The 2020 J3 League, referred to as the 2020 Meiji Yasuda J3 League (Japanese: 2020 明治安田生命J3リーグ, Hepburn: 2020 Meiji Yasuda Seimei J3 Rīgu) for sponsorship reasons, was the 7th season of J3 League under its current name.
| Season | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 27 June – 20 December |
| Champions | Blaublitz Akita (2nd title) |
| Promoted | Blaublitz Akita SC Sagamihara |
| Relegated | none (for season 2020 only) |
| Matches played | 306 |
| Goals scored | 791 (2.58 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Kaito Taniguchi Roasso Kumamoto (18 goals) |
| Biggest home win | 5 - 0 Azul Claro Numazu v Cerezo Osaka U23 |
| Highest scoring | 6-4 Kagoshima United v Gamba Osaka U23 5-5 Yokohama Sports & Culture Club v Gamba Osaka U23 |
| Longest winning run | 9 Blaublitz Akita 27 June to 9 August 2020 |
| Longest unbeaten run | 28 Blaublitz Akita 27 June to 18 November 2020 |
| Highest attendance | 6,297 Nagano v Grulla 0-2 |
| Lowest attendance | 0 (due to COVID-19) |
| Total attendance | 348,875 [1] |
| Average attendance | 1,140 |
← 2019 2021 →
All statistics correct as of 20 December 2020. | |
Blaublitz Akita won the J3 title for the second time in their history. They were promoted to the 2021 J2 League alongside SC Sagamihara. Both teams won promotion for the J2 League for the first time.
Overview edit
On 19 March, 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.
This is last season to with three U-23 teams from J1 in 2020 season. J3 League has been scheduled for a reduction to 15 clubs before the 2021 season.
Postponement of the beginning of the season edit
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic-related concerns, the Japan Football Association (JFA) opted to postpone the beginning of the season, firstly established for 7 March.[2]
On 25 February, all J.League matches until 15 March were postponed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] After that, it was announced that it would be postponed until 29 March.[4] 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.[5] On 25 March, the league announced that the season would be suspended between 3 April and 6 May.[6]
On 3 April, it was decided to start over with the official game schedule, which aimed to gradually resume J3 from 25 April, J2 from 2 May, and J1 from 9 May. Note that, considering a new schedule in the future, the schedule would have called for the season's resumption at least one month later and later in the month.[7]
On 29 May, J.League announced its decision to resume on 27 June.[8] On 9 June, the schedules of the 2020 season were published.[9] On 15 June, new dates were also published. The first 2 matches in each league (J3 1st-2nd section) were held without spectators. After 10 July, as a general rule, the maximum number of people were 5,000 (stadiums with lower capacity are those with less than 50% of the capacity of people watching; no away supporters allowed). After August, the maximum stadium capacity was 50%, and there would be "high alert spectator matches".[10]
After that, at the 11th J.League extraordinary executive committee meeting on 20 July, it was announced that the "super strict alert audience game" was extended to 10 August in view of the spread of coronavirus infection.[11]
Changes from the previous season edit
| Promoted from 2019 JFL | Promoted to 2020 J2 League | Withdrawn / Disbanded |
|---|---|---|
| FC Imabari | Giravanz Kitakyushu Thespakusatsu Gunma |
None |
2019 season saw two teams promoted to J2 League: Giravanz Kitakyushu won the championship after being for three seasons in the third tier, while Thespakusatsu Gunma won promotion just in the last game of the season.[12] From second division, there was a double automatic relegation for the second time: FC Gifu played their first season in J3 after being in the second division for the last 12 years, when J3 League wasn't even on the cards. Alongside them, an incredible final day of the 2019 season pushed Kagoshima United FC immediately back to J3, just one year after sealing their first-ever participation to the second tier. This is the last J3 League season that featured the U-23 teams from J1 League. On 5 June, FC Tokyo U-23 withdrew from the league.
