# 2018 J1 League

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26th season of J1 League

Football league season

Meiji Yasuda J1 League Season 2018 Dates 23 February – 1 December Champions Kawasaki Frontale (2nd title) Relegated Kashiwa Reysol V-Varen Nagasaki AFC Champions League Kawasaki Frontale Sanfrecce Hiroshima Kashima Antlers Urawa Red Diamonds Matches 306 Goals 813 (2.66 per match) Top goalscorer Jô (Nagoya Grampus) (24 goals) Biggest home win Frontale v Consadole 7–0 (15 September) Biggest away win Vegalta v Marinos 2–8 (16 July) Highest scoring Vegalta v Marinos 2–8 (16 July) Longest winning run 9 – Gamba Osaka (Matchday 25–33) Longest unbeaten run 12 – Consadole Sapporo (Matchday 25–34) Longest winless run 15 – Nagoya Grampus (Matchday 3–17) Longest losing run 8 – Nagoya Grampus (Matchday 4–11) Highest attendance 55,689 – Reds v Vissel (23 September, Matchday 27) Lowest attendance 6,189 – S-Pulse v V-Varen (11 April, Matchday 7) Total attendance 5,833,538 Average attendance 19,064 ← 2017 2019 →

The **2018 J1 League**, also known as the **2018 [Meiji Yasuda](/source/Meiji_Yasuda_Life) J1 League** (2018 明治安田生命Ｊ１リーグ, *2018 Meiji Yasuda Seimei J1 Rīgu*) for sponsorship reasons, was the 26th season of [J1 League](/source/J1_League), the top Japanese professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1992. This was fourth season of J1 League as renamed from J. League Division 1.

[Kawasaki Frontale](/source/Kawasaki_Frontale) were the defending champions.

## Clubs

A total of 18 clubs contested the league. The [2017 J2 League](/source/2017_J2_League) champion [Shonan Bellmare](/source/Shonan_Bellmare) and the winner of the promotion play-offs [Nagoya Grampus](/source/Nagoya_Grampus) returned to the top flight a year after being relegated from J1 in the [2016 season](/source/2016_J1_League). [V-Varen Nagasaki](/source/V-Varen_Nagasaki), J2 runner-up in 2017, played in the [J1 League](/source/J1_League) for the first time.

Club Location Stadium Last season Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo Hokkaido Sapporo Dome J1 (11th) Vegalta Sendai Miyagi Prefecture Yurtec Stadium Sendai J1 (12th) Kashima Antlers Ibaraki Prefecture Kashima Soccer Stadium J1 (2nd) Urawa Red Diamonds Saitama Prefecture Saitama Stadium 2002 J1 (7th) Kashiwa Reysol Chiba Prefecture Sankyo Frontier Kashiwa Stadium J1 (4th) FC Tokyo Tokyo Ajinomoto Stadium J1 (13th) Kawasaki Frontale Kanagawa Prefecture Todoroki Athletics Stadium J1 (champions) Yokohama F. Marinos Nissan Stadium Nippatsu Mitsuzawa Stadium J1 (5th) Shonan Bellmare Shonan BMW Stadium Hiratsuka J2 (champions) Shimizu S-Pulse Shizuoka Prefecture IAI Stadium Nihondaira J1 (14th) Júbilo Iwata Yamaha Stadium J1 (6th) Nagoya Grampus Aichi Prefecture Paloma Mizuho Stadium Toyota Stadium J2 (3rd) Gamba Osaka Osaka Prefecture Panasonic Stadium Suita J1 (10th) Cerezo Osaka Yanmar Stadium Kincho Stadium J1 (3rd) Vissel Kobe Hyōgo Prefecture Noevir Stadium Kobe J1 (9th) Sanfrecce Hiroshima Hiroshima Prefecture Edition Stadium Hiroshima J1 (15th) Sagan Tosu Saga Prefecture Best Amenity Stadium J1 (8th) V-Varen Nagasaki Nagasaki Prefecture Transcosmos Stadium Nagasaki J2 (2nd)

