The last February-December season of the J.League brought us a lot of changes. Since we began following the Japanese championship, we think that this is one of the years with the most changes among head coaches. We got eighth of them and we decided to focus on a special hexagon – we ask Steve Holland at Marinos and Daisuke Kimori at Albirex to understand us.
Three were coaching already in the J1 and three were not. Three are Japanese and three are foreigners (South Korea, Australia, and Spain – a very diverse background). Two have won the J2 League in the last five years, and two were the J.League Managers of the Year in the last five years. Two are title-less in Japan, and one has probably won more accolades than the other five combined.
It’s gonna be a strange year – because all these managers have something to play for. By analysing each of them, we asked ourselves:
- Why did the clubs and the head coach change their situation from 2024?
- What’s in it for them – is it clout, reputation, or trophies?
- Between the club and the head coach, who needs it the most for this to work?
It’s gonna be a fun ride, enjoy!
First Degree: The Second Coming | Ricardo Rodríguez & Kashiwa Reysol
Why they both changed? After Nelsinho and Masami Ihara, Reysol opted for another change – this time with a steady hand. Rodríguez showed already what he’s capable of with Tokushima Vortis and Urawa Red Diamonds. He did coach in China in the last year with Wuhan Three Towns, ending up with a solid salvation. But as outlined in his press conference, Rodríguez wanted to come back to Japan.
What’s in it for them? Reysol need a proper identity reboot, or they’re gonna always struggle to avoid relegation. It happened with way stronger rosters for them (look over what happened back in 2018, when they could have been a dark horse for the title). As said for Rodríguez – he always appreciated the J.League, and had nice experience with both teams he coached in Japan.
Who needs it more? Although we’re sure Rodríguez is happy to come back to the J.League, Reysol needs it more. They need someone to give them a vision for the future. And they have a nice roster to give it a try (Kojima, Koizumi, Watai, and others joined). Otherwise playing J2 with JEF United Chiba might not too far away from their future.
Second Degree: The Promotion | Rikizo Matsuhashi & FC Tokyo
Why they both changed? After a J2 title, the first return season to the J1, and the J.League Cup final lost at penalties in 2024, was there more that Matsuhashi could give to Albirex? Probably not, so the change makes sense. Why FC Tokyo does anything? Tough to say, but they’re looking as one of the most international sides in the J.League and the chance to push the reboot button again probably attracted them.
What’s in it for them? FC Tokyo have to start over again and they hope Matsuhashi finds a sense to certain players – in the end, the former Albirex head coach nurtured some of the best talents to come out of the J.League world in the last three years. And maybe the head coach can build up on this – if FC Tokyo come seventh or eighth, but Tawaratsumida, Anzai, Nozawa, Kein Sato, Bangnagande and other flourishing, he’s already won.
Who needs it more? Probably Matsuhashi. For him, this promotion has given him the opportunity to enter a certain circle of head coaches in Japan. Don’t get us wrong – it’s not like FC Tokyo DON’T need this to work, but they’ve already botched two technical revolutions (with Albert Puig and Peter Cklamovski), and they have just finished the year behind both Zelvia and Verdy. They must risk.
Third Degree: The Real Chance | Arthur Papas & Cerezo Osaka
Why they both changed? Well, Cerezo needed to change. After 3.5 seasons with Akio Kogiku and a J.League Cup final, it seemed the progress of the pink side of Osaka just plateaued. A fresh start was needed. Regarding Arthur Papas, the Australian head coach has already experience with the J.League, but never had the full chance of coaching a team in J1.
What’s in it for them? As just said, Papas was chosen already for a pro-team in Japan, when Kagoshima United FC hired him for the 2021 season. Unfortunately, due to family reasons, Papas had to come back to Australia after just eight games. For Cerezo, the hope is to become again a fun team to watch – especially now that the talent pool has been shrinking in the last years.
