J.League Cup
J.League YBC Levain Cup
Founded1992 (1992)
RegionJapan
Number of teams60
Current championsAvispa Fukuoka
(1st title)
Most successful club(s)Kashima Antlers (6 titles)
Television broadcastersFuji TV, SKY PerfecTV!
(live matches)
Websitejleague.jp/cup
2024 J.League Cup

The J.League Cup (Japanese: Jリーグカップ, Hepburn: Jē-rīgu Kappu) is a Japanese football (soccer) competition organized by J.League. It has been sponsored by Yamazaki Biscuits (YBC) of Yamazaki Baking (formerly Yamazaki Nabisco) since its inception in 1992. It is also known as the J.League presents YBC Levain Cup " since 1992 " (Japanese: JリーグYBCルヴァンカップ, Hepburn: Jē-rīgu Waibīshī Ruvan Kappu) or YBC Levain Cup (Japanese: ルヴァンカップ、ルヴァン杯, Hepburn: Ruvan Kappu) (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, Hepburn: Jē-rīgu Yamazaki Nabisuko Kappu) or Nabisco Cup (Japanese: ナビスコカップ、ナビスコ杯, Hepburn: Nabisuko Kappu) until August 2016.

It is generally regarded as the Japanese equivalent to league cup competitions played in many countries, such as the Football League Cup in England, as complementary to the Emperor's Cup competed between clubs from all divisions of professional football in Japan. Before the J. League Cup was created, the old Japan Soccer League had its own Japan Soccer League Cup since the 1976 season.

The tournament format varies almost each year largely depending on the schedule of international matches such as the Olympic Games and World Cup games (see the Format section below).

From 2007 to 2023, the winners qualified for the J.League Cup / Copa Sudamericana Championship held in the following summer, where they played against the winners of the Copa Sudamericana. The tournament was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, but was not held for 2021 and 2022, before ultimately being cancelled in 2023.

Format

Early years (1992–1998)

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)

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 only J1 (2002–2017)

2002
All the sixteen J1 teams took part. At the group stage, the teams were divided into four groups. Each team played the other teams in the same group twice. The top two teams of the each group were qualified for the knock-out stage where the ties were single matches.
2003
The trophy awarded to Urawa Red Diamonds, 2003 winners
All the sixteen J1 teams took part. Kashima Antlers and Shimizu S-Pulse were exempted from the group stage because they participated in the AFC Champions League. The remaining fourteen teams were divided into four groups, two groups containing four teams and the other two groups containing three. The top team of the each group and the second placed teams of the groups containing four teams as well as Kashima and Shimizu were qualified for the knock-out stage. The ties were played over two matches (home and away) except the final where the winners were decided by a single game.
2004
All the sixteen J1 teams took part. At the group stage, the teams were divided into four groups. Each team played the other teams in the same group twice. The top two teams of the each group were qualified for the knock-out stage where the ties were single matches.
2005
All the eighteen J1 teams took part. Yokohama F. Marinos and Jubilo Iwata were exempted from the group stage because they participated in the AFC Champions League. The remaining sixteen teams were divided into four groups. Each team played the other teams in the same group twice. The top team of the each group and the two second-placed teams with the best records as well as Marinos and Iwata were qualified for the knock-out stage. The ties were played over two matches (home and away) except the final where the winners were decided by a single game. From this year's competition, the golden goal rule was abolished and the extra time was always played for thirty minutes.
2006
All the eighteen J1 teams took part. Gamba Osaka were exempted from the group stage because they participated in the 2006 AFC Champions League. The remaining seventeen teams were divided into four groups, three of them containing four teams and the other containing five teams. Each team played the other teams in the same group twice but only one game was played between some pairs of teams in the group containing five teams. The top team of the each group and the three second placed teams with the best records as well as Gamba Osaka were qualified for the knock-out stage. The ties were played over two matches (home and away) except the final where the winners were decided by a single game. The away goal rule was employed for this year's competition but it was not applied to a goal in the extra time.
2007
The format of the 2007 competition was similar to that of 2006's, but the number of clubs participating from the group stage has been decreased to 16 due to two clubs', Kawasaki Frontale and Urawa Red Diamonds, participation in the 2007 AFC Champions League. See 2007 J. League Cup for details.
2008
The format of the 2008 competition was similar to that of 2007's. See 2008 J. League Cup for details.
2009
The format of the 2009 group stage was changed due to the number of clubs participating 2009 AFC Champions League increased from two to four. 14 remaining clubs were divided into two groups with seven clubs each, then two top clubs of each group were qualified for the knock-out stage. See 2009 J. League Cup for more details.
2010
The format of the 2010 competition was same as that of 2009's. See 2010 J. League Cup for details.
2011
Although the format of the 2011 competition is planned to be same as that of 2009's and 2010's, it was abandoned due to 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and replaced by a format without group stage (five knockout stages only). See 2011 J. League Cup for details.
2012–2017
See 2012 J. League Cup, 2013 J. League Cup, 2014 J. League Cup, 2015 J. League Cup, 2016 J. League Cup, and 2017 J.League Cup for details.