### Personnel and kits

Club Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Front shirt sponsor Cerezo Osaka Yoon Jong-hwan[1] Hotaru Yamaguchi Puma Yanmar FC Tokyo Kenta Hasegawa[2] Jang Hyun-soo Umbro Lifeval Gamba Osaka Tsuneyasu Miyamoto[3] Yasuhito Endō Umbro Panasonic Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo Mihailo Petrović[4] Hiroki Miyazawa Kappa Shiroi Koibito Júbilo Iwata Hiroshi Nanami[5] Nagisa Sakurauchi Puma Yamaha Kashima Antlers Go Oiwa[6] Mitsuo Ogasawara Nike Lixil Kashiwa Reysol Nozomu Kato Hidekazu Otani Yonex Hitachi Kawasaki Frontale Toru Oniki[7] Yu Kobayashi Puma Fujitsu Nagoya Grampus Yahiro Kazama[8] Hisato Satō Mizuno Toyota Sagan Tosu Kim Myung-hwi Yutaka Yoshida New Balance DHC Sanfrecce Hiroshima Hiroshi Jofuku[9] Toshihiro Aoyama Nike EDION Shimizu S-Pulse Jan Jönsson[10] Ryo Takeuchi Puma Suzuyo Shonan Bellmare Cho Kwi-jae[11] Kaoru Takayama Penalty Meldia Urawa Red Diamonds Oswaldo de Oliveira Yōsuke Kashiwagi Nike Polus Vegalta Sendai Susumu Watanabe[12] Shingo Tomita Adidas Iris Ohyama Vissel Kobe Juan Manuel Lillo[13] Lukas Podolski Asics Rakuten V-Varen Nagasaki Takuya Takagi[14] Jordy Buijs Hummel Japanet Yokohama F. Marinos Ange Postecoglou[15] Yuji Nakazawa Adidas Nissan

### Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Date of vacancy Incoming manager Date of appointment Yokohama F. Marinos Erick Mombaerts 1 January 2018[16] Ange Postecoglou 19 December 2017[17] Urawa Red Diamonds Takafumi Hori 2 April 2018[18] Oswaldo de Oliveira 19 April 2018[19] Kashiwa Reysol Takahiro Shimotaira 13 May 2018 Nozomu Kato 13 May 2018[20] Gamba Osaka Levir Culpi 23 July 2018[21] Tsuneyasu Miyamoto 23 July 2018 Vissel Kobe Takayuki Yoshida 17 Sep 2018[22] Juan Manuel Lillo 4 Oct 2018[23] Sagan Tosu Massimo Ficcadenti 17 Oct 2018 Kim Myung-hwi 17 Oct 2018

### Foreign players

The total number of foreign players is restricted to five per club. Clubs can register up to four foreign players for a single match-day squad, of which a maximum of three are allowed from nations outside the [Asian Football Confederation](/source/Asian_Football_Confederation) (AFC). Players from J.League partner nations (Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Iran and Qatar) are exempt from these restrictions.

Players marked in **bold** indicate players that were registered during the mid-season transfer window. Players marked in *ITALICS* indicate players that were out of squad or left their respective clubs during the mid-season transfer window.

Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5 Other Former players Cerezo Osaka Souza Matej Jonjić Kim Jin-hyeon Yang Dong-hyun Osmar Pierce Waring Chaowat Veerachat FC Tokyo Diego Oliveira Lins Lipe Veloso Jang Hyun-soo Jakkit Wachpirom Gamba Osaka Ademilson Fábio Hwang Ui-jo Oh Jae-suk Matheus Jesus Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo Jay Bothroyd Gu Sung-yun Kim Min-tae Chanathip Songkrasin Jonathan Reis Julinho Júbilo Iwata Adaílton Krzysztof Kamiński Eren Albayrak Fozil Musaev Gabriel Morbeck Guilherme Kashima Antlers Leandro Léo Silva Serginho Jung Seung-hyun Kwoun Sun-tae Pedro Júnior Kashiwa Reysol Cristiano Nathan Michael Olunga Kim Bo-kyung Park Jeong-su Ramon Lopes Yun Suk-young Kawasaki Frontale Caio César Eduardo Elsinho Jung Sung-ryong Jefferson Tabinas Eduardo Neto Nagoya Grampus Mitchell Langerak Eduardo Neto Gabriel Xavier Jô Willian Rocha Washington Sagan Tosu Joan Oumari Cho Dong-geon Kim Min-hyeok Fernando Torres Víctor Ibarbo An Yong-woo Jung Seung-hyun Sanfrecce Hiroshima Besart Berisha Felipe Patric Teerasil Dangda Shimizu S-Pulse Mitch Duke Crislan Douglas Freire Hwang Seok-ho Jong Tae-se Wu Shaocong Shonan Bellmare André Bahia Mihael Mikić Lee Jeong-hyeop Alen Stevanović Urawa Red Diamonds Andrew Nabbout Fabrício Maurício Antônio Quenten Martinus Zlatan Ljubijankič Vegalta Sendai Rafaelson Ramon Lopes Lee Yun-oh Ryang Yong-gi Kim Jung-ya Vissel Kobe Wellington Lukas Podolski Kim Seung-gyu Andrés Iniesta Ahmed Yasser Theerathon Bunmathan Leandro Jung Woo-young V-Varen Nagasaki Jordy Buijs Choi Kyu-baek Jairo Morillas Juanma Ben Halloran Yokohama F. Marinos Thiago Martins Olivier Boumal Hugo Vieira Dušan Cvetinović Yun Il-lok Ippey Shinozuka Milos Degenek David Babunski