Who needs it more? Honestly, Cerezo – if they don’t want to become the “pink banter”. Papas surely would welcome a successful season, but this experience serves the purpose as well of expanding his CV. But if things go wrong, he can always coach somewhere else – he had already done stints in India, Australia, and Thailand. But Cerezo can’t just rewrite everything from scratch.
Fourth Degree: The Fresh Start | Shigetoshi Hasebe & Kawasaki Frontale
Why they both changed? Hasebe has brought Avispa Fukuoka back to J1, he kept them five years in the top-flight (never happened), created a cult support in Fukuoka (he overcame Masami Ihara as the longest-serving head coach at Avispa in modern era), and won a J.League Cup. Tough to get more juice out of this. About Frontale, they changed because two eighth-placed finishes are not acceptable.
What’s in it for them? Kawasaki Frontale are definitely looking for a new start and a solid head coach – they just had seven of them in the last 20 years. They don’t like to have coaches for a season, so they hope this will work. For Hasebe, it’s a chance to win more than what his cabinet currently shows and to become an elite manager in the J.League scene. And it’s also a return for him – Hasebe played with Frontale in the 90s.
Who needs it more? Frontale, for sure. Hasebe has built himself such a credibility that a simple season gone wrong in Kawasaki won’t change that much. But Frontale, oh – they need it. The last two years of the Oniki era have been very confusing, and the pipeline in terms of talent stopped a bit. Hasebe can bring that back – especially since he knows already the environment.
Fifth Degree: The New Chance | Kim Myung-hwi & Avispa Fukuoka
Why they both changed? Probably Avispa would have stuck with Hasebe for another decade, if they could. But Hasebe already passed on Vissel Kobe a couple of years ago, and he couldn’t just say no another time to such a chance. On why Kim Myung-hwi, two reasons: a) he’s done already his time as an assistant coach in the last two years under Go Kuroda at Zelvia; b) there’s something you should read that will help.
What’s in it for them? Avispa would really like to keep staying in J1, and Hasebe was the fulcrum of that achievement. Without captain Hiroyuki Mae, Douglas Grolli, Daiki Miya, and Masashi Kamekawa, they definitely need a steady hand to dug themselves out of possible problems. Kim Myung-hwi, after two years as an assistant coach, wants to prove he can be that guy.
Who needs it more? This is probably the most balanced case. Kim Myung-hwi knows the cloud of what’s happened at Sagan Tosu follows him around (and sponsors at Avispa know as well). He needs to redeem himself, and prove as well that his coaching at Sagan wasn’t a fluke. Avispa have definitely over-performed under Hasebe – they need to stay in J1, and Kim must perform to bring them there.
Sixth Degree: The Return | Toru Oniki & Kashima Antlers
Why they both changed? From powerhouse of the J.League, Antlers became a mess in the last 3-4 years. Their talent pipeline shrank, they haven’t played the AFC Champions League in the last five seasons. No Antlers players were at the last FIFA World Cup or at the last Olympic Games; no Antlers as well in the “Best XI” in the last four years. Look at what Oniki achieved in those same departments at Frontale.
What’s in it for them? A lot. Antlers changed six different coaches in the last five seasons, going from Antonio Carlos Zago (the Brazilian connection) to René Weiler (a decent European coach), from Daiki Iwamasa (former legend) to Ranko Popovic (foreign coach with solid J.League baggage). They need stability. And Oniki might be the good answer to look for that, once it for all – he’s played for the club between 1993 and 1999.
Who needs it more? It might be surprising, but we think it’s Kashima. After finally winning the AFC Champions League back in 2018, the club hasn’t won any other silverware in the last six years (they just reached the 2019 Emperor’s Cup final, lost against Vissel Kobe). Oniki gets to prove that his golden era at Frontale wasn’t a fluke, and he could match well with an environment mostly grit-and-grind.
This is the second pre-season article around the J1 League – in the first, we told the story of another head coach, Satoshi Yamaguchi, and his rise with Shonan Bellmare. You can read it here.
[…] come out in these days, but about the top-flight you can also read about the six managers to watch (here) and the rise of Shonan Bellmare’s head coach, Satoshi Yamaguchi […]