212141717171919202121201917181919181713131011109111111131312141314131313141415
Roasso Kumamoto4313135711131414151818191717151112141514141717181416171817151517181516181516
Thespakusatsu Gunma11481011161618171919181920202020202021212122202019191615151718161615151717151717
Tokyo Verdy4111591113151515161718201717181918171919191917181818151717161515171718161615171818
Kamatamare Sanuki4232684598911121212101011131515181819171615171919191919191919191919201919
FC Gifu22221710858118910108910111113101013151718191920202020202020202020212222192020
Zweigen Kanazawa151920212021212222222222222222212122222222222220212121212122222221212122202021222221
Giravanz Kitakyushu41216151820202021212120192121222221212120202021222222222221212122222221222120212122

Last updated: 20 November 2016
Source: J. League Data Site
Note 1: Two games for Matchday 8 (V. Varen Nagasaki vs. Mito HollyHock; Kyoto Sanga FC vs. Roasso Kumamoto) scheduled on 17 April 2016 were affected by the series of earthquakes in Kumamoto prefecture.

  • Matchday 8 game between Kyoto Sanga FC and Roasso Kumamoto was rescheduled on 29 June 2016. Result of this match were included on Matchday 21 ranking.
  • Matchday 8 game between V. Varen Nagasaki and Mito HollyHock was rescheduled on 7 September 2016. Result of this match were included on Matchday 31 ranking.

Note 2: Matchday 8 schedule for Zweigen Kanazawa vs. Ehime FC, scheduled on 17 April 2016, was postponed due to severe storms in the area. The match was rescheduled on May 18 and results were included on Matchday 14 Ranking.
Note 3: Fixtures of Roasso Kumamoto for Matchdays 9 (Roasso Kumamoto vs. Yokohama FC), 10 (Montedio Yamagata vs. Roasso Kumamoto), 11 (Roasso Kumamoto vs. Ehime FC) and 12 (Consadole Sapporo vs. Roasso Kumamoto) were postponed by the J. League due to series of earthquakes in Kumamoto prefecture.

  • Matchday 9 game between Roasso Kumamoto and Yokohama FC was rescheduled on 7 September 2016. Result of this match were included on Matchday 31 ranking.
  • Matchday 10 game between Montedio Yamagata and Roasso Kumamoto was rescheduled on 6 July 2016. Result of this match were included on Matchday 22 ranking.
  • Matchday 11 game between Roasso Kumamoto and Ehime FC was rescheduled on 31 August 2016. Result of this match were included on Matchday 31 ranking.
  • Matchday 12 game between Consadole Sapporo and Roasso Kumamoto was rescheduled on 25 August 2016. Result of this match were included on Matchday 31 ranking.

Leader and qualification to 2017 J1 League
Qualification to 2017 J1 League
Qualification to promotion play-offs
Qualification to relegation play-offs
Relegation to 2017 J3 League

