We are coming towards the end of 2016 – an eventful year in anyone’s estimation. In that spirit, J.League Regista’s Ironman @NelloSplendor gives out his awards for 2016. I hope you like Gifs…..
2016 J. League Regista Awards
It has been a strange year in the J.League. All three leagues were at stake until the last game; we have a new Champion which scored only 59 points in all season (15 less than overall league table-leaders Urawa); Giravanz will have a beautiful stadium, but they’ll play in J3.
J. League is crazy, no doubt about that.
Meanwhile we’ll wait for a 2017 season with big promises (Can Urawa finally win both domestic and international silverware? Will Matsumoto get back to J1? And are Cerezo going to disappoint us like always?), but we look back on 2016 with a special treat for you.
Yes, the 2016 J. League Regista Awards are here. I’d like them with Jon Kabira and Masashi Nakayama hosting the show.
http://trivela.uol.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/12-Masashia-Nakayama.jpg
In the beautiful landscape of Tokyo, here we’ve the nominees for every category of J. League. We’ve some surprises, I can tell you that. But let’s start with some fireworks, just like the Oscars.
Best Fail
It isn’t easy, but J. League always presents some cases to show. So we went with five nominees, but we let you know that in every category we had to leave something out. In this one, Kentaro Kakoi, Daisuke Yoshimitsu against Oita and Renofa’s horror defense on Ishige’s goal.
Hiroki Fujiharu forgets how to shoot
No overage players in Tokyo 2020?
http://i.imgur.com/9FTZ6qV.gif
JEF being JEF (feat. Yuya Satō)
In this image, there’s probably every reason why JEF can’t come back from J2.
http://giphy.com/gifs/sato-jefunited-A7H6dXBgClZ2o
Yokohama FC’s masters of mistake
They played a great season, but on this occasion… well, defense wasn’t there.
http://giphy.com/gifs/mistakes-N2mbNEFx4paWQ
Rikihiro Sugiyama
Shimizu got promoted, but there was a GK-problem. They fielded FIVE different goalkeepers during 2016. Needless to say: Sugiyama hasn’t been a proper solution, despite playing the highest number of games (20).
http://giphy.com/gifs/sugiyama-W6cqzBLcziBW0
http://giphy.com/gifs/funayama-Fx6nAcBpz6JWw
Best Miss
Leandro was in contention, but we forgive him because he scored a lot this year.
Patric
Out of contract with Gamba after two wonderful seasons: beside injuries, there’s a reason.
http://giphy.com/gifs/patric-qwyb2AbBogf6M
Riku Matsuda
C’mon, man. You’re wide open, at least shoot on goal.
http://giphy.com/gifs/matsuda-w4FecJYS0GZna
Shoma Doi
You have to give him at least an excuse about finishing with a header.
http://giphy.com/gifs/doi-vzDb4ULdlh6Fi
Koji Yamase
He won’t play again in Kyoto, maybe traumatized by this missed sitter.
http://giphy.com/gifs/kyotosanga-yamase-hrRDRB5QT1e0w
Kosei Ishibitsu
Kyoto Sanga wants it bad.
http://giphy.com/gifs/kyotosanga-ishibitsu-FxfEL54f2V104
Best Farewell
Koji Morisaki & Hisato Sato
Hiroshima will miss them. For Morisaki it was the end of his career, Sato will play for Nagoya.
http://giphy.com/gifs/morisaki-kbEdGkw74pxRe
http://giphy.com/gifs/morisaki2-uainyMwbzuc80
Kim Min-woo
He’s going to serve Korean military for three years, but Saga is going to miss him.
https://s18.postimg.org/tuqi2wd2x/20161029_KMW_salute_at_Sagan.jpg
Daiki Takamatsu
Mr. Trinita. I don’t need anything else to say after a J3 promotion.
http://giphy.com/gifs/takamatsu1-oQkmWqTQV9qJG
Best Crowd
It’s like the Animation Feature category. But without Pixar winning.
J. League Cup – Urawa vs. Gamba
http://giphy.com/gifs/tifosi-P6UNJJOqk4vM4
J2 League – Matsumoto vs. Shimizu
http://giphy.com/gifs/tifosi-3JpVdh7hFLkuQ
Best Crowd-pleaser
Tomoaki Makino is making you safe
I’m the general, fawkes.
http://giphy.com/gifs/makino-gUvIOpeVOZJpC
Hayuma Tanaka is a fan
A true son of Nagano prefecture.
http://giphy.com/gifs/tanaka-JF7FB6Qw1xO92
Kazu Miura doing his thing
Like every year until the end of Earth.
http://giphy.com/gifs/miura-kazu-yokohamafc-pBAD3B9EvbNok
Best Referee Wrong Call
Like the technical awards, but no pats on the shoulder.
