J. League 2003
Encyclopedia
The 2003 season was the 11th season since the establishment of the J. League
. The league began on March 15 and ended on November 29.
A draw would be conducted, if necessary. The club that finished at the top of the table is declared stage champion and qualifies for the Suntory Championship. The first stage winner, hosts the first leg in the championship series. If the a single club win both stages, the club is declared the season champions and championship series will not be held. Two bottom-placed clubs are relegated to J2.
Changes in Competition Format
* The number in brackets denotes the amount of times that the footballer has appeared in the Best 11.
J. League
The or is the top division of and is the top professional association football league in Japan. It is one of the most successful leagues in Asian club football and the only league given top class 'A' ranking by the AFC. Currently, J. League Division 1 is the first level of the Japanese...
. The league began on March 15 and ended on November 29.
Promotion and relegation
- At the end of the 2002 Season, Oita TrinitaOita Trinitais a J. League Division 2 team. The team name Trinita can be considered either a combination of the English word trinity and Ōita, or the Italian word trinità. The dual meaning expresses the will of the citizens, companies, and local governments to support the team.The team's home town is Ōita...
and Cerezo OsakaCerezo Osakais a J. League Division 1 association football team. The team name Cerezo means cherry tree in Spanish, which is also the flower of Ōsaka city....
were promoted to division 1. - At the end of the 2002 Season, Sanfrecce HiroshimaSanfrecce Hiroshimais a Japanese association football club in the J. League Division 1.-Club name:The club name is a portmanteau of the Japanese numeral for three, San and an Italian word frecce or 'arrows'...
and Consadole SapporoConsadole Sapporois a Japanese professional football club, currently playing in the J. League Division 2. The team is located in Sapporo, on the island of Hokkaidō....
were relegated to division 2.
Changes in competition formats
- Extra time was scratched for J. LeagueJ. LeagueThe or is the top division of and is the top professional association football league in Japan. It is one of the most successful leagues in Asian club football and the only league given top class 'A' ranking by the AFC. Currently, J. League Division 1 is the first level of the Japanese...
Division 1. After regulation time, clubs now receives 3pts for a win, 1pt for a tie, and 0pts for a loss.
Honours
| Competition | Champion | Runner-Up | 3rd Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| J. League J. League The or is the top division of and is the top professional association football league in Japan. It is one of the most successful leagues in Asian club football and the only league given top class 'A' ranking by the AFC. Currently, J. League Division 1 is the first level of the Japanese... Division 1 |
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| J. League J. League The or is the top division of and is the top professional association football league in Japan. It is one of the most successful leagues in Asian club football and the only league given top class 'A' ranking by the AFC. Currently, J. League Division 1 is the first level of the Japanese... Division 2 |
| | | | |
| Emperor's Cup Emperor's Cup , commonly known as or , is a Japanese association football competition. It has the longest tradition of any football tournament in Japan, dating back to 1921, before the formation of the J. League, Japan Football League and their predecessor, Japan Soccer League... |
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| Nabisco Cup | |||
| Xerox Super Cup |
Clubs
Following sixteen clubs participated in J. League Division 1 during 2003 season. Of these clubs, Oita Trinita and Cerezo Osaka were newly promoted from Division 2.- Vegalta Sendai
- Kashima Antlers
- Urawa Red Diamonds
- JEF United Ichihara
- Kashiwa Reysol
- F.C. Tokyo
- Tokyo Verdy 1969
- Yokohama F. Marinos
- Shimizu S-Pulse
- Jublio Iwata
- Nagoya Grampus Eight
- Kyoto Purple Sanga
- Gamba Osaka
- Cerezo Osaka
- Vissel Kobe
- Oita Trinita
Format
In the 2003 season, the league was conducted split-season format, 1st Stage and 2nd Stage. In each stage, sixteen clubs played in a single round-robin format, a total of 15 games per club (per stage). A club received 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, and 0 points for a loss. The club were 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. The club that finished at the top of the table is declared stage champion and qualifies for the Suntory Championship. The first stage winner, hosts the first leg in the championship series. If the a single club win both stages, the club is declared the season champions and championship series will not be held. Two bottom-placed clubs are relegated to J2.
Changes in Competition Format
- Extra time was abandoned, now every regular season game ends after 90 minutes.