As tournaments for J1 and J2 (2018–2023)

0 to 2 clubs (varies depending on the number of J1 teams participating in the ACL group stage) that were relegated to J2 last year and all J1 clubs can now participate. This is last season of group stage format in 2023.

As tournaments for J1, J2 and J3 (2024–)

All of the 60 J. League clubs will participate in knockout format from 2024.

Prizes

  • 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

Year Winners Score Runners-up Venue
1992Verdy Kawasaki1–0Shimizu S-PulseNational Stadium
1993Verdy Kawasaki2–1Shimizu S-PulseNational Stadium
1994Verdy Kawasaki2–0Júbilo IwataKobe Universiade Memorial Stadium
1995Not played
1996Shimizu S-Pulse3–3 (a.e.t.)
(5–4 p)
Verdy KawasakiNational Stadium
1997Kashima Antlers7–2 agg.
2–1
5–1
Júbilo IwataFirst leg: Yamaha Stadium
Second leg: Kashima Soccer Stadium
1998Júbilo Iwata4–0JEF United IchiharaNational Stadium
1999Kashiwa Reysol2–2 (a.e.t.)
(5–4 p)
Kashima AntlersNational Stadium
2000Kashima Antlers2–0Kawasaki FrontaleNational Stadium
2001Yokohama F. Marinos0–0 (a.e.t.)
(3–1 p)
Júbilo IwataNational Stadium
2002Kashima Antlers1–0Urawa Red DiamondsNational Stadium
2003Urawa Red Diamonds4–0Kashima AntlersNational Stadium
2004FC Tokyo0–0 (a.e.t.)
(4–2 p)
Urawa Red DiamondsNational Stadium
2005JEF United Chiba0–0 (a.e.t.)
(5–4 p)
Gamba OsakaNational Stadium
2006JEF United Chiba2–0Kashima AntlersNational Stadium
2007Gamba Osaka1–0Kawasaki FrontaleNational Stadium
2008Oita Trinita2–0Shimizu S-PulseNational Stadium
2009FC Tokyo2–0Kawasaki FrontaleNational Stadium
2010Júbilo Iwata5–3 (a.e.t.)Sanfrecce HiroshimaNational Stadium
2011Kashima Antlers1–0 (a.e.t.)Urawa Red DiamondsNational Stadium
2012Kashima Antlers2–1 (a.e.t.)Shimizu S-PulseNational Stadium
2013Kashiwa Reysol1–0Urawa Red DiamondsNational Stadium
2014Gamba Osaka3–2Sanfrecce HiroshimaSaitama Stadium 2002
2015Kashima Antlers3–0Gamba OsakaSaitama Stadium 2002
2016Urawa Red Diamonds1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–4 p)
Gamba OsakaSaitama Stadium 2002
2017Cerezo Osaka2–0Kawasaki FrontaleSaitama Stadium 2002
2018Shonan Bellmare1–0Yokohama F. MarinosSaitama Stadium 2002
2019Kawasaki Frontale3–3 (a.e.t.)
(5–4 p)
Hokkaido Consadole SapporoSaitama Stadium 2002
2020FC Tokyo2–1Kashiwa ReysolNational Stadium
2021Nagoya Grampus2–0Cerezo OsakaSaitama Stadium 2002
2022Sanfrecce Hiroshima2–1Cerezo OsakaNational Stadium
2023 Avispa Fukuoka 2–1 Urawa Red Diamonds National Stadium

