Japanese Roundup

Okada at Yokohama; Kimura quits Hiroshima

YOKOHAMA, Japan (Reuters) -- Former Japan coach Takeshi Okada was unveiled as the new manager of J-League club Yokohama F-Marinos on Wednesday, ending more than a month of speculation.

The 46-year-old, who led Japan to their first World Cup finals in 1998, has signed a two-year deal to take effect from January 3, officials of the first division club said.

"Yokohama have the potential to win trophies, including the J-League championship," said Okada.

"If the players show the necessary desire and loyalty to the club, there is no reason we can't challenge [newly crowned champions] Jubilo Iwata and Kashima Antlers."

Okada will take over from caretaker manager Yoshiaki Shimojo, who stepped in after Yokohama fired Sebastiao Lazaroni in October.

The Brazilian was sacked after a disastrous run of results in the J-League second stage. He had complained that he was unable to sign a big-name replacement after Japan midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura moved to Italian club Reggina this summer.

Okada managed Consadole Sapporo from 1999 to 2001 before taking a hiatus this season to work as a television analyst.

He resigned as Japan coach after they lost all three games at the France World Cup. Okada was replaced by Frenchman Philippe Troussier, who took Japan to the second round of the World Cup on home soil this year.

Kimura quits Hiroshima

TOKYO (Reuters) -- Takahiro Kimura has stepped down as manager of relegated Sanfrecce Hiroshima after it failed to survive the drop on the final day of the season, officials of the J-League club said Wednesday.

Hiroshima was relegated to division two after a 5-4 extra-time defeat at Consadole Sapporo at the weekend.

Kimura, who took over from Russian Gadzhi Gadzhiev in July, is set to be replaced by assistant Takeshi Ono.

Takahara to train with Hamburg

TOKYO (Reuters) -- Japan striker Naohiro Takahara is to spend six days training with German side Hamburg SV next week after getting the go-ahead from his club Jubilo Iwata on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old, who has attracted interest from a number of European clubs, missed the World Cup in South Korea and Japan with a mystery lung infection, but bounced back to win the J-League Golden Boot award with 26 goals this season.

Takahara, whose goals played a major part in helping Iwata become the first team to win both stages in a J-League season, was released halfway through a one-year loan period at Boca Juniors of Argentina in February.

But after becoming the youngest player to finish as the top scorer in Japan this season, Takahara has apparently set his heart on a move to Europe, with Germany emerging as the most likely destination.

Midfield trio Junichi Inamoto (Fulham), Hidetoshi Nakata (Parma) and Shinji Ono (Feyenoord) have all made a successful moves to Europe in recent years.

 

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