## Results

### League table

Pos Team v t e Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation 1 Kawasaki Frontale (C) 34 21 6 7 57 27 +30 69 Qualification for the Champions League group stage 2 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 34 17 6 11 47 35 +12 57 Qualification for the Champions League play-off round 3 Kashima Antlers 34 16 8 10 50 39 +11 56 4 Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo 34 15 10 9 48 48 0 55 5 Urawa Red Diamonds 34 14 9 11 51 39 +12 51 Qualification for the Champions League group stage[a] 6 FC Tokyo 34 14 8 12 39 34 +5 50 7 Cerezo Osaka 34 13 11 10 39 38 +1 50 8 Shimizu S-Pulse 34 14 7 13 56 48 +8 49 9 Gamba Osaka 34 14 6 14 41 46 −5 48 10 Vissel Kobe 34 12 9 13 45 52 −7 45 11 Vegalta Sendai 34 13 6 15 44 54 −10 45 12 Yokohama F. Marinos 34 12 5 17 56 56 0 41 13 Shonan Bellmare 34 10 11 13 38 43 −5 41 14 Sagan Tosu 34 10 11 13 29 34 −5 41 15 Nagoya Grampus 34 12 5 17 52 59 −7 41 16 Júbilo Iwata (O) 34 10 11 13 35 48 −13 41 Qualification for the Relegation play-off 17 Kashiwa Reysol (R) 34 12 3 19 47 54 −7 39 Relegation to J2 League 18 V-Varen Nagasaki (R) 34 8 6 20 39 59 −20 30

Source: [Meiji Yasuda J1 League](https://www.jleague.jp/en/standings/j1/)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:

1. **[^](#cite_ref-table_note_res_CLCW0.70924067297449_24-0)** [Urawa Red Diamonds](/source/Urawa_Red_Diamonds) qualified for the [2019 AFC Champions League group stage](/source/2019_AFC_Champions_League#Group_stage) as [2018 Emperor's Cup](/source/2018_Emperor's_Cup) winners.

### Positions by round

Team ╲ Round 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 Kawasaki Frontale 1 4 2 1 3 2 5 6 3 3 3 4 5 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 4 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Kashima Antlers 12 7 9 6 8 12 13 8 12 14 15 13 8 10 11 13 10 7 9 6 7 7 7 7 8 7 4 3 3 5 5 3 3 3 Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo 16 11 15 11 15 7 6 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 5 5 5 6 4 4 5 6 6 4 4 5 7 4 5 3 3 4 4 4 Urawa Red Diamonds 6 13 13 17 17 16 11 10 9 12 14 11 12 13 14 11 12 9 7 8 9 9 9 9 9 9 8 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 FC Tokyo 6 14 17 13 9 4 3 5 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 5 4 4 4 5 5 6 Cerezo Osaka 6 9 10 15 12 6 4 3 5 5 5 5 4 5 4 4 4 5 6 7 6 5 5 6 5 6 5 7 8 7 8 8 9 7 Shimizu S-Pulse 12 5 3 3 4 5 8 12 13 11 7 10 11 9 10 9 8 10 8 10 11 11 11 12 12 10 10 9 9 8 7 7 7 8 Gamba Osaka 14 17 18 18 18 18 18 18 17 17 16 15 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 17 17 18 17 17 17 17 17 13 12 10 9 9 8 9 Vissel Kobe 6 15 14 8 13 10 9 9 7 6 8 8 10 7 6 6 6 4 5 5 4 4 4 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 11 12 11 10 Vegalta Sendai 4 3 5 4 2 3 2 2 6 7 6 9 7 8 7 8 7 8 10 12 8 8 8 8 6 4 6 8 7 9 10 10 10 11 Yokohama F. Marinos 6 16 16 12 10 13 14 16 15 15 13 16 15 15 13 10 13 13 13 15 13 14 15 15 14 14 12 11 10 11 13 11 12 12 Shonan Bellmare 3 6 7 10 14 11 12 15 14 13 10 12 13 14 12 14 11 12 11 11 12 12 12 14 13 13 14 14 13 14 14 14 14 13 Sagan Tosu 6 10 6 9 6 9 9 14 16 16 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 16 15 15 16 16 16 15 15 16 17 16 15 15 15 14 Nagoya Grampus 2 1 4 5 7 15 16 17 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 16 14 13 11 12 13 15 16 15 16 16 16 15 Júbilo Iwata 18 18 11 13 10 14 15 11 8 10 9 6 6 6 8 7 9 11 12 9 10 10 10 10 10 11 11 12 15 13 12 13 13 16 Kashiwa Reysol 16 8 8 7 5 8 7 7 10 8 11 7 9 11 9 12 14 15 15 13 14 13 13 11 15 16 16 17 14 17 17 17 17 17 V-Varen Nagasaki 15 11 12 16 16 17 17 13 11 9 12 14 14 12 15 15 15 14 14 14 16 17 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 18

