The 2009 J.League Division 1 season is the 45th season of the top-flight club football in Japan and the 17th season since the establishment of J1 League. The season started on March 7, 2009 and ended on December 5, 2009.
A total of eighteen clubs participated in double round-robin format. At the end of the season, top three clubs received automatic qualification to the following years' AFC Champions League. Also starting this season, the bottom three clubs were relegated to J2 League by default.
Kashima Antlers became the first Japanese club win J.League Championship in three straight seasons.
The following eighteen clubs will play in J.League Division 1 during the 2009 season. Of these clubs, Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Montedio Yamagata are the newly promoted clubs.
Eighteen clubs will play in double round-robin (home and away) format, a total of 34 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
Disciplinary points
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 bottom three clubs will be relegated to J2. The top three clubs will qualify to AFC Champions League in the following year.
Changes from Previous Year
Bottom three clubs are relegated by default; during 2004–2008 season, the 16th-place club needed to win playoffs to avoid relegation.
The fourth foreign player slot (AFC player slot) is introduced
Updated to match(es) played on December 5, 2009. Source: J.League Division 1 Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored. (C) Champions; (R) Relegated Notes:
^Sanfrecce Hiroshima received fourth Japanese berth in the group stage of the 2010 AFC Champions League because Gamba Osaka, the winners of the 2009 Emperor's Cup, has been already qualified for ACL through J.League championship.
Updated to match(es) played on December 5, 2009. Source: J. League Division 1 Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win. Notes:
^The Kashima-hosted game against Kawasaki Frontale on the 25th week was halted at 74th minute due to the pitch condition caused by heavy rain, the score at the moment was 1–3 (Marquinhos 30' — Chong Tese 19', 32', Juninho 66'). The game resumed on October 7 from the 74th minute. (Iwamasa 74')[1]
^J. League official website -News ReleaseArchived 2009-09-22 at the Wayback Machine – Notice of the rematch for a suspended game – Kashima Antlers vs Kawasaki Frontale on the 25th week of J.League Division 1 on 2009 (Japanese) (2009Jリーグ J1リーグ戦 第25節「鹿島アントラーズ vs 川崎フロンターレ」 試合の取り扱いについて) dated September 15, 2009