The 2024 J2 League, also known as the 2024 Meiji Yasuda J2 League (Japanese: 2024 明治安田J2リーグ, Hepburn: 2024 Meiji Yasuda J2 Rīgu) for sponsorship reasons, is the 26th season of the J2 League, the second-tier Japanese professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1999. This will also be the tenth season of the league since its rebrand from J.League Division 2.
| Season | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 24 February – 10 November 2024 |
| Matches played | 120 |
| Goals scored | 298 (2.48 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Edigar Junio, Matheus Jesus (7 goals) |
| Biggest home win | JEF United Chiba 8–0 Tochigi SC (3 April 2024) |
| Biggest away win | Roasso Kumamoto 0–6 Iwaki FC (17 March 2024) |
| Highest scoring | JEF United Chiba 8–0 Tochigi SC (3 April 2024) |
← 2023 2025 →
All statistics correct as of 13:10, 29 April 2024 (UTC). | |
Overview edit
For the first time since 2011, the number of the clubs in the league decreased from 22 to 20.[1]
This season, there will be three automatic relegation spots to the J3 League (one more than the 2023 season) and two clubs will gain automatic promotion to the J1 League. Like last season, the winner of the J2 promotion play-off will also be promoted to the top tier.
Additionally, some J3 League clubs may not have a J2 license and may not be promoted if they finish in the top two places of the J3 League.
Schedule edit
The league and match format was announced on 19 December 2023. The league will begin on 23 February and end on 10 November in a round-robin format of 38 matches.[2]
The J1 promotion play-offs will have the semi-finals on 30 November or 1 December with the final taking place on 7 December.[3]
Changes from the previous season edit
Zweigen Kanazawa and Omiya Ardija were relegated to the 2024 J3 League, finishing the previous J2 League season as 21st and 22nd-placed teams, respectively.
Yokohama FC were the sole team to be relegated from the J1 League, after only one season in the top flight.
Both Machida Zelvia and Júbilo Iwata are promoted to the J1 League as champions and runners-up, respectively, of the previous J2 League season. Tokyo-based Machida will make their debut in the top flight of Japanese football, while Júbilo will make their immediate comeback to the J1. Joining the duo are Tokyo Verdy, who finished 3rd in 2023 and earned promotion after winning the promotion play-offs, thus making their first top flight appearance since 2008.
J3 winners Ehime FC and runners-up Kagoshima United were both promoted from the J3 League. Ehime are returning to the second-tier following two seasons in the J3 League and Kagoshima United will be playing only their second J2 season after five years absence.
From this season, Thespakusatsu Gunma changed their name to Thespa Gunma.[4]
Clubs edit
- ^ centering on Matsuyama
- ^ centering on Okayama, Kurashiki, Tsuyama
- ^ Mito, Hitachi, Hitachinaka, Kasama, Naka, Omitama, Hitachiota, Kitaibaraki, Hitachiomiya, Takahagi, Ibaraki, Shirosato, Oarai, Daigo, Tokai
- ^ centering on Yamagata, Tendo, Tsuruoka
- ^ centering on Kusatsu and Maebashi
- ^ centering on Nagasaki and Isahaya
- ^ centering on Kofu and Nirasaki
Personnel and kits edit
Managerial changes edit
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in the table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tochigi SC |  Yu Tokisaki[5]
|
Resigned | 6 November 2023 | Pre-season | Makoto Tanaka[6]
|
5 December 2023 |
| Oita Trinita | Takahiro Shimotaira[7]
|
10 November 2023 | Tomohiro Katanosaka[8]
|
30 November 2023 | ||
| Vegalta Sendai | Takafumi Hori[9]
|
13 November 2023 | Yoshiro Moriyama[10]
|
27 November 2023 | ||
| Renofa Yamaguchi |  Juan Esnáider[11]
|
13 November 2023 | Ryo Shigaki[12]
|
5 December 2023 | ||
| V-Varen Nagasaki |  Fábio Carille[13]
|
Contract terminated[a] | 15 February 2024 | Takahiro Shimotaira[16]
|
15 February 2024 |
Foreign players edit
As of the 2023 season, there are no more restrictions on a number of signed foreign players, but clubs can only register up to five foreign players for a single match-day squad.[17] Players from J.League partner nations (Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia and Qatar) are exempt from these restrictions.
- Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the midseason transfer window.
