# 2002 J.League Division 1

The 2002 J.League Division 1 season was the tenth season since the establishment of the J.League Division 1. The league began on March 2 and ended on November 30. The Suntory Championship was not held, because Júbilo Iwata was the winner of both stages. At the end of the season, Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Consadole Sapporo were relegated to J2.

## General
### Promotion and relegation

* At the end of the 2001 season, Kyoto Purple Sanga and Vegalta Sendai were promoted to J1.
* At the end of the 2001 season, Avispa Fukuoka and Cerezo Osaka were relegated to J2.

### Changes in competition formats

* Extra time was scratched for J.League Division 2. After regulation time, clubs in J2 now receives 3pts for a win, 1pt for a tie, and 0pts for a loss. (NOTE: J1 still has extra time)

### Changes in clubs

none

## Honours

| Competition | Champion | Runner-Up | 3rd Place |
| J.League Division 1 | Júbilo Iwata | Yokohama F. Marinos | Gamba Osaka |
| J.League Division 2 | Oita Trinita | Cerezo Osaka | Albirex Niigata |
| Emperor's Cup | Kyoto Purple Sanga | Kashima Antlers | JEF United Ichihara Sanfrecce Hiroshima |
| Nabisco Cup | Kashima Antlers | Urawa Red Diamonds | Gamba Osaka Shimizu S-Pulse |
| XEROX Super Cup | Shimizu S-Pulse | Kashima Antlers | |

## Clubs

The following sixteen clubs participated in J.League Division 1 during 2002 season. Of these clubs, Kyoto Purple Sanga and Vegalta Sendai were promoted from Division 2.
* Consadole Sapporo
* FC Tokyo
* Gamba Osaka
* JEF United Ichihara
* Júbilo Iwata
* Kashima Antlers
* Kashiwa Reysol
* Kyoto Purple Sanga
* Nagoya Grampus Eight
* Sanfrecce Hiroshima
* Shimizu S-Pulse
* Tokyo Verdy 1969
* Urawa Red Diamonds
* Vegalta Sendai
* Vissel Kobe
* Yokohama F. Marinos

### Personnel

| Club | Head coach |
| Consadole Sapporo | Chang Woe-ryong |
| FC Tokyo | Hiromi Hara |
| Gamba Osaka | Akira Nishino |
| JEF United Ichihara | Jozef Vengloš |
| Júbilo Iwata | Masakazu Suzuki |
| Kashima Antlers | Toninho Cerezo |
| Kashiwa Reysol | Marco Aurélio |
| Kyoto Purple Sanga | Gert Engels |
| Nagoya Grampus Eight | Zdenko Verdenik |
| Sanfrecce Hiroshima | Takahiro Kimura |
| Shimizu S-Pulse | Zdravko Zemunović |
| Tokyo Verdy 1969 | Lori Sandri |
| Urawa Red Diamonds | Hans Ooft |
| Vegalta Sendai | Hidehiko Shimizu |
| Vissel Kobe | Hiroshi Matsuda |
| Yokohama F. Marinos | Yoshiaki Shimojo |