Thiago Quirino scores, but…
…how could this have been allowed?
http://giphy.com/gifs/thiago-quirino-shonan-Kzw59RZos3J3G
Inoha doesn’t know that
PK for Jubilo, despite I don’t see any slight sign of foul in this call.
http://giphy.com/gifs/inoha-tm3C6eYh1YMlq
Yuma Suzuki is already growing
Great player. And he dives well for being only 20.
http://giphy.com/gifs/kaminski-zPkjbbZCiJIaI
Best JPN Moment
Like the Foreign Film Award, but we’re staying on home soil.
Okazaki goal vs. Afghanistan
http://giphy.com/gifs/japan-okazaki-uPmGNWkELRvpK
Minamino goal vs. Nigeria
http://giphy.com/gifs/minamino-2BTkXfQg8BsrK
Yamaguchi goal vs. Iraq
http://i1.go2yd.com/image.php?url=0EaciX4DbK
Best Hali appearance
We’ve got some strange faces here.
Neo-realistic Hali
https://s12.postimg.org/s719pv66z/20160227_Halilhodzic.jpg
Cool Hali
https://s12.postimg.org/dzbl17ti3/20160508_Hali_in_Kashiwa.jpg
Sleepy Hali
http://giphy.com/gifs/halisleep-EmY0rzYoQIZ2M
Best WTF-moment
Okinawa Clown Band
http://giphy.com/gifs/clown-6eJ8yUvQY7fZS
Trumpet in Kawasaki
https://s12.postimg.org/od76haiwd/20160806_Trumpet_saki.jpg
Makino & Yasuda strange handshake
http://giphy.com/gifs/makinoyasuda-AyYatbuf6OoUw
Best Fight
We’ll let you know we left out Iwamasa vs. Suganuma, Okubo vs. Davi and Moriwaki vs. Kanazaki.
Yusuke Murakami vs. Koji Suzuki
A early appetizer.
http://giphy.com/gifs/suzuki-vvarennagasaki-machidazelvia-Vx47S2fJVLuSY
Shigeru Yokotani vs. Yoshito Okubo
This could be the most exaggerated clash in football. Rivaldo-style.
http://giphy.com/gifs/okubo-fAVJ1cedtiYko
Mu Kanazaki vs. Masatada Ishii
In this altercation, you can read also why Kashima displayed so badly in 2nd stage. Also why Kanazaki has been so vital for Antlers.
http://giphy.com/gifs/kanazaki-Lhc8pVAwteJuE
Best Celebration
Makino & the Diamonds
It looks your favourite pop-band from the 60s, but Japanese.
http://giphy.com/gifs/makino-urawa-red-diamonds-CvbFzuky4RjGM
A young trender: Yu In-soo
Big season for the South Korean footballer, but also a meme-sensation: Dab, Mannequin Challenge… do we have a Harlem Shake for him?
http://giphy.com/gifs/fctokyo-yuinsoo-muroya-atIcPOEsaU5mU
http://giphy.com/gifs/yuinsoo-Sd3RS0FIYUV5C
Calvin Jong-A-Pin
Kame-hame-ha!
http://giphy.com/gifs/jongapin-67JqCnxbgzmdW
Yuta Toyokawa feat. Drake
I don’t know if YT30 will be as good as in 2016 with Kashima Antlers. But he’s the best Drake-impersonator in Japanese football.
http://giphy.com/gifs/toyokawa-uUrjJBnQ6ABmo
Best Dance
Kengo Nagai
You, you, you!
http://giphy.com/gifs/katallertoyama-nagai-1hXNqi9Dh7HgY
Shota Kaneko
Michael Jackson-esque.
http://i.imgur.com/uM3XT2Q.gif
FC Ryukyu’s tradition
This gotta be something created during 2016. Here an example.
http://giphy.com/gifs/ryukyudance-KNk88DOJKU5Pi
Best Bench/Coach Moment
Takeshi Kiyama
Like Kimi Raikkonen: “Leave me alone, I know what I’m doing”.
http://giphy.com/gifs/kiyama-KiIA1zWlg6RFe
The Shaw-Albirex Redemption
Hiring Koichiro Katafuchi wasn’t so important to save the club from J2, but a win in Shizuoka against Jubilo… yes, it was. Just like this run of freedom.
http://giphy.com/gifs/albirex-IHBKj8c7EM1Zm
Best Trick
A Caio flick was in consideration, but we went with this five treats.
