Football tournament
The J.League Cup ( japanese : Jリーグカップ, Hepburn : Jē-rīgu-kappu ) is a japanese football ( soccer ) contest organized by J.League. It has been sponsored by Yamazaki Biscuits ( YBC ) of Yamazaki Baking ( once Yamazaki Nabisco ) since its origin in 1992. It is besides known as the J. League YBC Levain Cup ( japanese : JリーグYBCルヴァンカップ ) or Levain Cup ( japanese : ルヴァンカップ、ルヴァン杯 ) ( Levain is one of YBC ‘s products ). [ 1 ] It was known as the J.League Yamazaki Nabisco Cup ( japanese : Jリーグヤマザキナビスコカップ ) or Nabisco Cup ( japanese : ナビスコカップ、ナビスコ杯 ) until August 2016. It is broadly regarded as the japanese equivalent to league cup competitions played in many countries, such as the Football League Cup in England, as complementary color to the Emperor ‘s Cup competed between clubs from all divisions of professional football in Japan. Before the J. League Cup was created, the erstwhile Japan Soccer League had its own Japan Soccer League Cup since the 1976 season. The tournament format varies about each year largely depending on the agenda of international matches such as the Olympic Games and World Cup games ( see the Format section below ).

Since 2007, the winners are qualified for the J.League Cup / Copa Sudamericana Championship held in the follow summer .

format [edit ]

early years ( 1992–1998 ) [edit ]

1992
The founding ten clubs of the J. League participated as a warm-up to the upcoming inaugural league season. At the group stage, each team played the other teams once. There was no draw and the golden goal, extra time and penalty shootout was employed to decide a tie if necessary. A sudden death was applied to the penalty shoot-out from the first kicker. The winner of a game got four points. A team who scored two or more goals in a game also won one point. The top four teams of the group stage went on to the knock-out stage where the ties were single matches.
1993
Thirteen teams (the ten J. League sides as well as the three JFL sides who had J. League associate membership) took part. At the group stage, the teams were divided into two groups, one consisting seven and the other consisting six. Each team played the other teams in the same group once. The top two teams of each group were qualified for the knock-out stage where the ties were single matches.
1994
Fourteen teams (the twelve J. League sides as well as the two JFL sides who had J. League associate membership) took part. There was no group stage. The ties were single matches all through the competition.
1995
No competition
1996
The sixteen J. League sides participated. J. League associate member teams did not take part due to the congested schedule. At the group stage, the teams were divided into two groups. Each team played the other teams in the same group twice (home and away). A tie was decided by the aggregate of two matches. The winner of a tie got three points and a draw earned one point. The top two teams of each group were qualified for the knock-out stage where the ties were single matches.
1997
Twenty teams (all the J. League clubs and the JFL clubs with J. League associate membership) participated. At the group stage, the teams were divided into five groups. Each team played the other teams in the same group once. A win earned three points, a draw earned one point. There was no extra time at this stage. The top team of each group, as well as the three second-placed teams with the best records, were qualified for the knock-out stage where the ties were played over two matches (home and away). Although Sagan Tosu had forfeited their associate membership because of the bankruptcy of their forerunner Tosu Futures, they were allowed to enter the competition as a special case.
1998
Twenty teams (all the J. League clubs and the JFL clubs with J. League associate membership) participated. At the group stage, the teams were divided into four groups. Each team played the other teams in the same group once. The top team of each group was qualified for the knock-out stage where the ties were single matches.

As tournaments for J1 and J2 ( 1999–2001 ) [edit ]

1999
All the twenty-six J1 and J2 clubs participated. There was no group stage. The ties were played over two matches (home and away) except the final where the winners were decided by a single game.
2000
All the twenty-seven J1 and J2 clubs participated. There was no group stage. The ties were played over two matches (home and away) except the final where the winners were decided by a single game.
2001
All the twenty-eight J1 and J2 clubs participated. There was no group stage. The ties were played over two matches (home and away) except the final where the winners were decided by a single game.

As tournaments for lone J1 ( 2002–2017 ) [edit ]

As tournaments for J1 and J2 ( since 2018 ) [edit ]

0 to 2 clubs ( varies depending on the number of J1 teams participating in the ACL group stage ) that were demoted to J2 last year and all J1 clubs can now participate. See 2018 J.League Cup and 2019 J.League Cup for details .

Prizes [edit ]

YBC Levain Cup

  • Champions: J. League Cup, YBC Levain Cup, Champion medals and 150 million yen
  • Runners-up: J. League Commemorative Plaque, Runner-up medals, and 50 million yen
  • 3rd place (2 clubs): J. League Commemorative Plaque and 20 million yen to each 3rd placed club

Finals [edit ]

Performances by team [edit ]

Most valuable player [edit ]

New Hero Award [edit ]

This award is presented to an under-23 player who made the biggest contribution to his team in the competition. The winner is decided based on votes from football journalists.

Broadcasters [edit ]

Japan [edit ]

All matches of the competition is presently broadcast alive by Fuji television receiver and SKY PerfecTV ! respectively

Outside Japan [edit ]

YouTube lone broadcast know coverage in prime stage matches through both official J.League International ( exc. Thailand ) and Siam Sport ( Thailand only ) channels. [ 2 ]

See besides [edit ]

References [edit ]