### Foreign players

| Club | Player 1 | Player 2 | Player 3 | Non-visa foreign | Type-C contract | Former players |
| Consadole Sapporo | Biju | Jadílson | Srđan Baljak | | | Luis Robson Max Sandro |
| FC Tokyo | Amaral | Jean | Kelly | | Oh Jang-eun | Marcelo Mattos |
| Gamba Osaka | Fabinho | Magrão | Marcelinho Carioca | | | |
| JEF United Ichihara | Ľubomír Moravčík | Željko Milinovič | Choi Yong-soo | Kim Wi-man | | Edin Mujčin |
| Júbilo Iwata | Rodrigo Gral | Aleksandar Živković | Arno van Zwam | | Kim Geun-chol | |
| Kashima Antlers | Augusto | Euller | Fabiano | | | |
| Kashiwa Reysol | César Sampaio | Edílson | Ricardinho Santos | | Ricardinho Oliveira | Hwang Sun-hong Yoo Sang-chul |
| Kyoto Purple Sanga | Daniel Sanabria | An Hyo-yeon | Park Ji-sung | | Richard Estigarribia | Ned Zelic |
| Nagoya Grampus Eight | Ivica Vastić | Ueslei | Andrej Panadić | Ko Ishikawa | | Marcelo Ramos Tarik Oulida Jeong Yong-dae |
| Sanfrecce Hiroshima | Michel Pensée | Tomislav Erceg | | Marcus Tulio Tanaka Ri Han-jae | | Neško Milovanović |
| Shimizu S-Pulse | Srđan Pecelj | Baron | Ahn Jung-hwan | | Juninho | Alair Igor Cvitanović |
| Tokyo Verdy 1969 | Alexandre Lopes | Edmundo | Marquinhos | | | |
| Urawa Red Diamonds | Ned Zelic | Emerson Sheik | Tuto | | | Harison |
| Vegalta Sendai | Marcos | Ricardo | Silvinho | Satoshi Ōtomo | | |
| Vissel Kobe | Harison | Oséas | Sidiclei | | | Ataliba Daniel |
| Yokohama F. Marinos | Dutra | Nasa | Will | | Léo Paulista | |

## Overview
### First stage

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | OTW | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Júbilo Iwata | 15 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 39 | 17 | +22 | 36 | Qualification to the Suntory Championship |
| 2 | Yokohama F. Marinos | 15 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 28 | 11 | +17 | 33 | |
| 3 | Nagoya Grampus Eight | 15 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 28 | 18 | +10 | 29 | |
| 4 | Gamba Osaka | 15 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 35 | 19 | +16 | 27 | |
| 5 | Kashima Antlers | 15 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 21 | 18 | +3 | 27 | |
| 6 | Kyoto Purple Sanga | 15 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 26 | 18 | +8 | 24 | |
| 7 | Shimizu S-Pulse | 15 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 17 | 19 | −2 | 24 | |
| 8 | JEF United Ichihara | 15 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 22 | 23 | −1 | 23 | |
| 9 | Vegalta Sendai | 15 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 23 | 27 | −4 | 20 | |
| 10 | FC Tokyo | 15 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 23 | 27 | −4 | 17 | |
| 11 | Urawa Red Diamonds | 15 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 21 | 24 | −3 | 14 | |
| 12 | Tokyo Verdy 1969 | 15 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 15 | 24 | −9 | 13 | |
| 13 | Vissel Kobe | 15 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 12 | 22 | −10 | 12 | |
| 14 | Kashiwa Reysol | 15 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 20 | 31 | −11 | 11 | |
| 15 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 15 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 14 | 26 | −12 | 10 | |
| 16 | Consadole Sapporo | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 15 | 35 | −20 | 6 | |
* ↑ Champion from 2001 J.League Division 1
* 1 2 Promoted from 2001 J.League Division 2
* ↑ Cup-Winner 2001 Emperor's Cup

