2002 J.League Division 2

The 2002 J.League Division 2 season is the 31st season of the second-tier club football in Japan and the 4th season since the establishment of J2 League.

Starting this season, extra-time rule was abolished and the league adopted the traditional 3-1-0 points system. The twelve clubs competed in the quadruple round-robin format. The top two received promotion to the J.League Division 1. There were no relegation to the third-tier Japan Football League.

Clubs

Montedio Yamagata

Albirex Niigata

Omiya Ardija

Mito HollyHock

Ventforet Kofu

Shonan Bellmare

Kawasaki Frontale

Yokohama FC

Cerezo Osaka

Avispa Fukuoka

Sagan Tosu

Oita Trinita

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Locations of the 2002 J.League 2 teams

Following twelve clubs played in J.League Division 2 during 2002 season. Of these clubs, Cereso Osaka and Avispa Fukuoka were relegated from J1 League last year.

• Montedio Yamagata
• Mito HollyHocks
• Omiya Ardija
• Kawasaki Frontale
• Yokohama F.C.
• Shonan Bellmare
• Ventforet Kofu
• Albirex Niigata
• Cerezo Osaka
• Avispa Fukuoka
• Sagan Tosu
• Oita Trinita

League format

Twelve clubs will play in quadruple round-robin format, a total of 44 games each. A club receives 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, and 0 points for a loss. The clubs are ranked by points, and tie breakers are, in the following order:

• Goal differential
• Goals scored
• Head-to-head results

A draw would be conducted, if necessary. However, if two clubs are tied at the first place, both clubs will be declared as the champions. The top two clubs are promoted to J1.

Final league table

Final results

Top scorers

Pos	Footballer	Club	Goals	PK	GP	Shots	Goals Per Game
1st	Marcus	Albirex Niigata	19	4/5	36	139	0.55
2nd	Yoshito Okubo	Cerezo Osaka	18	1/2	29	65	0.91
	Andradina	Oita Trinita	18	1/1	39	117	0.50
4th	Bentinho	Kawasaki Frontale	16	3/3	36	176	0.44
5th	Takayoshi Ono	Mito HollyHock	14	2/2	36	85	0.46
	Hiroshi Morita	Sagan Tosu	14	0/0	38	86	0.45
	David Bisconti	Sagan Tosu	14	4/4	39	92	0.42
8th	Yasuo Manaka	Cerezo Osaka	13	1/1	28	67	1.05
	Jorge Dely Valdés	Omiya Ardija	13	2/2	32	72	0.46
10th	Hiroaki Morishima	Cerezo Osaka	12	0/0	37	75	0.34
	Marlon	Kawasaki Frontale	12	0/0	23	74	0.58