Performances by team

Club Winners Runners-up Winning seasons Runners-up seasons
Kashima Antlers
6
4
1997, 2000, 2002, 2011, 2012, 2015 1999, 2003, 2006 2023
Tokyo Verdy
3
1
1992, 1993, 1994 1996
FC Tokyo
3
0
2004, 2009, 2020
Urawa Red Diamonds
2
4
2003, 2016 2002, 2004, 2011, 2013
Júbilo Iwata
2
3
1998, 2010 1994, 1997, 2001
Gamba Osaka
2
3
2007, 2014 2005, 2015, 2016
JEF United Chiba
2
1
2005, 2006 1998
Kashiwa Reysol
2
1
1999, 2013 2020
Shimizu S-Pulse
1
4
1996 1992, 1993, 2008, 2012
Kawasaki Frontale
1
4
2019 2000, 2007, 2009, 2017
Cerezo Osaka
1
2
2017 2021, 2022
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
1
2
2022 2010, 2014
Yokohama F. Marinos
1
1
2001 2018
Oita Trinita
1
0
2008
Shonan Bellmare
1
0
2018
Nagoya Grampus
1
0
2021
Avispa Fukuoka
1
0
2023
Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo
0
1
2019

Most valuable players

YearWinnerClubNationality
1992Kazuyoshi MiuraVerdy Kawasaki Japan
1993BismarckVerdy Kawasaki Brazil
1994BismarckVerdy Kawasaki Brazil
1996SantosShimizu S-Pulse Brazil
1997JorginhoKashima Antlers Brazil
1998Nobuo KawaguchiJúbilo Iwata Japan
1999Takeshi WatanabeKashiwa Reysol Japan
2000Koji NakataKashima Antlers Japan
2001Tatsuya EnomotoYokohama F. Marinos Japan
2002Mitsuo OgasawaraKashima Antlers Japan
2003Tatsuya TanakaUrawa Red Diamonds Japan
2004Yoichi DoiFC Tokyo Japan
2005Tomonori TateishiJEF United Chiba Japan
2006Koki MizunoJEF United Chiba Japan
2007Michihiro YasudaGamba Osaka Japan
2008Daiki TakamatsuOita Trinita Japan
2009Takuji YonemotoFC Tokyo Japan
2010Ryoichi MaedaJúbilo Iwata Japan
2011Yuya OsakoKashima Antlers Japan
2012Gaku ShibasakiKashima Antlers Japan
2013Masato KudoKashiwa Reysol Japan
2014PatricGamba Osaka Brazil
2015Mitsuo OgasawaraKashima Antlers Japan
2016Tadanari LeeUrawa Red Diamonds Japan
2017Kenyu SugimotoCerezo Osaka Japan
2018Daiki SugiokaShonan Bellmare Japan
2019Shota AraiKawasaki Frontale Japan
2020LeandroFC Tokyo Brazil
2021Sho InagakiNagoya Grampus Japan
2022Pieros SotiriouSanfrecce Hiroshima Cyprus

New Hero Award

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.

Year Winner Club
1996Hiroshi NanamiJúbilo Iwata
Toshihide SaitoShimizu S-Pulse
1997Atsuhiro MiuraYokohama Flügels
1998Naohiro TakaharaJúbilo Iwata
1999Yukihiko SatoFC Tokyo
2000Takayuki SuzukiKashima Antlers
2001Hitoshi SogahataKashima Antlers
2002Keisuke TsuboiUrawa Red Diamonds
2003Tatsuya TanakaUrawa Red Diamonds
2004Makoto HasebeUrawa Red Diamonds
2005Yuki AbeJEF United Chiba
2006Hiroyuki TaniguchiKawasaki Frontale
2007Michihiro YasudaGamba Osaka
2008Mu KanazakiOita Trinita
2009Takuji YonemotoFC Tokyo
2010Yojiro TakahagiSanfrecce Hiroshima
2011Genki HaraguchiUrawa Red Diamonds
2012Hideki IshigeShimizu S-Pulse
2013Manabu SaitōYokohama F. Marinos
2014Takashi UsamiGamba Osaka
2015Shuhei AkasakiKashima Antlers
2016Yosuke IdeguchiGamba Osaka
2017Takuma NishimuraVegalta Sendai
2018Keita EndoYokohama F. Marinos
2019Keito NakamuraGamba Osaka
2020Ayumu SekoCerezo Osaka
2021Zion SuzukiUrawa Red Diamonds
2022Sota KitanoCerezo Osaka

Broadcasters

Japan

All matches of the competition is currently broadcast live by Fuji TV and SKY PerfecTV! respectively

Outside Japan

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

See also

References

  1. "2016 J.League Cup renamed to J.League YBC Levain Cup". J. League. 22 June 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  2. "2020 J.LEAGUE YBC Levain CUP Prime Stage to be broadcasted overseas:en". J.League. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.