### Second stage

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | OTW | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Júbilo Iwata | 15 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 33 | 13 | +20 | 35 | Qualification to the Suntory Championship |
| 2 | Gamba Osaka | 15 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 24 | 13 | +11 | 27 | |
| 3 | Kashima Antlers | 15 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 25 | 21 | +4 | 26 | |
| 4 | Tokyo Verdy 1969 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 26 | 19 | +7 | 24 | |
| 5 | FC Tokyo | 15 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 20 | 19 | +1 | 22 | |
| 6 | Yokohama F. Marinos | 15 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 22 | |
| 7 | Kyoto Purple Sanga | 15 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 18 | 24 | −6 | 22 | |
| 8 | Urawa Red Diamonds | 15 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 20 | 14 | +6 | 21 | |
| 9 | Kashiwa Reysol | 15 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 18 | 17 | +1 | 21 | |
| 10 | Vissel Kobe | 15 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 21 | 22 | −1 | 19 | |
| 11 | JEF United Ichihara | 15 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 16 | 19 | −3 | 18 | |
| 12 | Shimizu S-Pulse | 15 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 16 | 24 | −8 | 17 | |
| 13 | Nagoya Grampus Eight | 15 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 21 | 23 | −2 | 16 | |
| 14 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 15 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 18 | 21 | −3 | 16 | |
| 15 | Vegalta Sendai | 15 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 17 | 30 | −13 | 12 | |
| 16 | Consadole Sapporo | 15 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 15 | 29 | −14 | 9 | |
* ↑ Champion from 2001 J.League Division 1
* 1 2 Promoted from 2001 J.League Division 2
* ↑ Cup-Winner 2001 Emperor's Cup

### Championship

The Suntory Championship was not held, because Júbilo Iwata was winner of both stages.

### Overall table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | OTW | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Júbilo Iwata | 30 | 18 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 72 | 30 | +42 | 71 | Champion and qualified for the 2004 AFC Champions League |
| 2 | Yokohama F. Marinos | 30 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 44 | 27 | +17 | 55 | |
| 3 | Gamba Osaka | 30 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 59 | 32 | +27 | 54 | |
| 4 | Kashima Antlers | 30 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 46 | 39 | +7 | 53 | |
| 5 | Kyoto Purple Sanga | 30 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 12 | 44 | 42 | +2 | 46 | Cup-Winner 2002 Emperor's Cup qualified for the AFC Champions League 2003–04 |
| 6 | Nagoya Grampus Eight | 30 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 49 | 41 | +8 | 45 | |
| 7 | JEF United Ichihara | 30 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 38 | 42 | −4 | 41 | |
| 8 | Shimizu S-Pulse | 30 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 33 | 43 | −10 | 41 | |
| 9 | FC Tokyo | 30 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 43 | 46 | −3 | 39 | |
| 10 | Tokyo Verdy 1969 | 30 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 14 | 41 | 43 | −2 | 37 | |
| 11 | Urawa Red Diamonds | 30 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 15 | 41 | 38 | +3 | 35 | |
| 12 | Kashiwa Reysol | 30 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 38 | 48 | −10 | 32 | |
| 13 | Vegalta Sendai | 30 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 40 | 57 | −17 | 32 | |
| 14 | Vissel Kobe | 30 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 33 | 44 | −11 | 31 | |
| 15 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 30 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 19 | 32 | 47 | −15 | 26 | Relegated to the 2003 J.League Division 2 |
| 16 | Consadole Sapporo | 30 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 30 | 64 | −34 | 15 | Relegated to the 2003 J.League Division 2 |
* ↑ AFC Champions League 2003–04 was not held, therefore Jubilo later qualified for the 2004 AFC Champions League.
* ↑ Champion from 2001 J.League Division 1
* 1 2 Promoted from 2001 J.League Division 2
* ↑ AFC Champions League 2003–04 was not held, therefore Kyoto Sanga was later qualified for the 2004 AFC Champions League. But Sanga was relegated to the Division 2 in 2003, so this spot was withdrawn.
* ↑ Cup-Winner 2001 Emperor's Cup

