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Mexican Javier Aguirre arrived in Tokyo on Tuesday and took up the post of Japan national football coach, after the team’s poor World Cup results in Brazil.
“I will work hard toward the 2018 World Cup in Russia,” the 55-year-old Aguirre told a packed news conference.
Aguirre coached Mexico at the 2002 and 2010 World Cups and led the team to the knock-out stage each time. He replaces Italian Alberto Zaccheroni, who stepped down following Japan’s recent disappointing World Cup campaign in Brazil.
“We are very delighted to have manager Javier Aguirre here,” Harumi Hara, the Japan Football Association’s general secretary, said.
“I place much value on players, including forwards and midfielders, who are skilled at both offence and defence,” said Aguirre, who was with Espanyol last season.
The JFA did not comment on contractual details. But Nikkan Sports News reported that the JFA and Aguirre had reached a basic agreement on a four-year deal with an annual salary of €1.5 million ($2 million) through the 2018 World Cup.
Aguirre replaced Italian Alberto Zaccheroni, who stepped down following Japan’s disappointing World Cup this year.
Zaccheroni resigned after the Blue Samurai exited at the group stage of the World Cup with an opening 2-1 loss to Ivory Coast, a scoreless draw with 10-man Greece and a 4-1 defeat to Colombia.
Japan’s first game under the new management will be a friendly against Uruguay on September 5. “We do not have much time left, but we have high aspirations,” Aguirre said.
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