The J.League has been established for nearly 30 years and has gone through a lot of changes in terms of format and number of teams. Over the years, there have been a lot of historic moments as well as a lot of records that have been enjoyed by fans. This time [Hong Kong J.League] will look at the JLF since its inception, about the team and the players of the athletic records, together with the old know the new.
[Teams]
1. The team with the most championships - Kashima Antlers
As one of the founding members of the Nippon Professional League, Kashima Antlers has always competed in the highest division of the league, and the Ibaraki-based team has won the Nippon Professional League championship a total of eight times in its history (1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2016), making it the most numerous Nippon Professional League champion in the history of the league.
2. Teams that have been playing in the top division for the longest time - Kashima Antlers, Yokohama Marinos
Although the J-League was established in 1993, it was not until the 1998 season that the relegation system was introduced. Apart from Kashima Antlers, Yokohama Marinos is another team that has been competing in the top league since the establishment of the JLF, which shows the status of the two teams in the JLF.
3. Team with the most wins in a season - Kawasaki Yomiuri
In the early days of the JLF, Kawasaki Yomiuri was one of the most popular teams and one of the strongest teams in the league at that time. In the 1995 season, Kawasaki Yomiuri won 35 out of 52 matches in the two phases (four rounds), making them the winningest team in the history of the league. The number of matches played back then is not the same, so it seems that the record will not be broken again.
4. The team with the most Waves in a season - Shonan Bima
Shonan Bima has been fluctuating between the JLF and J2 for the past 20 years, and it is quite a remarkable achievement for them to be able to compete in the JLF for the fifth consecutive season after their successful relegation last term. In the 2021 season, Shonan Bima made 16 draws in 38 matches, becoming the king of draws in the history of JLF, and it is no wonder that Shonan Bima can protect the relegation for the last season.
5. Most goals scored in a season - Iwata Yamaha
Iwata Yamaaha, who returned to the JLF this season, was one of the best teams in the late 90s and early millennium. The Shizuoka Prefecture-based team scored a record 107 goals (in 34 matches) in a single season in 1998, but lost to Kashima Antlers in the Nippon Professional League title race that year.
6. Fewest goals conceded in a season - Oita Mikami
Many brilliant records are set by traditional giants, but Oita Mikami, currently in J2, holds the record for the fewest goals conceded in a season in the JFL. In the 2008 season, Oita Mikami only conceded 24 goals (in 34 games), making them the most conservative team in history, and they ended up in fourth place in the JLF that season, achieving the best result in the club's history.
[Players]
1. Player with the most appearances - Pauline Endo
It's no surprise that Hall of Fame veteran Paulo Endo, who currently plays for Iwata Yamaha, holds the record for the most appearances in the top flight of the Nippon Professional League. The former Japan international has been playing for the Yokohama Blades since 1998 and has made 641 appearances in the top flight until the 2022 season. Pauline Endo has made 2 appearances for Iwata Yamaiba this season, and the record will surely be updated.
2. Most Goals Scored - Kato Okubo
Former Japan national team goal scorer Kato Okubo, who announced that he will hang up his boots at the end of the 2021 season, has scored 191 goals in the top flight of the JFL, making him the top scorer in J1! Okubo has played for many clubs in J1, and if not for the fact that he played for Mallorca and Wofoo in his prime years, he would have surpassed the 200-goal mark.
3. Most Goals in a Season - Masashi Nakayama
Apart from Kato Okubo, Masashi Nakayama is another representative goal scorer of the JLF. Masashi Nakayama scored a lot of goals for Iwata Yamaha in his prime years and became one of the representative figures of the club, and his 36 goals in the 1998 season set a single-season record for the JLF. It is worth mentioning that Masashi Nakayama scored his first goal for Japan in the 1998 World Cup in France, which was the first goal for Japan in the final week of the World Cup!
4. Oldest player to play - Chira Miura
Japan's national treasure Chira Miura, who played for FC Yokohama last season, has become the oldest player to play in the history of the Japanese Football League. In the March 12, 2021 home match against Urawa Red Diamonds, Chira Miura, who came in as a backup for FC Yokohama, set a record at 54 years and 12 days old. Chira Miura is currently playing for Suzuka Unlimited in the fourth division as a loanee, showing his commitment to professional soccer.
5. Youngest Player to Appear and Score - Takayuki Morimoto
After talking about the oldest, of course we have to count the youngest player to play! Takayuki Morimoto, who started for Tokyo Green on March 13, 2004 at the age of 15 years, 10 months and 6 days, holds the record. Nearly two months after his debut, Takayuki Morimoto scored his first goal against Chiba Ichihara on May 5, 2004, making him the youngest player to ever score a goal in the history of the JLF, and he holds two JLF records all by himself!
6. Fastest Goal Ever - Shoujin Sato
Sanfrecce Hiroshima's Shouren Sato is not a big player, but his shooting skills are enough to make him the best goal scorer in the club's history. The left-footed player made his name on April 22, 2006 when he scored eight seconds after the opening kick-off against Sakura Osaka, the fastest goal in the history of the JFL.
This week's JLF live streaming schedule:
March 18, 6:00 p.m. Yokohama Mariners vs. Tosu Sandstone Cable 601/661
March 19, 1:00 p.m. Sanfrecce Hiroshima vs Kawasaki Frontale Cable 601/661
March 19th, 1:00pm: Shimizu S Pulse vs. Kobe Victory FC Cable TV 604/664