Table
Results
Table
Results
Suntory Championship
In 2003, Suntory Championship was again not held because had won both the first and the second stage and thus were automatically declared 2003 J. League Champions.Overall Table
Top scorers
| Rank | Scorer | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  UesleiUeslei Raimundo Pereira da Silva Ueslei Raimundo Pereira da Silva or better known as Ueslei is a Brazilian former football player.Ueslei played for Bahia, Vitória and Atlético Mineiro in the Campeonato Brasileiro.- Club career statistics :... |
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| 2 | Rodrigo Gral Rodrigo Gral Rodrigo Gral is a Brazilian professional footballer who is currently a free agent. He has recently played for Santa Cruz Futebol Clube as a forward. Because of his lack of size , Rodrigo relies more on his speed and guile in the box to score goals.Gral has played in Japan and made his J... |
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| 3 | Emerson Marcio Emerson Passos Márcio Passos de Albuquerque , also known as Emerson or Emerson Sheik, is a Brazilian-Qatari football striker, who plays for Corinthians Paulista.-Controversy:... |
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| 4 |  Choi Yong-SooChoi Yong-Soo Choi Yong-Soo is a former professional footballer and current coach. He spent his professional career playing for Korea and Japan and was regarded as a prolific striker in both countries, known for his hard-nose aggressiveness and work rate.Choi has played in 1996 Summer Olympics and also... |
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| 5 |  Tatsuhiko Kubo |
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| Yoshito Ōkubo Yoshito Okubo is a Japanese football player, he is a forward and currently plays for Vissel Kobe.- Career :On January 3, 2009, Vissel announced his transfer to VfL Wolfsburg of the 1. Bundesliga... |
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| 7 | Magrão |
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| 8 |  Patrick Mboma |
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| Oséas |
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| 10 | Ahn Jung Hwan |
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| Keiji Tamada Keiji Tamada is a Japanese football player, who currently plays for the J. League team Nagoya Grampus.-Club career:Tamada entered Kashiwa Reysol from the Narashino High School in 1999. He accomplished the debut by the game against Avispa Fukuoka on March 13, 1999. He experiences the acquisition of the title of... |
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| Tatsuya Tanaka |
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Attendance Figures
Individual
| Award | Recipient | Club | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Player of the Year J. League Most Valuable Player The J-League Player of the Year is awarded by the J.League.-Wins By Club:... |
Emerson Marcio Emerson Passos Márcio Passos de Albuquerque , also known as Emerson or Emerson Sheik, is a Brazilian-Qatari football striker, who plays for Corinthians Paulista.-Controversy:... |
Urawa Red Diamonds Urawa Red Diamonds are a professional association football club playing in Japan's football league, J. League Division 1. One of Japan and Asia's best supported teams, the club has been able to boast the highest average crowds for thirteen of the J-League's twenty season history... |
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| Young Player of the Year J. League Rookie of the Year The J. League Rookie of the Year is awarded by the J. League to the most outstanding rookie of the season. To be considered a rookie, a player must be in his first professional year of football .... |
Daisuke Nasu Daisuke Nasu is a Japanese football player who currently plays for J. League side Júbilo Iwata.He was part of the Japanese 2004 Olympic football team, who exited in the first round, having finished fourth in group B, below group winners Paraguay, Italy and Ghana.-National team:* 2004 Summer Olympics-Career... |
Yokohama F. Marinos Yokohama F. Marinos is a Japanese association football team that participates in the fully professional J. League Division 1; the top Japanese professional football league. Having won the J-League title three times and finished second twice, they are one of the most successful J-League clubs. The team are based in... |
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| Manager of the Year J. League Manager of the Year J. League Manager of the Year is an annual award given to one manager by the J. League based on their performance during the season. The award does not necessarily go to the manager of the champions, although for the last seven years that has been the case.... |
Takeshi Okada Takeshi Okada is a former football player that was head coach of the Japanese national football team between 2007 and 2010.-International career:Okada played 24 games and scored one goal for the Japan national football team between 1980 and 1985.-Coaching career:... |
Yokohama F. Marinos Yokohama F. Marinos is a Japanese association football team that participates in the fully professional J. League Division 1; the top Japanese professional football league. Having won the J-League title three times and finished second twice, they are one of the most successful J-League clubs. The team are based in... |
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| Top Scorer J. League Top Scorer The J. League Top Scorer is awarded by the J.League to the top scoring player of the season.-Wins By Club:-See also:*Japanese football champions, for Japan Soccer League predecessors.... |
Ueslei Ueslei Raimundo Pereira da Silva Ueslei Raimundo Pereira da Silva or better known as Ueslei is a Brazilian former football player.Ueslei played for Bahia, Vitória and Atlético Mineiro in the Campeonato Brasileiro.- Club career statistics :... |
