Head mentor: Ange Postecoglou 2019 result: Champions Foreign players: Park Il-gyu (Korea Republic), Theerathon Bunmathan (Thailand), Thiago Martins (Brazil), Marcos Junior (Brazil), Erik (Brazil), Edigar Junio (Brazil) Player to view: Teruhito Nakagawa

Yokohama F. Marinos acquired their very very first league name in 15 years in 2019 by playing the proactive, attack-oriented soccer that has been characteristic of Ange Postecoglou edges.

They wrapped up glory by closing the 2019 campaign unbeaten within their final 11 games and winning all of their last seven, including a symbolic 4-1 triumph away to dethroned Kawasaki Frontale into the penultimate round and then a 3-0 cruise over runners-up FC Tokyo in the final weekend to be sure associated with the name. Teruhito Nakagawa was at specially scintillating form in the run-in, and as well as completing joint top scorer with Marcos Junior he had been additionally voted J. League Player of the season.

Really the only departure that is notable Mateus going back to moms and dad club Nagoya Grampus after an extraordinary loan spell, although the squad happens to be nicely supplemented by striker Ado Onaiwu plus some talented J2 players. Previous captain Jun Amano and Ryuta Koike also have are available in from displaying Lokeren, meaning Marinos are particular to install a defence that is stiff of top this current year.

FC Tokyo

Head mentor: Kenta Hasegawa 2019 outcome: 2nd Foreign players: Joan Oumari (Lebanon), Adailton (Brazil), Leandro (Brazil), Arthur Silva (Brazil), Diego Oliveira (Brazil), Player to view: Diego Oliveira

FC Tokyo obtained their utmost ever complete last period, but having led the table for therefore long finishing as runners-up will continue to have appeared like a dissatisfaction for the main town city club.

The team ultimately paid the price for their lack of goals, and once first choice strikers Diego Oliveira and Kensuke Nagai stopped finding the net not enough other players stepped up to the plate – Takefusa Kubo ended the campaign as their third top scorer, despite notching just four times and then leaving for Real Madrid in mid-season as in the previous year.

To avoid a continue this 12 months, proven J. League forwards Leandro and Adailton have now been recruited to include extra scoring threat, along with the back of Akihiro Hayashi, Masato Morishige and Yojiro Takahagi nevertheless in position the group should at least stay in the mix during the company end associated with the dining table.

Kashima Antlers

Head mentor: Antonio Carlos Zago 2019 outcome: 3rd international players: Kwoun Sun-tae (Korea Republic), Leo Silva (Brazil), Juan Alano (Brazil), Everaldo (Brazil) Player to look at: Katsuya Nagato

The absolute most club that is successful the Japanese game, Kashima Antlers faded through the name photo at the conclusion of final period and despite completing 3rd and claiming an area when you look at the 2020 AFC Champions League these people were then eradicated within the Qualifiers after having a surprise house beat to Melbourne Victory back in February.

That has been brand new mentor Antonio Carlos Zago’s very first game in control after replacing Go Oiwa, along with the group additionally tasting defeat against Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the starting day click here for more associated with the brand brand brand new league period, the enforced COVID-19 break could have supplied some much-needed additional bedding-in time when it comes to previous Brazil worldwide.

While a few key players through the 2018 AFC Champions League winning part have shifted, famous brands Katsuya Nagato, Daiki Sugioka and Ryuji Izumi have now been earned ahead of the campaign and include quality to a squad that may since ever be focusing on trophies.

Kawasaki Frontale

Head mentor: Toru Oniki 2019 outcome: 4th international players: Jung Sung-ryong (Korea Republic), Jesiel (Brazil), Diogo Mateus (Brazil), Leandro Damiao (Brazil) Player to view: Leandro Damiao

Kawasaki Frontale had been focusing on a 3rd consecutive J1 top season that is last but finally couldn’t endure the speed along with to settle for the fourth-place finish and raising the J. League Cup.

Evergreen playmaker Kengo Nakamura suffered leg ligament harm by the end associated with the past campaign but should quickly be back into complete fitness, although 2017 J. League Player of the season Yu Kobayashi will probably miss out the very very first a small number of games at the very least having picked up a knock in the center of June.