Results
Home \ Away CER CON EHI FAG GIF GIR HOL JEF KAM MON REN ROS SAN SSP SPA VVN VER VOR YAM YFC ZEL ZWE
Cerezo Osaka 0–0 1–0 2–1 3–2 1–1 2–2 2–1 2–3 2–2 2–4 1–0 0–2 1–2 1–0 2–0 1–0 3–2 0–1 2–3 1–3 2–2
Consadole Sapporo 1–0 1–1 1–0 5–0 1–0 1–0 2–2 4–1 3–1 3–1 1–0 3–1 3–2 3–1 2–1 1–2 1–0 1–0 5–2 3–2 0–0
Ehime FC 0–0 2–2 1–1 0–3 2–1 1–1 2–1 1–0 1–1 1–1 1–0 0–1 2–2 1–0 0–1 0–0 0–2 0–0 3–0 0–1 3–1
Fagiano Okayama 1–1 0–0 2–1 0–1 2–0 1–2 2–1 3–1 0–1 1–0 2–1 2–2 2–2 3–3 0–0 1–1 1–0 2–1 0–1 2–2 1–2
FC Gifu 0–1 0–4 2–1 0–5 1–0 1–0 0–2 1–1 0–1 1–2 2–3 0–1 1–1 2–1 2–4 4–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–2 0–1
Giravanz Kitakyushu 0–1 0–0 1–1 1–3 2–1 2–2 0–2 3–0 1–0 0–1 1–1 1–2 1–2 0–3 2–2 2–1 0–1 1–2 0–4 1–3 3–2
Mito HollyHock 0–1 0–1 1–2 2–3 1–0 1–1 1–0 3–2 1–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–0 1–0 0–2 1–1 0–3 2–3 1–1 2–2 3–0
JEF United Chiba 3–0 1–2 0–0 2–0 3–2 1–2 0–1 1–1 3–0 1–1 2–0 0–3 3–4 0–0 0–0 2–2 2–1 0–3 1–0 1–1 1–0
Kamatamare Sanuki 2–1 0–1 1–1 0–1 3–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 0–2 0–0 1–3 1–2 1–3 2–2 2–1 1–2 2–4 1–0 0–1 1–1
Montedio Yamagata 0–1 1–1 2–2 0–1 1–1 3–0 2–2 1–1 2–1 2–1 4–1 0–0 0–1 3–1 1–0 1–0 2–1 0–1 0–0 0–1 0–0
Renofa Yamaguchi 0–2 1–2 1–1 1–1 2–3 5–1 1–0 4–2 1–0 2–2 0–2 1–1 0–4 2–0 0–3 3–1 2–1 0–0 0–2 0–2 0–1
Roasso Kumamoto 1–5 2–0 1–2 0–0 1–0 1–6 0–1 3–0 2–0 0–0 1–2 1–2 0–2 1–1 1–2 1–0 1–0 1–0 0–1 0–2 5–2
Kyoto Sanga 3–3 0–0 0–1 2–0 1–0 0–0 1–1 1–1 1–0 3–2 3–0 1–1 2–1 0–0 0–0 2–0 0–1 1–2 1–0 1–0 0–0
Shimizu S-Pulse 0–2 0–2 0–0 2–1 2–0 2–0 2–1 1–1 2–2 3–1 2–2 4–0 4–1 8–0 2–0 0–1 0–1 0–0 3–0 2–0 4–1
Thespakusatsu Gunma 0–2 0–1 1–2 0–1 4–0 2–2 2–1 2–1 1–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 0–1 0–4 3–0 2–2 0–3 1–1 3–1 2–2 2–1
V-Varen Nagasaki 1–2 0–0 1–1 0–3 2–1 0–0 1–1 1–1 1–2 1–1 2–1 0–2 0–2 0–3 2–2 2–1 1–2 1–1 1–3 1–0 0–0
Tokyo Verdy 1–2 1–0 1–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 0–3 1–1 3–2 0–1 2–2 1–0 2–1 2–1 1–2 0–0 1–0 0–4 0–2 0–1 4–1
Tokushima Vortis 0–1 2–1 2–0 2–3 1–3 1–0 1–0 1–0 0–0 2–2 1–1 0–1 2–1 1–2 1–1 0–0 3–1 2–2 0–3 1–1 0–1
Matsumoto Yamaga 0–1 3–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 0–0 0–1 0–0 1–0 3–3 1–0 2–0 1–0 2–1 1–0 2–0 1–0 3–2 1–0 4–2
Yokohama FC 1–1 1–0 0–0 0–2 1–2 2–2 1–1 2–1 0–1 2–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 0–2 3–2 2–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–0 0–0
Machida Zelvia 0–1 2–0 0–1 1–1 1–1 0–1 3–3 2–3 0–1 2–1 2–3 1–0 1–1 1–2 0–0 1–0 2–1 1–0 2–1 1–1 2–1
Zweigen Kanazawa 1–3 0–1 2–1 1–1 1–2 1–1 0–0 1–2 0–0 1–0 1–0 0–0 1–1 0–3 3–1 1–2 1–1 0–0 0–2 1–2 1–2
Updated to match(es) played on 20 November 2016. Source: J.League Data
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Top scorers
Rank Scorer Club Goals
1 Jong Tae-se Shimizu S-Pulse
26
2 Ken Tokura Consadole Sapporo
19
3 Genki Omae Shimizu S-Pulse
18
Ibba Laajab Yokohama FC
5 Ryo Nagai V-Varen Nagasaki
17
6 Kazuki Hara Giravanz Kitakyushu
16
Hiroyuki Takasaki Matsumoto Yamaga
8 Yuki Nakashima Machida Zelvia
14
Kenyu Sugimoto Cerezo Osaka
Yuki Oshitani Fagiano Okayama
11 Léo Mineiro FC Gifu
13
Yusuke Segawa Thespakusatsu Gunma