Also, Japan Football League saw the promotion of another club: after two fifth-placed performances, FC Imabari came third in 2019 and booked their first professional season in their history.[13]
Participating clubs edit
- ^ centering on Gifu
- ^ centering on Tottori, Yonago, Kurayoshi, Sakaiminato
- ^ centering on Takamatsu, Marugame
- ^ centering on Toyama
- ^ Fujieda, Shimada, Yaizu, Makinohara, Yoshida, Kawanehonmachi
- ^ Hachinohe, Towada, Gonohe, Sannohe, Takko, Hashikami, Nanbu, Shingo, Oirase, Misawa, Shichinohe, Rokunohe, Tohoku, Noheji, Yokohama, Rokkasho
Personnel and kits edit
Managerial changes edit
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cerezo Osaka U-23 |  Kazuhiro Murata
|
Appointed Academy Deputy Director and U-18 Head Coach | 28 July 2020[14] | Yoshiaki Maruyama
|
28 July 2020[15] |
| FC Gifu |  Zdravko Zemunović
|
Change of director | 25 September 2020[16] | Kenji Nakada
|
25 September 2020[16] |
League table edit
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,[17] 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).
FC Tokyo U-23's withdrawal was approved at a board meeting held on 5 June, leaving the J3 League with 18 teams.[18]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blaublitz Akita (C, P) | 34 | 21 | 10 | 3 | 55 | 18 | +37 | 73 | Promotion to 2021 J2 League 2020 Emperor's Cup quarter-finals |
| 2 | SC Sagamihara (P) | 34 | 16 | 13 | 5 | 43 | 35 | +8 | 61 | Promotion to 2021 J2 League[a] |
| 3 | Nagano Parceiro | 34 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 45 | 26 | +19 | 59 | |
| 4 | Kagoshima United | 34 | 18 | 4 | 12 | 55 | 43 | +12 | 58 | |
| 5 | Gainare Tottori | 34 | 17 | 6 | 11 | 47 | 37 | +10 | 57 | |
| 6 | FC Gifu | 34 | 16 | 8 | 10 | 50 | 39 | +11 | 56 | |
| 7 | FC Imabari | 34 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 39 | 27 | +12 | 55 | |
| 8 | Roasso Kumamoto | 34 | 16 | 6 | 12 | 56 | 47 | +9 | 54 | |
| 9 | Kataller Toyama | 34 | 15 | 5 | 14 | 52 | 43 | +9 | 50 | |
| 10 | Fujieda MYFC | 34 | 14 | 7 | 13 | 48 | 44 | +4 | 49 | |
| 11 | Iwate Grulla Morioka | 34 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 36 | 47 | −11 | 42 | |
| 12 | Azul Claro Numazu | 34 | 12 | 5 | 17 | 36 | 40 | −4 | 41 | |
| 13 | Fukushima United | 34 | 11 | 6 | 17 | 46 | 55 | −9 | 39 | |
| 14 | Gamba Osaka U-23 | 34 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 43 | 55 | −12 | 35 | |
| 15 | Vanraure Hachinohe | 34 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 42 | 56 | −14 | 33 | |
| 16 | Kamatamare Sanuki | 34 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 33 | 52 | −19 | 31 | |
| 17 | YSCC Yokohama | 34 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 37 | 66 | −29 | 27 | |
| 18 | Cerezo Osaka U-23 | 34 | 5 | 10 | 19 | 28 | 61 | −33 | 25 | |
| 19 | FC Tokyo U-23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Withdrew due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan |
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
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted
Notes:
- ^ Only teams that hold a J2 licence are eligible for promotion.