- Player's name in italics indicates the player has Japanese nationality in addition to their FIFA nationality, or is exempt from being treated as a foreign player due to having been born in Japan and being enrolled in, or having graduated from school in the country.[18]
League table edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shimizu S-Pulse | 13 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 24 | 14 | +10 | 31 | Promotion to the 2025 J1 League |
| 2 | V-Varen Nagasaki | 13 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 27 | 13 | +14 | 28 | |
| 3 | Yokohama FC | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 20 | 8 | +12 | 24 | Qualification for the promotion play-offs |
| 4 | Fagiano Okayama | 13 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 16 | 10 | +6 | 23 | |
| 5 | Iwaki FC | 13 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 22 | 10 | +12 | 22 | |
| 6 | Vegalta Sendai | 13 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 14 | 12 | +2 | 20 | |
| 7 | Ehime FC | 13 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 18 | 16 | +2 | 19 | |
| 8 | Blaublitz Akita | 13 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 12 | +2 | 19 | |
| 9 | Oita Trinita | 13 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 13 | +1 | 19 | |
| 10 | Renofa Yamaguchi | 13 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 11 | +5 | 18 | |
| 11 | Ventforet Kofu | 13 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 21 | 17 | +4 | 18 | |
| 12 | JEF United Chiba | 13 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 25 | 16 | +9 | 17 | |
| 13 | Montedio Yamagata | 13 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 16 | −1 | 17 | |
| 14 | Fujieda MYFC | 13 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 20 | −11 | 14 | |
| 15 | Roasso Kumamoto | 13 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 18 | 27 | −9 | 13 | |
| 16 | Kagoshima United | 13 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 14 | 23 | −9 | 13 | |
| 17 | Tokushima Vortis | 13 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 22 | −11 | 12 | |
| 18 | Tochigi SC | 13 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 29 | −18 | 12 | Relegation to 2025 J3 League |
| 19 | Mito HollyHock | 13 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 15 | −5 | 11 | |
| 20 | Thespa Gunma | 13 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 23 | −15 | 6 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head goal scored; 7) Fair-play points.
Season statistics edit
Top scorers edit
- As of 28 April 2024[19]
Awards edit
Monthly awards edit
| Month | Manager of the Month | Monthly MVP | Goal of the Month | Young Player of the Month | References | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manager | Club | Player | Club | Player | Club | Player | Club | ||
| February/March | Takashi Kiyama
|
Fagiano Okayama | Gleyson
|
Fagiano Okayama | Matheus Jesus
|
V-Varen Nagasaki | Hayato Tanaka
|
V-Varen Nagasaki | [20][21][22][23] |
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "League Structure and Competition Format from 2024 Season Unify the number of clubs in each category to 20 League Cup changed to a knockout competition with participation of all J1, J2 and J3 clubs". Japan Professional Football League. 21 December 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ "２０２４明治安田Ｊ２リーグ 大会方式および試合方式について：Ｊリーグ公式サイト（J.LEAGUE.jp）". Ｊリーグ.jp（日本プロサッカーリーグ） (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ "２０２４Ｊ１昇格プレーオフ 大会方式および試合方式について：Ｊリーグ公式サイト（J.LEAGUE.jp）". Ｊリーグ.jp（日本プロサッカーリーグ） (in Japanese). 19 December 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ "２０２４Ｊリーグ クラブ編成：Ｊリーグ公式サイト（J.LEAGUE.jp）". Ｊリーグ.jp（日本プロサッカーリーグ） (in Japanese). 19 December 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ "時崎監督の退任を発表【栃木】：Ｊリーグ公式サイト（J.LEAGUE.jp）". Ｊリーグ.jp（日本プロサッカーリーグ） (in Japanese). 7 November 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ "来季の新監督に田中氏が就任【栃木】：Ｊリーグ公式サイト（J.LEAGUE.jp）". Ｊリーグ.jp（日本プロサッカーリーグ） (in Japanese). 5 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
- ^ "【トップチーム】下平隆宏監督退任のお知らせ". 大分トリニータ公式サイト (in Japanese). 10 November 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ "【トップチーム】片野坂知宏氏 監督就任のお知らせ". 大分トリニータ公式サイト (in Japanese). 30 November 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
- ^ "堀孝史監督 退任のお知らせ". ベガルタ仙台オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ "森山佳郎監督就任のお知らせ". ベガルタ仙台オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). 27 November 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
- ^ "フアン エスナイデル 監督 退任のお知らせ | レノファ山口FC". RENOFA YAMAGUCHI FC (in Japanese). 13 November 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ "志垣 良 氏 レノファ山口FC トップチーム 監督就任のお知らせ | レノファ山口FC". RENOFA YAMAGUCHI FC (in Japanese). 5 December 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ "ファビオ カリーレ監督及びスタッフとの契約終了 ならびに同人らに対する国際サッカー連盟（FIFA）への提訴完了のお知らせ". 15 February 2024. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
- ^ "Fábio Carille é apresentado como treinador do Santos: "Camisa histórica"". 20 December 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
- ^ "サントスFCならびにファビオ カリーレ監督等に関するFIFAへの申立てについて（1月19日時点）". 19 January 2024. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
- ^ "下平 隆宏 監督就任のお知らせ". 26 February 2024. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
- ^ "「ホームグロウン制度」の導入と「外国籍選手枠」の変更について". J.LEAGUE.jp. Archived from the original on 2022-11-26. Retrieved 2022-11-24.
- ^ "プロサッカー選手の契約、登録および移籍に関する規則" (PDF). jfa.jp.
- ^ "All Positions | Goals | All clubs | MEIJI YASUDA J2 LEAGUE | 2024 Player Stats". J.LEAGUE. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ "Kuroda named Manager of the Month after Zelvia's fast start | News". J.LEAGUE. 17 April 2024.
- ^ "Zelvia star Hirakawa earns Konami Monthly MVP for February and March | News". J.LEAGUE. 17 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ "Taniguchi's magnificent volley for Albirex wins Goal of the Month for February and March | News". J.LEAGUE. 17 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ "Suzuki shines bright for Bellmare to win Young Player of the Month for February and March | News". J.LEAGUE. 17 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
External links edit
- Official website on jleague.co (in English)