Ryosuke Shindo & The Madness
Beautiful shot by Tokura, but… that assist is crazy.
http://giphy.com/gifs/consadole-sapporo-tokura-qqpLJJYQRK8co
Yamato Machida & The No-Look
JEF United has been a disaster all season, but this assist and all Machida’s year are good news.
http://giphy.com/gifs/machida-Wr8kuMm4XEspi
Shunsuke Nakamura & The Class
How to boss Sagan with a shoulder-assist behind the back. I don’t even know what to say.
http://giphy.com/gifs/nakamura-yokohama-f-marinos-9MTuCL0lBJZy8
Yusuke Segawa & The Comb Assist
No wonder Omiya have bought him. They’re trying for another Esaka-deal.
http://giphy.com/gifs/segawa-AZkVsH9fCBkaI
Daisuke Kikuchi & The Human Shield
Nice (and clever) way to defend Omiya’s goal.
http://giphy.com/gifs/kikuchi-Mx5epEsOTtzK8
Best Save
Tsuyoshi Kodama, Takanori Sugeno and Gu Sung-yun were in contention for this category.
Tetsuya Enomoto
How did he get up there?
http://giphy.com/gifs/enomoto-NYqRK6F0KHJXW
Yuki Uekusa
There’s gotta be a reason why he ended the season as a starter. And Shimizu got promotion.
http://giphy.com/gifs/uekusa-sLBgXKpVNpIZy
Hirotsugu Nakabayashi
Probably the most underrated GK in all three professional leagues in Japan. I had to pick this one, but I had at least two other choices of him.
http://giphy.com/gifs/fagiano-nakabayashi-7Qo2ccifS0tzi
Akihiro Sato
Double save = double fun.
http://giphy.com/gifs/sato-4XRw7tjgR7K80
Kosuke Nakamura
He had an amazing J1-debut year. Still, no caps for Japan. Good work, Hali.
http://giphy.com/gifs/nakamura-kashiwareysol-wjcY3qd74LyCs
Best Goal
We had to separate goals in every competition, because there were too many of them.
Cups
Naoki Ishikawa
Vegalta lost the game against Grulla, but they won our hearts with this rocket.
http://giphy.com/gifs/ishikawa-iTNlCXqFscSNa
Anderson Lopes
How far he was? He shot from Kagoshima to Sagan’s goal.
http://giphy.com/gifs/alopes-WQ1hM8w3w4Eww
Mateus
Well, he locked a double spot for this category. And probably a easy win.
http://giphy.com/gifs/mateus-6FhiG7amtdWXC
http://giphy.com/gifs/mateus-vUcF4rcX4k2Gc
J3 League
Kenta Hirose
Probably he began the Tochigi run to almost getting promoted.
http://giphy.com/gifs/hirose-tochigisc-DgrkbnNSsglXy
Kenichi Tanimura
On the same day, Grulla’s no. 10 joked with YSCC defense.
http://giphy.com/gifs/grullamorioka-tanimura-NXSQQAAxZVfsk
Fernandinho
He’s 35 and playing for this version of Gainare, but still…
http://giphy.com/gifs/fernandinho-edeWhUlahu5UY
J2 League
We left out Yuki Matsushita and Julinho, but it wasn’t a easy choice.
Bruno Meneghel
His stint in Osaka won’t probably be remembered (6 goals in 20 games), but this goal in Yokohama is really good.
http://giphy.com/gifs/cerezoosaka-brunomeneghel-e0Ko41VKIEg9i
Ri Han-jae
Machida had a wonderful season. Their captain sealed with a win in Ehime and this screamer.
http://giphy.com/gifs/rihanjae-nCGgSx5NbO0WQ
Yoichiro Kakitani
We probably saw really little from his talent, but his goals we’re instrumental to see some happiness between Cerezo Osaka’s fans. You know, until promotion. Both Puskas Award material ignored.
http://giphy.com/gifs/cerezo-kakitani-kehthbvDzwehq
http://giphy.com/gifs/kakitani-cerezoosaka-d5c2gDLhm8Uww
Yatsunori Shimaya
In this goal, we can find how good Renofa Yamaguchi was in some moments of this season. And how they could have been better in others.
http://giphy.com/gifs/shimaya-13kfmtWKUdplBK
J1 League
Shinzo Kuroki
He’s been really good this year, but most of all this kind of plays sums up Urawa dominance on J. League.
http://giphy.com/gifs/urawa-kuroki-EcJEqdKg3MZi
Ryota Oshima
How can I jump all my opponents and slot the ball on the far post? Like this.
http://giphy.com/gifs/oshima-kawasakifrontale-zs5EUzgTLyLIs
Jun Kanakubo
Well, well: trick, run and great shoot on the upper angle of the goal. Well done.
http://giphy.com/gifs/vegaltasendai-kanakubo-TCeokAz9d46LS
Kohei Shimoda
One day in Osaka, he decided to shoot everything he could. Even from Gamba fans’ stand. And it’s not easy to make it twice, in the same exact goal’s spiderweb.
http://giphy.com/gifs/shonanbellmare-shimoda-Yn99Sg4Nv14xG
http://giphy.com/gifs/shonanbellmare-shimoda-PBG3UNNRjEcA8
Hisashi Jogo
He’s an Avispa fan, born-kid and captain. Scoring goals like these: what do you want more?
http://giphy.com/gifs/jogo-J8FNAjQYgHloQ