Top scorers edit
After matches played on 20 December 2020.[19]
Attendances edit
| Pos | Team | Total | High | Low | Average | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FC Gifu | 44,942 | 5,222 | 0 | 2,644 | −60.2%† |
| 2 | Nagano Parceiro | 41,629 | 6,297 | 0 | 2,449 | −18.4% |
| 3 | Kagoshima United FC | 37,635 | 3,990 | 0 | 2,214 | −61.7%† |
| 4 | Roasso Kumamoto | 29,111 | 3,435 | 0 | 1,712 | −69.1% |
| 7 | Kataller Toyama | 20,681 | 2,592 | 0 | 1,217 | −55.5% |
| 5 | FC Imabari | 23,042 | 2,139 | 0 | 1,355 | −56.3%‡ |
| 6 | Blaublitz Akita | 20,761 | 2,226 | 0 | 1,221 | −22.5% |
| 10 | Kamatamare Sanuki | 14,767 | 1,506 | 0 | 869 | −58.9% |
| 11 | Gainare Tottori | 13,731 | 1,451 | 0 | 808 | −63.8% |
| 13 | Vanraure Hachinohe | 11,316 | 1,066 | 0 | 666 | −62.2% |
| 8 | Azul Claro Numazu | 15,720 | 1,890 | 0 | 925 | −62.6% |
| 12 | Fujieda MYFC | 11,617 | 1,271 | 0 | 683 | −60.7% |
| 9 | SC Sagamihara | 15,609 | 2,664 | 0 | 918 | −68.1% |
| 14 | YSCC Yokohama | 10,597 | 1,109 | 0 | 623 | −43.1% |
| 16 | Fukushima United | 9,902 | 1,369 | 0 | 582 | −53.1% |
| 15 | Gamba Osaka U-23 | 10,120 | 2,526 | 0 | 595 | −52.9% |
| 17 | Cerezo Osaka U-23 | 9,511 | 1,672 | 0 | 559 | −53.3% |
| 18 | Iwate Grulla Morioka | 8,184 | 1,024 | 0 | 481 | −64.8% |
| League total | 348,875 | 6,297 | 0 | 1,140 | −52.4% |
Updated to games played on 20 December 2020
Source: J. League Data
Notes:
† Last year in J2 League
‡ Last year in Japan Football League.
See also edit
- J.League
- 2020 J1 League (I)
- 2020 J2 League (II)
- 2020 J3 League (III)
- 2020 Japan Football League (IV)
- 2020 Japanese Regional Leagues (V/VI)
- 2020 Fuji Xerox Super Cup (Super Cup)
- 2020 Emperor's Cup (National Cup)
- 2020 J.League YBC Levain Cup (League Cup)
References edit
- ^ "2020 Attendance". data.j-league.or.jp. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
- ^ "２０２０Ｊリーグ 明治安田生命Ｊ１リーグ 第7節～第12節 明治安田生命Ｊ２リーグ 第8節～第12節 明治安田生命Ｊ３リーグ 第5節～第6節 ＪリーグYBCルヴァンカップ グループステージ 第4節～第6節 開催延期のお知らせ" (Press release). 25 March 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
- ^ "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. 25 February 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- ^ "J.LEAGUE to Extend Suspension of Matches" (Press release). Official. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
- ^ "J. League to skip relegation as schedule threatened by coronavirus" (Press release). The Japan Times. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
- ^ "J.LEAGUE Further Extends Suspension of Matches" (Press release). Official. 25 March 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- ^ "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. 4 April 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- ^ "About the resumption/opening dates of the J.LEAGUE" (Press release). Official. 29 May 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ^ "About schedule announcements of the 2020 J.LEAGUE" (Press release). Official. 9 June 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ^ "2020 J.LEAGUE Match Schedules" (Press release). Official. 15 June 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ^ "【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. 20 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ "ギラヴァンツ北九州がJ3初優勝。ザスパクサツ群馬が2位に浮上して最終節へ". Football Channel (in Japanese). 1 December 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
- ^ "Ｊリーグ入会審査（Ｊ３）結果について" (Press release). J.League. 18 November 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
- ^ "セレッソ大阪U-23 村田一弘監督 退任のお知らせ" (Press release). セレッソ大阪. 28 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ "セレッソ大阪U-23 丸山良明新監督 就任のお知らせ" (Press release). セレッソ大阪. 28 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ a b "監督交代のお知らせ" (Press release). FC岐阜. 25 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ "J.LEAGUE to Change Format in the 2020 MEIJI YASUDA J.LEAGUE" (Press release). Official. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
- ^ "ＦＣ東京Ｕ－２３ Ｊ３リーグへの参加辞退について" (Press release) (in Japanese). 日本プロサッカーリーグ. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ "STATS & DATA » GOALS / MEIJI YASUDA J3 LEAGUE". J.League. Archived from the original on 2018-06-19. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
External links edit
Official website, JLeague.jp (in English)