Updated to games played on 20 November 2016
Source: J.League Data

Attendances
Pos Team Total High Low Average Change
1 Consadole Sapporo 305,732 33,697 8,269 14,559 +21.7%†
2 Matsumoto Yamaga 286,246 19,632 10,796 13,631 −19.0%†
3 Cerezo Osaka 262,691 23,781 8,464 12,509 +2.3%†
4 Shimizu S-Pulse 236,749 16,740 6,552 11,274 −19.9%†
5 JEF United Chiba 216,127 14,163 7,684 10,292 −4.0%†
6 Fagiano Okayama 210,364 15,204 7,050 10,017 +19.1%†
7 Renofa Yamaguchi 139,732 14,532 3,629 6,654 +52.4%‡
8 Kyoto Sanga 137,005 12,042 2,884 6,524 −12.9%†
9 Montedio Yamagata 131,324 14,450 3,189 6,254 −37.6%†
10 FC Gifu 118,910 12,158 3,215 5,662 −8.4%†
11 Roasso Kumamoto 116,402 9,727 2,509 5,543 −21.2%†
12 Tokyo Verdy 113,451 9,272 2,752 5,402 −4.6%†
13 Mito HollyHock 112,668 10,420 3,815 5,365 +11.4%†
14 V-Varen Nagasaki 109,727 9,048 2,692 5,225 +6.0%†
15 Machida Zelvia 107,591 10,112 3,448 5,123 +36.0%‡
16 Yokohama FC 102,724 10,524 2,077 4,892 −4.3%†
17 Thespakusatsu Gunma 99,619 9,804 2,374 4,744 +15.7%†
18 Tokushima Vortis 95,860 9,767 3,218 4,565 −9.0%†
19 Zweigen Kanazawa 87,757 9,316 1,924 4,179 −14.9%†
20 Ehime FC 85,863 8,215 2,019 4,089 +8.4%†
21 Kamatamare Sanuki 77,413 11,376 1,924 3,686 +0.8%†
22 Giravanz Kitakyushu 67,698 5,689 1,795 3,224 −6.8%†
League total 3,221,653 33,697 1,795 6,973 +1.9%†

Updated to games played on 20 November 2016
Source: J. League Data
Notes:
†from J1‡from J3

References
  1. http://www.s-pulse.co.jp/news/detail/31599
  2. http://www.vortis.jp/news/detail.php?pressid=7059
  3. http://www.yokohamafc.com/2015/12/01/2016シーズン監督にミロシュ-ルス氏就任のお知らせ/
  4. http://roasso-k.com/news/news_view.htm?id=2269
  5. http://roasso-k.com/news/news_view.htm?id=2339
  6. "ミロシュ ルス監督辞任のお知らせ". yokohamafc.com (in Japanese). 2016-06-15. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
  7. "中田仁司強化育成テクニカルダイレクター 監督就任のお知らせ". yokohamafc.com (in Japanese). 2016-06-15. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
  8. "監督交代のお知らせ". fc-gifu.com (in Japanese). 2016-07-22. Archived from the original on 2016-07-22. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
  9. "新監督就任のお知らせ". fc-gifu.com (in Japanese). 2016-07-22. Archived from the original on 2016-07-26. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
  10. "監督交代のお知らせ". jefunited.co.jp (in Japanese). 2016-07-25. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
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