Leader and qualification to AFC Champions League Group stage Qualification to AFC Champions League qualifying play-off Qualification to Relegation play-off Relegation to J2 League

Source: [Meiji Yasuda J1 League](http://www.jleague.jp/en/match/search/j1/latest/)

### Results table

Home \ Away ANT BEL CER CON FMA FRO GAM GRA JUB RED REY SSP SAG SFR TOK VVN VEG VIS Kashima Antlers — 2–1 1–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 1–0 2–0 1–1 1–0 6–2 1–0 0–0 0–1 1–2 2–1 1–2 1–1 Shonan Bellmare 2–1 — 1–1 2–2 0–1 0–0 1–0 0–0 1–0 2–1 1–2 0–0 1–1 0–2 0–0 2–1 1–3 0–2 Cerezo Osaka 0–2 2–1 — 3–3 1–1 2–1 0–1 0–1 1–1 1–1 0–3 3–1 2–1 0–1 1–0 3–1 2–1 1–1 Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo 0–2 1–0 1–1 — 2–1 1–2 2–0 3–0 0–0 1–2 1–2 1–3 2–1 2–2 3–2 2–1 1–0 3–1 Yokohama F. Marinos 3–0 4–4 1–2 2–1 — 1–1 1–1 1–2 1–3 1–2 3–1 1–2 1–2 1–4 0–1 5–2 5–2 1–2 Kawasaki Frontale 4–1 1–1 1–2 7–0 2–0 — 2–0 3–1 2–1 0–2 3–0 3–0 0–0 0–1 0–2 1–0 1–0 5–3 Gamba Osaka 1–1 1–0 1–0 1–1 2–1 2–0 — 2–3 2–0 0–0 2–2 1–2 3–0 1–0 2–1 2–1 1–0 0–1 Nagoya Grampus 4–2 2–2 0–0 1–2 1–1 0–1 3–2 — 1–0 4–1 2–3 1–3 3–0 0–0 1–2 3–4 2–3 1–2 Júbilo Iwata 3–3 1–0 1–1 0–2 1–2 0–3 1–1 1–6 — 2–1 2–0 0–0 1–0 3–2 2–0 1–2 3–2 0–2 Urawa Red Diamonds 3–1 0–1 1–2 0–0 0–1 2–0 1–3 3–1 4–0 — 3–2 2–1 0–0 1–2 3–2 0–0 1–0 4–0 Kashiwa Reysol 2–3 0–2 1–1 1–2 2–0 1–2 4–2 0–1 1–2 1–0 — 2–3 1–1 0–1 0–1 5–1 0–2 2–1 Shimizu S-Pulse 0–0 4–2 3–0 1–2 0–1 1–2 1–2 2–0 5–1 3–3 2–1 — 1–0 2–0 0–1 0–1 1–1 3–3 Sagan Tosu 0–1 0–1 1–0 1–2 2–1 0–2 3–0 3–2 0–0 1–0 1–2 3–1 — 1–0 0–0 1–0 0–1 1–1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 3–1 2–2 0–2 1–0 3–1 1–2 4–0 1–2 0–0 1–4 0–3 2–0 1–0 — 1–1 2–0 0–1 2–0 FC Tokyo 2–1 1–0 0–1 0–0 5–2 0–2 3–2 3–2 0–0 1–1 0–1 0–2 0–0 3–1 — 0–1 0–1 1–0 V-Varen Nagasaki 1–2 1–3 0–2 2–3 1–2 1–2 3–0 3–0 0–0 1–1 1–0 1–2 2–2 0–2 2–5 — 1–0 0–1 Vegalta Sendai 0–3 4–1 2–2 2–2 2–8 0–0 2–1 1–2 0–3 1–1 1–0 2–1 2–3 1–3 1–0 1–0 — 1–1 Vissel Kobe 0–5 0–3 2–0 4–0 0–2 1–2 1–2 3–0 2–1 2–3 1–0 2–4 0–0 1–1 0–0 1–1 3–2 —

Source: [2018 J1 League](http://data.j-league.or.jp/SFRT06/search?selectedCompetitionName=明治安田生命Ｊ１リーグ&selectedYear=2018年&selectedYearId=2018&selectedCompetitionId=444&yearId=2018&competitionId=444)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

## Promotion–Relegation Playoff

**2018 J.League J1/J2 Play-Offs** (2018 J1参入プレーオフ)

Main article: [2018 J2 League § Promotion–Relegation Playoffs](/source/2018_J2_League#Promotion–Relegation_Playoffs)

8 December 2018 (2018-12-08)

14:00

Júbilo Iwata 2–0 Tokyo Verdy Ogawa 41' (pen.) Taguchi 80' Report

[Yamaha Stadium](/source/Yamaha_Stadium), [Iwata](/source/Iwata%2C_Shizuoka)

Attendance: 14,588

Júbilo Iwata stays in J1 League and Tokyo Verdy remains in J2 League.

