2004 J.League Division 1


The 2004 J.League Division 1 season was the 12th season of the J1 League. The league fixture began on March 13, 2004 and ended on December 11, 2004. The Suntory Championship 2004 took place on December 5 and December 11, 2004. The first ever J.League Promotion / Relegation Series took place on December 4 and December 12, 2004.

General

Promotion and relegation

none

Clubs

Following sixteen clubs participated in J.League Division 1 during 2004 season. Of these clubs, Albirex Nigata and Sanfrecce Hiroshima were newly promoted from Division 2.
In the 2004 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. 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:
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 a single club wins both stages, the club is declared the season champions and championship series will not be held. Meanwhile, the last-placed club must play Pro/Rele Series at the end of the season.
;Changes in competition format

Table

Results

Second stage

Table

Results

Suntory Championship

Yokohama F. Marinos won the first stage and thus hosted the first game. They won the first leg by 1–0 thanks to Ryuji Kawai's goal. In the second leg, Alessandro Santos scored from the free kick in 76th minute to level the aggregate score. The clubs played in sudden death extra time, however neither club could break the scoreline. Yokohama upset the home club in the penalties winning them and series overall.
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Overall table

Top scorers

Attendance figures

Awards

Individual

AwardRecipientClubNotes
Player of the Year Yuji NakazawaYokohama F. Marinos
Young Player of the Year Takayuki MorimotoTokyo Verdy 1969
Manager of the Year Takeshi OkadaYokohama F. Marinos
Top scorer EmersonUrawa Red Diamonds27 goals.

Best Eleven

PositionFootballerClubNationality
GKYoichi Doi FC Tokyo
DFMarcus Tulio Tanaka Urawa Red Diamonds
DFDutra Yokohama F. Marinos
DFYuji Nakazawa Yokohama F. Marinos
MFMitsuo Ogasawara Kashima Antlers
MFMakoto Hasebe Urawa Red Diamonds
MFDaisuke Oku Yokohama F. Marinos
MFYasuhito Endō Gamba Osaka
FWEmerson Urawa Red Diamonds
FWMarques Nagoya Grampus Eight
FWMasashi Oguro Gamba Osaka