J. League Cup facts for kids
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Founded | 1992 |
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Region | Japan |
Number of teams | 18 |
Current champions | Cerezo Osaka |
Most successful club(s) | Kashima Antlers (6 titles) |
Television broadcasters | SKY PerfecTV! |
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The J.League Cup is a Japanese football (soccer) competition organized by J.League. It is the oldest professional domestic football competition in Japan. It has been sponsored by Yamazaki Biscuits of Yamazaki Baking (formerly Yamazaki Nabisco) since its inception in 1992. It is also known as the J. League YBC Levain Cup or Levain Cup (Levain is one of Yamazaki's products). It was known as the Yamazaki Nabisco Cup or Nabisco Cup 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. 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).
Since 2007, the winners are qualified for the Suruga Bank Championship held in the following summer.
Champions
Season | Champions | Runner-up |
1992 | Verdy Kawasaki | Shimizu S-Pulse |
1993 | Verdy Kawasaki | Shimizu S-Pulse |
1994 | Verdy Kawasaki | Júbilo Iwata |
1996 | Shimizu S-Pulse | Verdy Kawasaki |
1997 | Kashima Antlers | Júbilo Iwata |
1998 | Júbilo Iwata | JEF United Ichihara |
1999 | Kashiwa Reysol | Kashima Antlers |
2000 | Kashima Antlers | Kawasaki Frontale |
2001 | Yokohama F. Marinos | Júbilo Iwata |
2002 | Kashima Antlers | Urawa Red Diamonds |
2003 | Urawa Red Diamonds | Kashima Antlers |
2004 | Tokyo | Urawa Red Diamonds |
2005 | JEF United Ichihara Chiba | Gamba Osaka |
2006 | JEF United Ichihara Chiba | Kashima Antlers |
2007 | Gamba Osaka | Kawasaki Frontale |
2008 | Oita Trinita | Shimizu S-Pulse |
2009 | F.C. Tokyo | Kawasaki Frontale |
2010 | Júbilo Iwata | Sanfrecce Hiroshima |
2011 | Kashima Antlers | Urawa Red Diamonds |
2012 | Kashima Antlers | Shimizu S-Pulse |
See also
In Spanish: Copa J. League para niños