## Season statistics

### Top scorers

- *As of matches played on 1 December 2018*.[24]

Rank Player Club Goals 1 Jô Nagoya Grampus 24 2 Patric Sanfrecce Hiroshima 20 3 Hwang Ui-jo Gamba Osaka 16 4 Shinzo Koroki Urawa Red Diamonds 15 Yu Kobayashi Kawasaki Frontale 6 Diego Oliveira FC Tokyo 13 Koya Kitagawa Shimizu S-Pulse Hugo Vieira Yokohama F. Marinos 9 Ken Tokura Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo 12 10 Douglas Shimizu S-Pulse 11 Kengo Kawamata Júbilo Iwata Musashi Suzuki V-Varen Nagasaki Takuma Nishimura Vegalta Sendai Yuma Suzuki Kashima Antlers

### Top assists

Rank Player Club Assists 1 Yōsuke Kashiwagi Urawa Red Diamonds 12 2 Junya Ito Kashiwa Reysol 11 3 Kosei Shibasaki Sanfrecce Hiroshima 9 Yuma Suzuki Kashima Antlers 4 Gabriel Xavier Nagoya Grampus 8 Hideki Ishige Shimizu S-Pulse Koya Kitagawa Shimizu S-Pulse Yuki Muto Urawa Red Diamonds

### Hat-tricks

Player For Against Result Date Diego Oliveira FC Tokyo V-Varen Nagasaki 2–5 (A) 8 April 2018 Hugo Vieira Yokohama F. Marinos Shonan Bellmare 4–4 (H) 21 April 2018 Sho Ito Yokohama F. Marinos Vegalta Sendai 2–8 (A) 18 July 2018 Jô Nagoya Grampus Gamba Osaka 4–1 (H) 5 August 2018 Fabrício Urawa Red Diamonds Júbilo Iwata 4–0 (H) 15 August 2018 Jô Nagoya Grampus Urawa Red Diamonds 4–1 (H) 26 August 2018 Musashi Suzuki V-Varen Nagasaki Nagoya Grampus 4–3 (A) 15 September 2018

**Note**

(H) – Home; (A) – Away

## Attendances

Pos Team Total High Low Average Change 1 Urawa Red Diamonds 603,534 55,689 21,250 35,502 +5.8%† 2 FC Tokyo 449,388 44,801 13,425 26,432 −0.2%† 3 Nagoya Grampus 419,218 43,579 9,297 24,660 +60.5%† 4 Gamba Osaka 399,242 35,242 11,824 23,485 −3.3%† 5 Kawasaki Frontale 394,709 24,677 17,113 23,218 +5.0%† 6 Yokohama F. Marinos 370,401 41,686 8,688 21,788 −9.9%† 7 Vissel Kobe 367,716 26,603 9,015 21,630 +18.4%† 8 Kashima Antlers 330,376 33,647 7,672 19,434 −5.0%† 9 Cerezo Osaka 319,782 34,303 8,165 18,811 −10.3%† 10 Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo 309,798 34,250 6,729 18,223 −1.1%† 11 Júbilo Iwata 263,060 31,375 8,047 15,474 −5.2%† 12 Vegalta Sendai 261,943 19,152 13,158 15,408 +4.5%† 13 Sagan Tosu 255,004 22,669 7,138 15,000 +5.7%† 14 Shimizu S-Pulse 254,844 20,109 6,193 14,991 −0.8%† 15 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 243,874 21,997 7,344 14,346 +2.2%† 16 Shonan Bellmare 206,039 15,351 8,002 12,120 +43.4%† 17 Kashiwa Reysol 193,833 14,208 9,255 11,402 +6.3%† 18 V-Varen Nagasaki 190,827 15,975 6,579 11,225 +88.9%† League total 5,833,538 55,689 6,193 19,064 +1.0%†

Updated to games played on 1 December 2018 Source: [J. League Data](http://data.j-league.or.jp/SFTD14/search?endDayNum=8&competition_year=2018&competition_frame=1) **Notes:** † Promoted from J2.

