The Asian Game understands that Yokohama F.Marinos will continue their run of Australian coaches by appointing Kevin Muscat to take over the Japanese club from departed coach Ange Postecoglou, who recently left to take up a new job with Scottish giants Celtic.
Most recently in charge of Belgian club Sint-Truiden, the 47-year-old has remained in Europe where he is currently working as a TV analyst for Australian broadcaster Optus Sport at the ongoing European Championships.
It’s understood that Muscat will take over during the J.League’s upcoming break for the Olympics after having completed a mandatory two-week quarantine period.
It will be the second time that Muscat has succeeded Postecoglou at club level, having assumed the reigns at A-League side Melbourne Victory after Postecoglou departed back in 2013.
Muscat is best known for his 15-year spell at Melbourne Victory, first as a player and then as a manager where he won four Championships (two as a player and two as a coach), three Premierships (two as a player and one as a coach) and one FFA Cup title.
His time in charge at Melbourne Victory ended in inglorious style, with a 0-6 defeat to fierce rivals Sydney FC in the semi final of the 2018/19 season, prompting the club and its favourite son to go in different directions.
While his time in Belgium ended prematurely, Muscat has made no secret of his ambition to continue coaching and has based himself in London as he sought the next opportunity in his career.
“I’ve come back to the UK because I’m a bit more comfortable with the surroundings having spent so much time here. Hopefully I’m able to network albeit it’s a little bit difficult in the current climate with the pandemic, but for sure, (I’m) just searching for the next opportunity, the next challenge that comes along,” Muscat told Optus Sport earlier this year.
“I spent just over 12 months in Belgium and thoroughly enjoyed it. I believe I am far better for the experience of working at such a level of management.”
Muscat brings with him experience of having coached against Japanese clubs during a couple of stints in the AFC Champions League and has long expressed a desire to be involved in club football in Japan.
“Generally I think the people who had some feel for Asian football, I think the respect for Asian football from those people has gone through the roof,” Muscat told The Asian Game after their 2-2 draw with Kawasaki Frontale in the AFC Champions League back in 2018.
“Generally I don’t think, on the flip side, people don’t respect Asian football anywhere near enough because we’ve known for the last 20-25 years that Japanese football has been on the up and up and up.
“And watching teams like that (Kawasaki Frontale) play and watching their games, it’s at a very, very high level technically. Very high level.
“So it’s enjoyable to be here and if the opportunity arises somewhere down the track then who knows.”
He will take over at an F.Marinos side that were recently bundled out of the League Cup by Consadole Sapporo, in their first match after Postecoglou left to join Celtic, but who then rebounded with a 2-0 win at home to Sagan Tosu in the league last night, under the direction of caretaker Hideki Matsunaga, to leapfrog Nagoya Grampus into second on the J.League table.
Photo: Sint-Truidense V.V.
