Tokyo (AFP) – Japan’s Kashima Antlers have sacked manager Masatada Ishii five months after he steered them to the Club World Cup final, officials said Wednesday.
The 50-year-old was dismissed after Kashima beat China’s Guangzhou Evergrande 2-1 in the last 16 of the Asian Champions League on Tuesday, only to crash out of the competition on away goals.
Ishii, who took charge in July 2015 and led the team to the J-League Cup before adding an eighth J-League championship and an Emperor’s Cup title last year, will be replaced by first-team coach Go Oiwa.
Kashima gave Spanish giants Real Madrid a fright in last December’s Club World Cup final in Yokohama before a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick helped see off Ishii’s spirited side.
However, the team have struggled this season and currently sit seventh in the J-League first division after losing five of their first 12 games.
200+ Channels With Sports & News
- Starting price: $33/mo. for fubo Latino Package
- Watch Premier League, Women’s World Cup, Euro 2024 & Gold Cup
The New Home of MLS
- Price: $14.99/mo. for MLS Season Pass
- Watch every MLS game including playoffs & Leagues Cup
Many Sports & ESPN Originals
- Price: $10.99/mo. (or get ESPN+, Hulu & Disney+ for $14.99/mo.)
- Features Bundesliga, LaLiga, Championship, & FA Cup
2,000+ soccer games per year
- Price: $5.99/mo
- Features Champions League, Serie A, Europa League & Brasileirāo
175 Premier League Games & PL TV
- Starting price: $5.99/mo. for Peacock Premium
- Watch 175 exclusive EPL games per season