The 2021 J1 League, besides known as the 2021 Meiji Yasuda J1 League ( japanese : 2021 明治安田生命J1リーグ, Hepburn : 2021 Meiji Yasuda Seimei J1 Rīgu ) for sponsorship reasons, is the 29th season of the J1 League, the peak japanese professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1993. The league began on 26 February and scheduled to end on 4 December 2021. Kawasaki Frontale were the reigning champions, having won their third base title in 2020 with four rounds to play. [ 2 ] They successfully retained the title, again with four rounds to play. [ 3 ]
Reading: 2021 J1 League
On 20 November 2021, Oita Trinita, Vegalta Sendai, and Yokohama FC were relegated to J2 League with two games to play .
Changes from the previous season
There were no teams relegated final temper due to impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic. [ 4 ] rather, four relegation places will apply for the current temper, reducing the sum number of teams from 20 ( the utmost number of clubs to compete in a japanese crown escape season ever ) to 18. [ 5 ] Two teams were promoted from the 2020 J2 League : Tokushima Vortis won the title and clinched a second promotion to J1 ( the inaugural came in 2013 ), while Avispa Fukuoka came second, returning to J1 after five seasons. [ 6 ]
Clubs
Personnel and kits
managerial changes
Foreign players
As of 2021 season, there are no more restrictions on a number of sign alien players, but clubs can lone register up to five alien players for a single match-day team. [ 16 ] 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 mid-season 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 an approved type of school in the country.[17]
League table
J.League Data Site
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.
( C ) Champion; ( Q ) Qualified to the phase indicated; ( R )
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Relegated; ( x ) Qualified for at least the AFC Champions League play-off round.
Notes: reference : Meiji Yasuda J1 League Rules for classification : 1 ) Points ; 2 ) Goal deviation ; 3 ) Goals scored ; 4 ) Head-to-head points ; 5 ) neck and neck goal remainder ; 6 ) neck and neck goal scored ; 7 ) Fair-play points.Champion ; Qualified to the phase indicated ; Relegated ; Qualified for at least the AFC Champions League play-off round.Notes :
- a b If Kawasaki Frontale wins the 2021 Emperor ‘s Cup, the third-placed team will qualify for the AFC Champions League group degree rather, and the fourth-placed team will qualify for the play-off round .
- a b[18][19] The JPFL awarded a 3–0 win to Shonan Bellmare after Urawa Red Diamonds fielded Zion Suzuki who was an ineligible actor. The original score was 3–2 for Shonan Bellmare .
Results table
- ^[20][21] The JPFL awarded 3–0 acquire to Shonan Bellmare after Urawa Red Diamonds fielded Zion Suzuki which was an ineligible player. The original grade was 3–2 for Shonan Bellmare .
Season statistics
top scorers
- As of 20 November 2021