Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Kashima Antlers have parted company with head coach Toninho Cerezo, it has been announced.
The Brazilian left the club after senior officials at the J.League side expressed their dissatisfaction at Kashima’s poor J.League first stage – when they finished eighth - and the fact that they currently only have four points from a possible nine in the second stage.
Cerezo had also overseen Kashima’s somewhat disappointing 2015 AFC Champions League campaign during which they secured two wins before finishing bottom of Group H.
The 60-year-old former Brazil international first took charge of Kashima in 2000 and duly guided the side to back-to-back J.League titles, as well as two J.League Cup wins and one Emperors Cup success.
He left in 2005 – to manage, among others, Al Hilal and Al Ain - only to return on 2013 when his charges ended the season fifth in Japan’s top-flight, before sealing third spot a year later.
Photo: WSG