Nagoya Grampus Eight Nagoya Grampus Eight are a Japanese association football club that play in the J. League. Based in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture and originally founded as the company team of the Toyota Motor Corp... |
|22 goals. |
Best Eleven
| Position | Footballer | Club | Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Seigo Narazaki Seigo Narazaki is a Japanese football player, who currently plays for J. League Division 1 side Nagoya Grampus. He is a goalkeeper and a member of the Japanese national football team.-Playing career:... (3) |
Nagoya Grampus Eight Nagoya Grampus Eight are a Japanese association football club that play in the J. League. Based in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture and originally founded as the company team of the Toyota Motor Corp... |
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| DF | Keisuke Tsuboi Keisuke Tsuboi is a Japanese football player. He is a centre back and currently plays for the J-league team Urawa Red Diamonds.-Career:He was educated at and played for Yokkaichi Chūō Industrial High School and Fukuoka University... (1) |
Urawa Red Diamonds Urawa Red Diamonds are a professional association football club playing in Japan's football league, J. League Division 1. One of Japan and Asia's best supported teams, the club has been able to boast the highest average crowds for thirteen of the J-League's twenty season history... |
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| DF | Dutra (1) | Yokohama F. Marinos Yokohama F. Marinos is a Japanese association football team that participates in the fully professional J. League Division 1; the top Japanese professional football league. Having won the J-League title three times and finished second twice, they are one of the most successful J-League clubs. The team are based in... |
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| DF | Yuji Nakazawa Yuji Nakazawa is a Japanese football player who currently plays for J. League side Yokohama F. Marinos. He is a centre back. He is captain of both Yokohama F. Marinos and the Japan national football team. His nickname is "Bomber" because of his distinctive hairstyle... (2) |
Yokohama F. Marinos Yokohama F. Marinos is a Japanese association football team that participates in the fully professional J. League Division 1; the top Japanese professional football league. Having won the J-League title three times and finished second twice, they are one of the most successful J-League clubs. The team are based in... |
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| MF | Mitsuo Ogasawara (3) | Kashima Antlers Kashima Antlers are a Japanese professional association football club playing in the J. League Division 1. Antlers is derived from the city name, Kashima, which literally means "deer island".... |
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| MF | Takashi Fukunishi (4) | Jubilo Iwata Júbilo Iwata is a professional Japanese association football team currently playing in the J. League Division 1 . The team name Júbilo means 'joy' in Portuguese and Spanish. The team's home town is Iwata, Shizuoka prefecture and they play at Yamaha Stadium... |
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| MF | Daisuke Oku (2) | Yokohama F. Marinos Yokohama F. Marinos is a Japanese association football team that participates in the fully professional J. League Division 1; the top Japanese professional football league. Having won the J-League title three times and finished second twice, they are one of the most successful J-League clubs. The team are based in... |
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| MF | Yasuhito Endo Yasuhito Endo is a Japanese footballer, who currently plays for the J. League team Gamba Osaka. His older brother Akihiro, who retired in 2008, was also a professional footballer.-Career:... (1) |
Gamba Osaka Gamba Osaka is a Japanese professional association football club, currently playing in the J. League Division 1. The team's name comes from the Italian word "gamba" meaning "leg" and the Japanese , meaning "to do your best" or "to stand firm". Located in Suita, Osaka, the team's home stadium is Osaka Expo '70... |
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| FW | Emerson Marcio Emerson Passos Márcio Passos de Albuquerque , also known as Emerson or Emerson Sheik, is a Brazilian-Qatari football striker, who plays for Corinthians Paulista.-Controversy:... (2) |
Urawa Red Diamonds Urawa Red Diamonds are a professional association football club playing in Japan's football league, J. League Division 1. One of Japan and Asia's best supported teams, the club has been able to boast the highest average crowds for thirteen of the J-League's twenty season history... |
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| FW | Ueslei Ueslei Raimundo Pereira da Silva Ueslei Raimundo Pereira da Silva or better known as Ueslei is a Brazilian former football player.Ueslei played for Bahia, Vitória and Atlético Mineiro in the Campeonato Brasileiro.- Club career statistics :... (1) |
Nagoya Grampus Eight Nagoya Grampus Eight are a Japanese association football club that play in the J. League. Based in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture and originally founded as the company team of the Toyota Motor Corp... |
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| FW | Tatsuhiko Kubo (1) | Yokohama F. Marinos Yokohama F. Marinos is a Japanese association football team that participates in the fully professional J. League Division 1; the top Japanese professional football league. Having won the J-League title three times and finished second twice, they are one of the most successful J-League clubs. The team are based in... |
* The number in brackets denotes the amount of times that the footballer has appeared in the Best 11.