Nadeshiko League: Difference between revisions
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|1995||[[Iga Football Club Kunoichi|Prima Ham F.C. Kunoichi]] |
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|1996||'''[[Nikko Securities Dream Ladies]]''' |
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|2000||'''[[NTV Beleza]]''' |
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Revision as of 09:51, 1 December 2012
Founded | 1989 |
---|---|
Country | Japan |
Confederation | AFC |
Divisions | 2 |
Number of teams | 10 L1 12 L2 |
Level on pyramid | 1-2 |
Relegation to | Regional Divisions |
Domestic cup(s) | Empress's Cup League Cup |
International cup(s) | none |
Current champions | INAC Kobe Leonessa (2012) |
Website | http://www.nadeshikoleague.jp/ |
Current: 2012 |
The L. League (in Japanese: "L・リーグ", Officially "日本女子サッカーリーグ",Nihon Joshi Sakkā Rīgu) is the top flight of women's association football in Japan. It is the women's equivalent of the J. League, but not professional. However, some individual players are professional.
The league consists of two divisions: division 1 has the nickname Nadeshiko League (なでしこリーグ, Nadeshiko Rīgu) and division 2 Challenge League (チャレンジリーグ, Charenji Rīgu). Since 2008 it has been sponsored by Plenus (株式会社プレナス), a fastfood company based in Fukuoka, and are thus billed as Plenus Nadeshiko League and Plenus Challenge League.[1]
History
L-League began in 1989. From 1993 to 1999 it adopted an Apertura and Clausura system, similar to the J. League system of the era. From 2000 to 2003 the clubs were divided into East and West groups and then the top clubs of each would go into a championship group, with the bottom clubs in a relegation group. In 2004 the single-table format was brought back.
Players from the 8 L-League teams would host an annual training camp to build skills and relationships between L-League and international women's football clubs, including US and Australian teams.
Since the 2004 season, the L. League has 2 divisions - Division 1, with 8 clubs, and Division 2 with 8 clubs in the 2006 season. Until 2009 the league operated on the same way as the old Japan Soccer League for men, the bottom club in the second division playing off against a regional league playoff winner.
Starting off with the 2010 season, the second division is divided into an east and west group of six teams each. The winners of each group are promoted.
After Japan's World Cup win the L-League saw an upsurge in popularity.[2][3][4][5]
League structure
The L-League consists of two levels.
Level |
League(s)/Division(s) | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
L1 (Nadeshiko League) | |||||||||||||||
2 |
L2 (Challenge League) |
Champions
First Division Champions
Bold indicate doubles with the All Japan Women's Football Championship.[6]
|
|
- Most successful clubs
Club | Champions | Year |
---|---|---|
NTV Beleza | 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 | |
Nikko Securities Dream Ladies | 1996, 1997, 1998 | |
Iga F.C. Kunoichi | 1995, 1999 | |
Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies | 2004, 2009 | |
INAC Kobe Leonessa | 2011, 2012 | |
Shimizu F.C. Ladies | 1989 | |
Speranza F.C. Osaka Takatsuki | 1994 | |
Tasaki Perule F.C. | 2003 |
- Yomiuri Beleza was renamed to NTV Beleza in 1999 and to Tokyo Verdy Beleza in 2011, when the Yomiuri Group sold its stake.
- Saitama Reinas were absorbed by Urawa Red Diamonds in 2005.
- Matsushita L.S.C. Bambina was renamed to Speranza F.C. Takatsuki in 2000. Then, renamed to Speranza F.C. Osaka Takatsuki in 2012.
- Prima Ham F.C. Kunoichi was renamed to Iga F.C. Kunoichi in 2000.
Second Division Champions
Year | Club | |
---|---|---|
2004 | Okayama Yunogo Belle | |
2005 | INAC Kobe Leonessa | |
2006 | Albirex Niigata Ladies | |
2007 | TEPCO Mareeze | |
2008 | JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies | |
2009 | AS Elfen Sayama | |
Year | East | West |
2010 | Tokiwagi Gakuen H.S | Speranza Takatsuki |
2011 | Tokiwagi Gakuen H.S | Kibi International University |
Year | Club | |
2012 | Vegalta Sendai Ladies |
L. League Clubs (2012)
The L-League consists of two levels.
Previous clubs
Relegated to regional leagues
- Renaissance Kumamoto Ladies F.C. - Relegated to Kyushu League from 2011
- Shimizu Daihachi Pleiades F.C. - Relegated to Tokai League from 2011
- Norddea Hokkaido - Relegated to Hokkaido League from 2012
- Aguilas Kobe - Withdrew from Challenge League and moved to Kansai League from 2012
Dissolved
- Fujita Soccer Club Mercury (affiliated with Shonan Bellmare)
- Nikko Securities Dream Ladies
- Nissan F.C. Ladies (affiliated with Yokohama Marinos)
- OKI F.C. Winds
- Shiroki F.C. Serena
- Suzuyo Shimizu F.C. Lovely Ladies (affiliated with Shimizu S-Pulse)
- Tasaki Perule F.C.
- Tokyo SHiDAX L.S.C. (ex Shinko Seiko F.C. Clair)
- Urawa Ladies F.C.
- TEPCO Mareeze (dissolved after Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster; many of the players moved to Vegalta Sendai Ladies)
See also
References
- ^ "Plenus Co. Ltd. Supports Nadeshiko League". Plenus Co. Ltd.
- ^ "Nadeshiko League attendance on rise | The Japan Times Online". Japantimes.co.jp. 2011-08-07. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
- ^ "Toyota to sponsor Nadeshiko League soccer " Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion". Japantoday.com. 2011-10-18. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
- ^ "Sky Perfect TV to Show Japan Women's Soccer League Live Following World Cup Win". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
- ^ "Women's football is booming in Japan as the game tries to capitalise on Nadeshiko's World Cup and Olympic success". Goal.com. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
{{cite news}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help) - ^ "Japan - List of Women Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
- ^ "Goals galore on three continents". FIFA. 22 November 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
- ^ It has transferred more temporarily than Naraha for an 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.