Former Australia boss Ange Postecoglou joins J-League

Former Socceroos boss Ange Postecoglou has been appointed manager of J-League’s Yokohama F. Marinos. The coach, that lead Australia to their fifth FIFA World Cup by defeating Honduras 3-1 in the play-offs, will take over Marinos from February. Postecoglou accepted Yokohama’s job just four weeks after resigning the Socceroos. The Australian will be replacing former Yokohama’s boss Erick Mombaerts, whose contract wasn’t renewed after the team’s fifth-place finish in 2017.

“I am excited,” Postecoglou

Postecoglou is only the third Australian to coach in the J-League, following the footsteps of Eddie Thompson and Graham Arnold, being the second a most-likely candidate to replace Ange at the Socceroos.

In a statement, Postecoglou said that he is looking forward to working in Japan.

“I am excited to be moving to Japan and returning to club football,” Postecoglou said. “Coaching YFM will be a great challenge and I am very much looking forward to working with the club’s players, and young players in particular, to achieve success.”

Marinos president Koichiro Furukawa said that the Australian was chosen, among other aspects, for his commitment to youth development. “At the Marinos we are committed to developing players and Ange has a very strong record in doing this. We are confident that he is the perfect choice to take us forward,” Furukawa said. Yokohama F. Marinos, which is 20 per cent owned by City Football Group, hasn’t yet revealed financial details regarding Postecoglou’s signing.

Resignation from Socceroos

Back in November, Postecoglou, 52, announced his resignation from the Socceroos. “It has been a privilege for me to coach my country’s national team,” said Postecoglou after a meeting with Football Federation of Australia chairman Steven Lowy. “To lead them at the 2014 World Cup, to win the Asian Cup in 2015 and now to have qualified for the World Cup next year. I said we would do it and we have done it. “All this, however, has taken a toll on me both personally and professionally. I have invested all I can knowing how important a period it was for Australian football. It is with a heavy heart that I must now end the journey.”