## Awards

Jung Taniguchi Elsinho Kurumaya Nishi Ienaga Nakamura Oshima Chanathip Jô Hwang 2018 J.League Best XI

Award Winner Club Manager of the Year Mihailo Petrović Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo Most Valuable Player Akihiro Ienaga Kawasaki Frontale Rookie of the Year Hiroki Abe Kashima Antlers

J.League Best XI Attack Hwang Ui-jo (Gamba Osaka) Jô (Nagoya Grampus) Midfield Chanathip Songkrasin (Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo) Ryota Oshima (Kawasaki Frontale) Kengo Nakamura (Kawasaki Frontale) Akihiro Ienaga (Kawasaki Frontale) Defence Daigo Nishi (Kashima Antlers) Shintaro Kurumaya (Kawasaki Frontale) Shogo Taniguchi (Kawasaki Frontale) Elsinho (Kawasaki Frontale) Goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong (Kawasaki Frontale)

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1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Marinos' Erick Mombaerts to step down after season"](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2017/11/02/soccer/j-league/marinos-erick-mombaerts-step-season/#.WlTkFLZ7EdU). *[The Japan Times](/source/The_Japan_Times)*. 2 November 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Marinos announce hiring of ex-Australia coach Ange Postecoglou"](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2017/12/19/soccer/j-league/marinos-announce-hiring-ex-australia-coach-ange-postecoglou/#.WkeHVbZ7G8U). *[The Japan Times](/source/The_Japan_Times)*. 19 December 2017./

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["堀監督との契約解除について"](https://www.urawa-reds.co.jp/topteamtopics/%E5%A0%80%E7%9B%A3%E7%9D%A3%E3%81%A8%E3%81%AE%E5%A5%91%E7%B4%84%E8%A7%A3%E9%99%A4%E3%81%AB%E3%81%A4%E3%81%84%E3%81%A6/). *URAWA RED DIAMONDS OFFICIAL WEBSITE*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["オズワルド オリヴェイラ監督就任について"](https://www.urawa-reds.co.jp/topteamtopics/%E3%82%AA%E3%82%BA%E3%83%AF%E3%83%AB%E3%83%89-%E3%82%AA%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B4%E3%82%A7%E3%82%A4%E3%83%A9%E7%9B%A3%E7%9D%A3%E5%B0%B1%E4%BB%BB%E3%81%AB%E3%81%A4%E3%81%84%E3%81%A6/). *URAWA RED DIAMONDS OFFICIAL WEBSITE*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Reysol News｜柏レイソル Official Site"](http://blog.reysol.co.jp/news/2018/016600.html).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["レヴィー・クルピ監督、マテルヘッドコーチ 解任のお知らせ"](http://www.gamba-osaka.net/news/index/no/8126/).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["ヴィッセル神戸トップチーム 体制変更のお知らせ"](https://www.vissel-kobe.co.jp/news/article/15273.html).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["ヴィッセル神戸トップチーム 新体制始動のお知らせ"](https://www.vissel-kobe.co.jp/news/article/15314.html).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** ["J.league.jp Japan Professional Football League"](https://www.jleague.jp/en/stats/goal.html?s=J1).

v t e 2018 in Japanese football « 2017 2019 » League competitions Men J1 League J2 League J3 League Japan Football League Regional Leagues Women L.League Cup competitions Men Emperor's Cup (Final) J.League Cup (Final) Super Cup Women Empress's Cup (Final) Nadeshiko League Cup (Final) AFC competitions Men AFC Champions League Suruga Bank Championship Related to national teams Men Summary Women Summary Club seasons J1 League Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo Vegalta Sendai Kashima Antlers Urawa Red Diamonds Kashiwa Reysol FC Tokyo Kawasaki Frontale Yokohama F. Marinos Shonan Bellmare Shimizu S-Pulse Júbilo Iwata Nagoya Grampus Gamba Osaka Cerezo Osaka Vissel Kobe Sanfrecce Hiroshima Sagan Tosu V-Varen Nagasaki J2 League Montedio Yamagata Mito HollyHock Tochigi SC Omiya Ardija JEF United Chiba Tokyo Verdy FC Machida Zelvia Yokohama FC Ventforet Kofu Matsumoto Yamaga FC Albirex Niigata Zweigen Kanazawa FC Gifu Kyoto Sanga FC Fagiano Okayama Renofa Yamaguchi FC Kamatamare Sanuki Tokushima Vortis Ehime FC Avispa Fukuoka Roasso Kumamoto Oita Trinita J3 League Grulla Morioka Blaublitz Akita Fukushima United FC Thespakusatsu Gunma YSCC Yokohama SC Sagamihara AC Nagano Parceiro Kataller Toyama Fujieda MYFC Azul Claro Numazu Gainare Tottori Giravanz Kitakyushu Kagoshima United FC FC Ryukyu FC Tokyo U-23 Gamba Osaka U-23 Cerezo Osaka U-23 Winter transfers Summer transfers

