# 2006 J.League Division 2

The 2006 J. League Division 2 season was the 35th season of the second-tier club football in Japan and the 8th season since the establishment of J2 League.
In this season, number of participating clubs became thirteen, increased by one from the previous season. The clubs competed in the quadruple round-robin format for the top two promotion slots. Farther, the third-placed finisher participated in the Pro/Rele Series for the promotion. There were no relegation to the third-tier Japan Football League.

## General
### Promotion and relegation

* At the end of the 2005 season, Kyoto Purple Sanga, Avispa Fukuoka, and Ventforet Kofu were promoted to J1
* At the end of the 2005 season, Kashiwa Reysol, Tokyo Verdy 1969, and Vissel Kobe were relegated to J2.
* At the end of the 2005 season, Ehime FC was promoted to J2.

### Changes in competition format

* Number of participating clubs increased to 13 games
* Each clubs will play 48 games instead 44 games

### Changes in clubs

none

## Clubs

Following thirteen clubs played in J. League Division 2 during 2006 season. Of these clubs, Kashiwa Reysol, Tokyo Verdy 1969, and Vissel Kobe relegated from J1 last year. Also, Ehime F.C. newly joined the J. League Division 2 from Japan Football League.
* Consadole Sapporo
* Vegalta Sendai
* Montedio Yamagata
* Mito HollyHocks
* Thespa Kusatsu
* Kashiwa Reysol
* Tokyo Verdy 1969
* Yokohama F.C.
* Shonan Bellmare
* Vissel Kobe
* Tokushima Vortis
* Ehime F.C.
* Sagan Tosu

## League format

Thirteen clubs played in quadruple round-robin format, a total of 48 games each. A club receives 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, and 0 points for a loss. The clubs are ranked by points, and tie breakers are, in the following order:
* Goal differential
* Goals scored
* Head-to-head results
A draw would be conducted, if necessary. However, if two clubs are tied at the first place, both clubs will be declared as the champions. The top two clubs will be promoted to J1, while the 3rd placed club plays a two-legged Promotion/relegation series.

## Schedule

The tournament ran from March 4 to December 2. With 13 teams, one team always had a bye each matchday, stretching the schedule over 52 weeks. Unlike J1, it continued uninterrupted during the World Cup in Germany.

## Final league table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion |
| 1 | Yokohama FC (C, P) | 48 | 26 | 15 | 7 | 61 | 32 | +29 | 93 | Promotion to 2007 J. League Division 1 |
| 2 | Kashiwa Reysol (P) | 48 | 27 | 7 | 14 | 84 | 60 | +24 | 88 | Promotion to 2007 J. League Division 1 |
| 3 | Vissel Kobe (P) | 48 | 25 | 11 | 12 | 78 | 53 | +25 | 86 | Promotion to 2007 J. League Division 1 |
| 4 | Sagan Tosu | 48 | 22 | 13 | 13 | 64 | 49 | +15 | 79 | |
| 5 | Vegalta Sendai | 48 | 21 | 14 | 13 | 75 | 43 | +32 | 77 | |
| 6 | Consadole Sapporo | 48 | 20 | 12 | 16 | 77 | 67 | +10 | 72 | |
| 7 | Tokyo Verdy 1969 | 48 | 21 | 8 | 19 | 69 | 75 | −6 | 71 | |
| 8 | Montedio Yamagata | 48 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 68 | 57 | +11 | 65 | |
| 9 | Ehime FC | 48 | 14 | 11 | 23 | 51 | 63 | −12 | 53 | |
| 10 | Mito HollyHock | 48 | 14 | 9 | 25 | 48 | 69 | −21 | 51 | |
| 11 | Shonan Bellmare | 48 | 13 | 10 | 25 | 61 | 87 | −26 | 49 | |
| 12 | Thespa Kusatsu | 48 | 9 | 15 | 24 | 54 | 86 | −32 | 42 | |
| 13 | Tokushima Vortis | 48 | 8 | 11 | 29 | 43 | 92 | −49 | 35 | |

