Yokohama F.Marinos have appointed former A-Leagues boss Patrick Kisnorbo as head coach on a permanent basis.
Marinos parted ways with ex-England assistant Holland after the Englishman oversaw just one win from 11 matches in Japan’s top flight.
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Former Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory head coach Kisnorbo has overseen two competitive fixtures since – a 3-1 loss to Urawa Reds in the J1 League and a 4-1 AFC Champions League Elite quarter-final loss to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr.
However, Marinos have turned to the Isuzu UTE A-League Championship-winning head coach permanently as he follows in the footsteps of countrymen and A-Leagues greats Ange Postecoglou and Kevin Muscat, who both won titles in Yokohama. He is the fourth full-time Australian head coach of the club, also joining Harry Kewell, while Central Coast Mariners legend John Hutchinson led the club on an interim basis last term.
“It is a real honour and an exciting opportunity for me to take on the role of head coach of Yokohama F. Marinos,” said Kisnorbo, who joins ex-Newcastle Jets boss and current Cerezo Osaka tactician Arthur Papas as the two Aussie coaches in the competition this season.
“It is a dream come true for me to take charge of such a prestigious club with such a rich history and such passionate fans and supporters. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our fans and supporters for their unwavering loyalty and dedication to the club.
“Your passion is what makes Yokohama F. Marinos so special and I look forward to creating memorable moments together with you all.
“My goal is to develop a team that not only plays attractive and competitive football but also embodies the values ​​that you all hold dear. I hope to build strong ties with the team and the Marinos family that supports it, and strive for success together.
“Football can connect us all. I hope to engage with you all and create a positive environment in which we can bring success to the club.
“I am excited for the journey ahead and can’t wait. Let’s fight together!”
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Kisnorbo, who guided Melbourne City to their maiden Championship in 2021, sensationally quit Victory to be Holland’s right-hand man just six months after replacing Tony Popovic at AAMI Park.
The 44-year-old will now be tasked with steadying the ship in Yokohama, where Marinos – who also boast Socceroo Thomas Deng – are bottom of the J1 League standings.
For Kisnorbo, it is his second head coaching role abroad after previously leading Troyes in France, where he spent just over a year.
It also continues Marinos’ rich history with Australian coaches as he follows in the footsteps of A-Leagues greats Ange Postecoglou and Kevin Muscat, while Socceroo Thomas Deng currently plays for the club.
Postecoglou guided Marinos to the 2019 J1 League title before Muscat repeated the feat in 2022.
In 2024, former A-Leagues star and Socceroos legend Harry Kewell was appointed head coach and guided Marinos to the 2023-24 AFC Champions League Elite final prior to being sacked in July, less than seven months into the role.
Central Coast Marinos icon John Hutchinson – now in charge of Jubilo Iwata in Japan’s second division – stepped up from his role as assistant under Kewell to oversee a ninth-placed finish in 2024.
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“We have appointed Patrick Kisnorbo as the new manager of Yokohama F. Marinos. Although we are in the middle of the season, we will be restarting under a new manager in order to win and play attractive attacking football,” said Marinos’ sporting director Tsutomu Nishino.
“We hope to use the challenges we have faced as a team this season to grow in the future and deliver a performance that exceeds the expectations of our fans.”
Featured image: J1 League
