| Countries | Japan |
|---|---|
| Confederation | AFC |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Divisions | 2 |
| Number of teams | 10 L1 12 L2 (6 West and 6 East) |
| Levels on pyramid | 1-2 |
| Relegation to | Regional Divisions |
| Domestic cup(s) | All-Japan Cup League Cup |
| International cup(s) | none |
| Current champions | INAC Kobe Leonessa (2011) |
| Website | http://www.nadeshikoleague.jp/ |
| 2011 | |
The L. League (in Japanese: "L・リーグ", Officially "日本女子サッカーリーグ",Nihon Joshi Sakkā Rīgu) is the top flight of women's association football in Japan. It is the women's equivalent of the J. League, but not professional. However, some individual players are professional.
The league conssists of two divisions: division 1 has the nickname Nadeshiko League (なでしこリーグ Nadeshiko Rīgu) and division 2 Challenge League (チャレンジリーグ Charenji Rīgu). Since 2008 it has been sponsored by Plenus, a food company based in Fukuoka, and are thus billed as Plenus Nadeshiko League and Plenus Challenge League.
Contents |
L-League began in 1989. From 1993 to 1999 it adopted an Apertura and Clausura system, similar to the J. League system of the era. From 2000 to 2003 the clubs were divided into East and West groups and then the top clubs of each would go into a championship group, with the bottom clubs in a relegation group. In 2004 the single-table format was brought back.
Players from the 8 L-League teams would host an annual training camp to build skills and relationships between L-League and international women's football clubs, including US and Australian teams.
Since the 2004 season, the L. League has 2 divisions - Division 1, with 8 clubs, and Division 2 with 8 clubs in the 2006 season. Until 2009 the league operated on the same way as the old Japan Soccer League for men, the bottom club in the second division playing off against a regional league playoff winner.
Starting off with the 2010 season, the second division is divided into a east and west group of six teams each. The winners of each group are promoted.
The L-League consists of two levels.
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Level |
League(s)/Division(s) |
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1 |
L1 |
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2 |
L2 (Group East) |
L2 (Group West) |
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Bold indicate doubles with the All Japan Women's Football Championship.[1]
Yomiuri Beleza was renamed to NTV Beleza in 1999 and to Tokyo Verdy Beleza in 2011, when the Yomiuri Group sold its stake. Saitama Reinas were absorbed by Urawa Red Diamonds in 2005.
Note: TEPCO Mareeze, from Naraha, Fukushima and competing since 2000, was suspended and later disbanded in the aftermath of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.[3][4]
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