## Top scorers

| Pos | Footballer | Club | Goals | PK | GP | Shots | Goals Per Game |
| 1st | Naohiro Takahara | Júbilo Iwata | 26 | 2/2 | 27 | 79 | 1.04 |
| 2nd | Magrão | Gamba Osaka | 22 | 5/5 | 29 | 81 | 0.73 |
| 3rd | Ueslei | Nagoya Grampus Eight | 20 | 2/2 | 27 | 115 | 0.76 |
| 4th | Marcos | Vegalta Sendai | 18 | 2/2 | 24 | 79 | 0.72 |
| 5th | Masashi Nakayama | Júbilo Iwata | 16 | 1/1 | 29 | 79 | 0.54 |
| 5th | Edmundo | Tokyo Verdy 1969 | 16 | 5/5 | 26 | 110 | 0.57 |
| 5th | Choi Yong-soo | JEF United Ichihara | 16 | 7/8 | 23 | 74 | 0.68 |
| 8th | Emerson Sheik | Urawa Red Diamonds | 15 | 1/1 | 24 | 118 | 0.61 |
| 8th | Amaral | FC Tokyo | 15 | 4/4 | 29 | 72 | 0.54 |
| 10th | Will | Yokohama F. Marinos | 14 | 2/2 | 24 | 97 | 0.55 |

## Awards
### Individual

| Award | Recipient | Club |
| Player of the Year | Naohiro Takahara | Júbilo Iwata |
| Young Player of the Year | Keisuke Tsuboi | Urawa Red Diamonds |
| Manager of the Year | Masakazu Suzuki | Júbilo Iwata |
| Top Scorer | Naohiro Takahara | Júbilo Iwata |

### Best Eleven

| Position | Footballer | Club | Nationality |
| GK | Hitoshi Sogahata (1) | Kashima Antlers | Japan |
| DF | Hideto Suzuki (1) | Júbilo Iwata | Japan |
| DF | Makoto Tanaka (2) | Júbilo Iwata | Japan |
| DF | Naoki Matsuda (2) | Yokohama F. Marinos | Japan |
| MF | Hiroshi Nanami (2) | Júbilo Iwata | Japan |
| MF | Mitsuo Ogasawara (2) | Kashima Antlers | Japan |
| MF | Takashi Fukunishi (3) | Júbilo Iwata | Japan |
| MF | Toshiya Fujita (3) | Júbilo Iwata | Japan |
| FW | Emerson Sheik (1) | Urawa Red Diamonds | Brazil |
| FW | Masashi Nakayama (4) | Júbilo Iwata | Japan |
| FW | Naohiro Takahara (1) | Júbilo Iwata | Japan |
* The number in brackets denotes the number of times that the footballer has appeared in the Best 11.

## Attendances

| Team | Attendance (Average) | Attendance (Average) |
| Team | Division 1 | Division 2 |
| Urawa Red Diamonds | 394,445 (26,296) | |
| Yokohama F. Marinos | 361,613 (24,108) | |
| FC Tokyo | 332,597 (22,173) | |
| Vegalta Sendai | 327,925 (21,862) | |
| Kashima Antlers | 323,855 (21,590) | |
| Albirex Niigata | | 472,507 (21,478) |
| Consadole Sapporo | 287,098 (19,140) | |
| Júbilo Iwata | 248,462 (16,564) | |
| Nagoya Grampus Eight | 244,848 (16,323) | |
| Tokyo Verdy 1969 | 226,926 (15,128) | |
| Shimizu S-Pulse | 224,443 (14,963) | |
| Gamba Osaka | 191,429 (12,762) | |
| Oita Trinita | | 271,669 (12,349) |
| Kashiwa Reysol | 169,716 (11,314) | |
| Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 164,111 (10,941) | |
| Vissel Kobe | 157,011 (10,467) | |
| Kyoto Purple Sanga | 155,276 (10,352) | |
| Cerezo Osaka | | 174,951 (7,952) |
| JEF United Ichihara | 118,460 (7,897) | |
| Avispa Fukuoka | | 142,808 (6,491) |
| Omiya Ardija | | 115,846 (5,266) |
| Kawasaki Frontale | | 115,431 (5,247) |
| Ventforet Kofu | | 108,108 (4,914) |
| Shonan Bellmare | | 100,125 (4,551) |
| Sagan Tosu | | 85,586 (3,890) |
| Montedio Yamagata | | 82,601 (3,755) |
| Yokohama FC | | 76,498 (3,477) |
| Mito HollyHock | | 60,262 (2,739) |