v t e J.League Champions (J1 League · J2 League · J3 League) · Records and statistics · Historical goals Seasons J1 League seasons (1993–present) 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 (100) 2026–27 J2 League seasons (1999–present) 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 (100) 2026–27 J3 League seasons (2014–present) 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 (100) 2026–27 Clubs J1 League Avispa Fukuoka Cerezo Osaka Fagiano Okayama Gamba Osaka JEF United Chiba Kashima Antlers Kashiwa Reysol Kawasaki Frontale Kyoto Sanga Machida Zelvia Mito HollyHock Nagoya Grampus Sanfrecce Hiroshima Shimizu S-Pulse FC Tokyo Tokyo Verdy Urawa Red Diamonds V-Varen Nagasaki Vissel Kobe Yokohama F. Marinos J2 League Albirex Niigata Blaublitz Akita Fujieda MYFC Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo FC Imabari Iwaki FC Júbilo Iwata Kataller Toyama Montedio Yamagata Oita Trinita RB Omiya Ardija Sagan Tosu Shonan Bellmare Tegevajaro Miyazaki Tochigi City FC Tokushima Vortis Vanraure Hachinohe Vegalta Sendai Ventforet Kofu Yokohama FC J3 League Ehime FC Fukushima United Gainare Tottori FC Gifu Giravanz Kitakyushu Kagoshima United Kamatamare Sanuki Kochi United Matsumoto Yamaga Nagano Parceiro Nara Club FC Osaka Reilac Shiga Renofa Yamaguchi Roasso Kumamoto FC Ryukyu SC Sagamihara Thespa Gunma Tochigi SC Zweigen Kanazawa Former Azul Claro Numazu Cerezo Osaka U-23 Gamba Osaka U-23 Iwate Grulla Morioka J.League U-22 Selection FC Tokyo U-23 Yokohama Flügels YSCC Yokohama Players Designated special players (DSP) Foreign J.League players Managers J.League managers current Referees J.League referees Awards (Monthly MVP · MVP Award · Best XI · Top Scorer · Rookie of the Year · Manager of the Year)

v t e Japanese club football First-tier club football seasons, 1965–present Japan Soccer League 1965–1992 Japan Soccer League Division 1 since 1972 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 J.League 1993–present J.League Division 1/J1 League since 1999 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 (100) 2026–27 List of champions J.League Championship Promotion / Relegation series Super Cup Second-tier club football seasons, 1972–present Japan Soccer League Division 2 1972–1992 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 (former) Japan Football League 1992–1998 (former) Japan Football League Division 1 1992–1993 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 J2 League 1999–present 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 (100) 2026–27 List of champions Promotion / Relegation series Third-tier club football seasons, 1992–93, 1999–present (former) Japan Football League Division 2 1992–93 1992 1993 No national third tier, 1994–1998 Japan Football League 1999–2013 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 J3 League 2014–present 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 (100) 2026–27 List of champions Fourth-tier club football seasons, 2014–present Japan Football League 2014–present 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026–27 Regional level club football seasons, 1966–present Japanese Regional Leagues 1966–present 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 Regional Champions League Shakaijin Cup Emperor's Cup seasons, 1921–present Emperor's Cup 1921–present 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 WW II 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Super Cup League Cup seasons, 1976–present JSL Cup 1976–1991 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 J.League Cup 1992–present 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Suruga Bank Championship Football clubs in Japan, 2026–27 J1 League Avispa Fukuoka Cerezo Osaka Fagiano Okayama Gamba Osaka JEF United Chiba Kashima Antlers Kashiwa Reysol Kawasaki Frontale Kyoto Sanga FC FC Machida Zelvia Mito HollyHock Nagoya Grampus Sanfrecce Hiroshima Shimizu S-Pulse FC Tokyo Tokyo Verdy Urawa Red Diamonds V-Varen Nagasaki Vissel Kobe Yokohama F. Marinos J2 League Albirex Niigata Blaublitz Akita Fujieda MYFC Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo FC Imabari Iwaki FC Júbilo Iwata Kataller Toyama Montedio Yamagata Oita Trinita Omiya Ardija Sagan Tosu Shonan Bellmare Tegevajaro Miyazaki Tochigi City Tokushima Vortis Vegalta Sendai Vanraure Hachinohe Ventforet Kofu Yokohama FC J3 League AC Nagano Parceiro Ehime FC FC Gifu Fukushima United FC Gainare Tottori Giravanz Kitakyushu Kagoshima United FC Kamatamare Sanuki Kochi United Matsumoto Yamaga FC Nara Club FC Osaka Reilac Shiga Renofa Yamaguchi FC Roasso Kumamoto FC Ryukyu SC Sagamihara Thespa Gunma Tochigi SC Zweigen Kanazawa 100 Year Plan clubs Criacao Shinjuku Nankatsu SC Tokyo 23 Vonds Ichihara Japan Football League Atletico Suzuka Club Azul Claro Numazu Briobecca Urayasu Ichikawa Criacao Shinjuku Honda FC Iwate Grulla Morioka J-Lease Maruyasu Okazaki Minebea Mitsumi Okinawa SV ReinMeer Aomori FC Tiamo Hirakata Veertien Mie Verspah Oita Vonds Ichihara Yokogawa Musashino YSCC Yokohama Defunct clubs (clubs belonging to nationwide leagues only) Sony Sendai Fukushima FC Arte Takasaki JEF Reserves Sagawa Express Tokyo NKK SC Yokohama Flügels ALO's Hokuriku Jatco SC Hagoromo Club Toyota Higashi-Fuji Seino Transportation Cosmo Oil Yokkaichi Sagawa Shiga NTT Kinki/Kansai SP Kyoto Tanabe Pharmaceutical Dainichi Cable Industries Sagawa Express Osaka Eidai SC Kagura Shimane Teijin SC Nippon Steel Yawata Tosu Futures Profesor Miyazaki J.League U-22 Selection FC Tokyo U-23 Cerezo Osaka U-23 Gamba Osaka U-23

