Yokohama F. Marinos is a club that usually lives at the top of the mountain. If you follow Japanese football, you know the drill: high-octane attacking, the "Attacking Football" philosophy, and a permanent residence in the title race. But if you've glanced at the Yokohama F. Marinos standings recently, things look... different.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a shock to the system.
We aren't talking about a slight dip. We are talking about a historic powerhouse finishing the 2025 season in 15th place. For a team that won the title in 2022 and finished as runners-up in 2023, sitting just a few spots above the relegation zone is basically a crisis.
What exactly happened in 2025?
The numbers don't lie, but they certainly tell a depressing story for the Tricolore faithful. In 38 matches during the 2025 campaign, Marinos managed only 12 wins. They lost 19 times. That’s nearly half of their games ending in zero points.
They finished with 43 points total. To put that in perspective, the champions, Kashima Antlers, racked up 76. A 33-point gap between Marinos and the top is almost unheard of in the modern era of the club.
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Why the collapse? It was a "perfect storm" of coaching carousels and roster turnover.
The year started with Steve Holland, but he was gone by April. Then came Patrick Kisnorbo, who didn't even last the summer. By June, Hideo Oshima was handed the reins. You can't build a tactical identity when the guy at the whiteboard changes every three months.
The Goal Scoring Problem
Usually, Marinos outscores their problems. In 2025, the faucet ran dry. Anderson Lopes, the man who was a literal goal machine for years, saw his production fall off a cliff. He finished with just a handful of league goals.
Instead, it was Asahi Uenaka who had to carry the load, netting 7 goals.
Kaina Tanimura chipped in with 6, and Daiya Tono had 5.
- Asahi Uenaka: 7 goals (Top Scorer)
- Kaina Tanimura: 6 goals
- Daiya Tono: 5 goals
- Jun Amano: 5 goals
When your top scorer only has seven goals in a 38-game season, you aren't going to be challenging for the AFC Champions League spots. You're going to be fighting for your life.
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Yokohama F. Marinos Standings: A Look at the Defense
It wasn't just the lack of goals. The defense, which has always been "adventurous" due to the high line, became porous. They conceded 47 goals. While that isn't the worst in the league (Albirex Niigata let in 67), a negative goal difference (-1) is a death sentence for a team with title aspirations.
The 2025 season ended with a whimper, a loss in the final match that cemented that 15th-place finish.
| Metric | 2025 Season Final |
|---|---|
| Position | 15th |
| Wins | 12 |
| Draws | 7 |
| Losses | 19 |
| Goal Difference | -1 |
The home form at Nissan Stadium was slightly better than their travel record, earning 26 points at home versus only 17 on the road. Basically, they were a soft touch whenever they left Yokohama.
The 2026 Outlook: Can They Bounce Back?
As we head into February 2026, the big question is whether Hideo Oshima can steady the ship. The Yokohama F. Marinos standings at the start of this new season currently sit at 0-0-0, as the league hasn't kicked off yet.
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The schedule is out, though. And it’s a gauntlet.
They open against Machida Zelvia on February 5th, 2026. Then they travel to face the defending champs, Kashima Antlers, on February 14th.
If they don't pick up points in those first three or four weeks, the "relegation" talk—which sounds insane for a club this big—will start up again. Fans are rightfully nervous. The departure of key attackers over the last year has left the squad feeling a bit thin, and the reliance on veteran legs like Jun Amano (34) and Hiroki Iikura (39) means the youth movement needs to step up fast.
Key Players to Watch in 2026
Keep an eye on Jeison Quiñones. He was one of the few bright spots last year, statistically one of the top-rated defenders in the league despite the team's struggles. If he can organize that backline, the "Attacking Football" might actually have a foundation to work from.
Also, look for Riku Yamane. At 22, he’s becoming the heartbeat of the midfield alongside the captain Takuya Kida.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you are tracking the Yokohama F. Marinos standings this season, don't just look at the points. Watch the "Goals Against" column in the first five matches.
- Monitor the High Line: If Oshima continues the aggressive high defensive line without a boost in speed at center-back, expect more 15th-place finishes.
- Watch the Transfer Window: The club needs a proven 15-goal-per-season striker. If they don't sign one by the summer window, the scoring burden on Uenaka will be too much.
- Check the Fatigue: Marinos often struggle when balancing the Emperor’s Cup and J-League. If they exit the cups early, it might actually help their league standing.
The path back to the top 4 isn't impossible, but it requires a level of stability the club hasn't seen since Kevin Muscat left. For now, Marinos are the J-League's biggest "sleeping giant," and 2026 will determine if they wake up or stay in this nightmare.