## Final results

Rounds 1 & 2 :
| Home \ Away | YFC | REY | VIS | SAG | VEG | CON | VER | MON | EHI | HOL | BEL | SPA | VOR |
| Yokohama FC | | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 |
| Kashiwa Reysol | 2–1 | | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 4–0 |
| Vissel Kobe | 0–0 | 1–1 | | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 0–3 | 3–0 |
| Sagan Tosu | 0–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | | 1–5 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 |
| Vegalta Sendai | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | | 0–2 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 1–0 |
| Consadole Sapporo | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–6 | 2–2 | 1–1 | | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 4–1 | 3–0 | 4–2 |
| Tokyo Verdy 1969 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 4–1 |
| Montedio Yamagata | 1–2 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 2–3 | | 2–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 |
| Ehime FC | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 0–2 | | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 |
| Mito HollyHock | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 |
| Shonan Bellmare | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | | 4–3 | 5–0 |
| Thespa Kusatsu | 0–0 | 0–4 | 3–2 | 3–4 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | | 0–2 |
| Tokushima Vortis | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 0–4 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | |
Rounds 3 & 4 :
| Home \ Away | YFC | REY | VIS | SAG | VEG | CON | VER | MON | EHI | HOL | BEL | SPA | VOR |
| Yokohama FC | | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–0 |
| Kashiwa Reysol | 3–3 | | 3–0 | 2–5 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 |
| Vissel Kobe | 1–2 | 3–4 | | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 4–1 |
| Sagan Tosu | 0–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 |
| Vegalta Sendai | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 5–2 | 1–1 |
| Consadole Sapporo | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 3–1 | | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–5 | 2–2 | 6–0 |
| Tokyo Verdy 1969 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 5–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | | 1–0 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Montedio Yamagata | 2–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 |
| Ehime FC | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 3–3 |
| Mito HollyHock | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–1 | | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 |
| Shonan Bellmare | 0–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 1–6 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 1–0 | | 2–1 | 2–4 |
| Thespa Kusatsu | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–5 | 3–1 | 0–0 | | 1–0 |
| Tokushima Vortis | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 0–5 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 3–1 | |

## Top scorers

| Pos | Scorer | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Borges | Vegalta Sendai | 26 |
| 2 | Hulk | Consadole Sapporo | 25 |
| 3 | Tatsunori Arai | Sagan Tosu | 23 |
| 3 | Leandro | Montedio Yamagata | 23 |
| 5 | Diego | Kashiwa Reysol | 21 |
| 6 | Alemão | Yokohama FC | 18 |
| 7 | Anderson | Mito HollyHock | 17 |
| 8 | Kazuki Hiramoto | Tokyo Verdy 1969 | 15 |
| 8 | Atsuhiro Miura | Vissel Kobe | 15 |
| 10 | Lopes | Vegalta Sendai | 14 |
| 10 | Toshiya Tanaka | Ehime FC | 14 |

## Attendance

| Pos | Team | Total | High | Low | Average | Change |
| 1 | Vegalta Sendai | 346,868 | 18,648 | 10,529 | 14,453 | −9.3%$^†$ |
| 2 | Consadole Sapporo | 251,476 | 18,547 | 3,896 | 10,478 | −5.9%$^†$ |
| 3 | Kashiwa Reysol | 199,872 | 11,471 | 4,464 | 8,328 | −33.3%$^†$ |
| 4 | Sagan Tosu | 179,151 | 18,231 | 4,121 | 7,465 | −5.0%$^†$ |
| 5 | Vissel Kobe | 165,834 | 15,407 | 3,750 | 6,910 | −53.7%$^†$ |
| 6 | Tokyo Verdy 1969 | 136,926 | 11,176 | 2,982 | 5,705 | −61.2%$^†$ |
| 7 | Shonan Bellmare | 128,766 | 10,723 | 2,551 | 5,365 | −6.6%$^†$ |
| 8 | Yokohama FC | 122,852 | 11,472 | 2,690 | 5,119 | −13.8%$^†$ |
| 9 | Montedio Yamagata | 122,042 | 13,043 | 2,236 | 5,085 | −14.5%$^†$ |
| 10 | Ehime FC | 99,334 | 10,922 | 2,091 | 4,139 | +45.5%$^‡$ |
| 11 | Thespa Kusatsu | 89,670 | 6,355 | 1,608 | 3,736 | −5.6%$^†$ |
| 12 | Tokushima Vortis | 83,452 | 6,970 | 1,257 | 3,477 | −20.4%$^†$ |
| 13 | Mito HollyHock | 72,405 | 9,482 | 1,019 | 3,017 | −9.5%$^†$ |
| | League total | 1,998,648 | 18,648 | 1,019 | 6,406 | −14.4%$^†$ |
Updated to games played on December 2, 2006 Source: J. League Division 2 Notes: $^†$ Team played previous season in J1. $^‡$ Team played previous season in JFL.