What began as a year of optimism and promise could not have turned out any worse for FC Tokyo.
The capital city side, which started 2010 with genuine aspirations of adding the J. League championship to the Nabsico Cup title it won last year, suffered the ignominy of relegation with a 2-0 loss to Kyoto Sanga on Saturday, watching helplessly as Vissel Kobe thrashed Urawa Reds 4-0 to seize the final survival spot and slam the door shut behind them.
If the perception of Tokyo was a side too good to go down, here was definitive evidence to the contrary. A squad packed with internationals, one of the biggest fan bases in the league and a bright manager could do nothing to prevent the free fall, and the club must now face up to life rubbing shoulders with Kataller Toyama and Fagiano Okayama instead of Nagoya Grampus and Kashima Antlers.