Before the start of the 2018 season in J1 League, I had few, but solid thoughts about the upcoming season. They were basically shattered just after a few games and the final output was probably even more surprising, since Sanfrecce Hiroshima – top of the table late August with almost double digits of points of advantage – lost not only first, but almost second place. And this was only one highlight of this strange year.
BEST TEAM – Kawasaki Frontale (52%)
2.tied – Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo & Kashima Antlers
While you can’t deny the progress made in Sapporo or the wonderful season of Antlers, Kawasaki Frontale retaining their champions status is a huge news. Probably it’s even bigger than their first time, because you could have seen that 2017 trophy as a fluke. Winning instead again, with two games to play, is a solid confirm of their work.
FLOP TEAM – Kashiwa Reysol (50%)
2. Vissel Kobe
3. Cerezo Osaka
You have to vote for Kashiwa Reysol. Like I wrote some weeks ago, they were tipped to be a title-contender – I guess not only by me – and instead we witnessed an incredible relegation for several reasons. And while Jubilo, Gamba or Cerezo going down were troublesome cases, this amazed even more than those ones, because there was a huge amount of talent in Chiba.
MVP – Akihiro Ienaga, Kawasaki Frontale (45%)
2. Jo (Nagoya Grampus)
3. Chanathip Songkrasin (Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo)
Four-five years ago, no one would have probably bet on Akihiro Ienaga winning one day an MVP Award. Not because he missed the right skills (he was always classy), but he was indeed inconsistent. Instead, Ienaga revitalized his career with Omiya Ardija and then found a new rebirth with Kawasaki. Deserved.
BEST GOALKEEPER – Shuichi Gonda, Sagan Tosu (39%)
2. Gu Sung-yun (Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo)
3. Masaaki Higashiguchi (Gamba Osaka)
Just as Ienaga, how many would have bet on the rise of Shuichi Gonda? He was a truly talented goalkeeper in Tokyo, but some elements didn’t work along the way. He finished to play in Austrian second tier and he seemed out of the game. Returning in Japan, signing for Sagan Tosu and his wonderful 2018 season might come in play to understand why he’s back.
MIP – Ryosuke Yamanaka, Yokohama F. Marinos (41%)
2. Patric (Sanfrecce Hiroshima)
3. Teruhito Nakagawa (Yokohama F. Marinos)
Some of the pundits of this panel even indicated Yamanaka as a possible candidate for the MVP race, but the MIP will definitely suit his season. From being a mysterious object to become the core force of Ange Postecoglou’s days in Yokohama. Marinos have a gem and they might hold to him to rise again.
BEST ROOKIE – Hiroki Abe, Kashima Antlers (61%)
2. Hidemasa Morita (Kawasaki Frontale)
3. Ryosuke Shindo (Hokkaido Kawasaki Sapporo)
Technically Hiroki Abe played 10+ games already in 2017, but the minutes spent on the field were under a certain level and that’s why he was included in this list. You can’t deny that also Morita – a rookie! – and Shindo did a wonderful job in 2018, but Abe is definitely tipped for a bright future. The Antlers are surely a good club to see his potential growing.
BEST SIGNING (no loans) – Douglas: from Alanyaspor to Shimizu S-Pulse (54%)
2-tied. Jung Sung-hyeon (from Sagan Tosu to Kashima Antlers) & Naoki Maeda (from Matsumoto Yamaga to Nagoya Grampus)
When Douglas came back to J. League after Al-Ain and a disappointing passage in Turkey, you could have seen that move as a desperation move more from him than from Shimizu. Yet, this worked for all parts involved and S-Pulse found a lethal offensive duo in him and Kitagawa. Good call by the management.
BEST GOAL – Cristiano v Gamba Osaka (52%)
2. Ryota Oshima v Vissel Kobe
3. Ryo Takahashi v Sagan Tosu
Ryota Oshima finalized a marvellous team work-goal against Vissel Kobe, but there’s no doubt that a goal from that distance will always leave a mark, especially considering it’s going to be the last one from Kashiwa in J1. At least until 2020.
BEST MANAGER – Mischa Petrovic, Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo (66%)
2-tied. Cho Kwi-jea (Shonan Bellmare) & Oswaldo Oliveira
From 11th to 4th: a mountain to climb on paper, a huge accomplishment for all the people involved with Consadole, but especially for Mischa Petrovic. After leaving Urawa Red Diamonds without a league-title, his career in Japan might have been over. Instead, he found the right spot to restart and then he built his philosophy behind the club: the 3-4-2-1 is an incredibly lucrative formation in Japanese football (ask Hajime Moriyasu).
MOMENT OF THE YEAR – Madness in Shimizu v Vissel (45%)
2. Andrés Iniesta signing for Vissel Kobe
3. Peace Match in August
Iniesta coming from Barcelona? The solemn moment between Hiroshima and Nagasaki? No, the 18 minutes of extra-time and the madness happened in Nidonhaira are definitely the winner of this contest. And Rokutan’s goal wasn’t even the craziest moment of all this madness.
I wanna thank the people who helped composing this choices: Sam Robson (@FRsoccerSam), Tiago Bontempo (@GunnerTNB) and Dan Orlowitz (@aishiterutokyo) are three key-figures to narrate Japanese football and it’s been a pleasure having them for this panel.
Now? The 2018 season can be finally archived, but Asian Cup has already started. And Japan needs to come home with some results. See you soon!