v t e 2018 in Asian football (AFC) « 2017 2019 » Domestic leagues Afghanistan Australia '17–'18 '18–'19 Bahrain '17–'18 '18–'19 Bangladesh '17–'18 Bhutan Brunei '17–'18 '18–'19 Cambodia China Chinese Taipei East Timor Guam '17–'18 '18–'19 Hong Kong '17–'18 '18–'19 India I-League '17–'18 '18–'19 ISL '17–'18 '18–'19 Indonesia Iran '17–'18 '18–'19 Iraq '17–'18 '18–'19 Japan Jordan '17–'18 '18–'19 Korea DPR '17–'18 '18–'19 Korea Republic Kuwait '17–'18 '18–'19 Kyrgyzstan Laos Lebanon '17–'18 '18–'19 Macau Malaysia Maldives Malé League Minivan Championship Premier League Mongolia Myanmar Nepal '18–'19 Northern Mariana Islands Oman '17–'18 '18–'19 Pakistan '18–'19 Palestine West Bank '17–'18 '18–'19 Gaza Strip '17–'18 '18–'19 Philippines Qatar '17–'18 '18–'19 Saudi Arabia '17–'18 '18–'19 Singapore Sri Lanka '17–'18 '18–'19 Syria '17–'18 '18–'19 Tajikistan Thailand Turkmenistan UAE '17–'18 '18–'19 Uzbekistan Superleague Pro League Vietnam Yemen Domestic cups Australia Bahrain '17–'18 '18–'19 Bangladesh Brunei '17–'18 '18–'19 Cambodia China Chinese Taipei East Timor Guam Hong Kong '17–'18 '18–'19 India Indonesia '18–'19 Iran '17–'18 '18–'19 Iraq '18–'19 Japan '17 (final) '18 Jordan '17–'18 '18–'19 Korea DPR Korea Republic Kuwait '17–'18 '18–'19 Kyrgyzstan Laos Lebanon '17–'18 '18–'19 Macau Malaysia Maldives Mongolia Myanmar Nepal Oman '17–'18 '18–'19 Pakistan Palestine '17–'18 '18–'19 Philippines Qatar Saudi Arabia Singapore Sri Lanka Syria '18 '18–'19 Tajikistan Thailand Turkmenistan UAE '17–'18 '18–'19 Uzbekistan Vietnam Yemen League cups Bahrain '17–'18 '18–'19 Bangladesh '17–'18 '18–'19 Hong Kong Shield '17–'18 '18–'19 Indonesia Japan Kuwait Crown Prince Cup '17–'18 '18–'19 Fed Cup '17–'18 '18–'19 Lebanon Malaysia Malaysia Cup Challenge Cup Maldives Oman '17–'18 '18–'19 Qatar '17–'18 '18–'19 Saudi Arabia '17–'18 Singapore Syria Thailand UAE '17–'18 '18–'19 Uzbekistan Super Cups Bahrain China Iran Iraq Japan Kuwait Malaysia Oman Qatar Saudi Arabia Singapore Tajikistan Thailand UAE Uzbekistan Vietnam Regional club competitions 2018–19 Arab Club Champions Cup Qualifying play-offs Knockout stage Final AFC club competitions AFC Champions League Qualifying play-offs Group stage Knockout stage Final AFC Cup Qualifying play-offs Group stage Knockout stage Final National team competitions 2018 FIFA World Cup 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification 2018 AFC U-23 Championship 2018 AFC Futsal Championship 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup Football at the 2018 Asian Games (Men - Women) 2018 AFC U-19 Championship 2018 AFC U-16 Championship 2018 AFF Championship 2018 CAFA Championship 2018 SAFF Championship 23rd Arabian Gulf Cup

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [2018 J1 League](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_J1_League) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_J1_League?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.