Steve Holland, the former assistant coach of the England national football team, has been named the new manager of Japan’s J.League club, Yokohama F. Marinos. The 54-year-old takes over from John Hutchison, who had been serving as interim coach after Harry Kewell’s departure following a disappointing run of results in July.
Holland’s Ambitious Goals for Yokohama F. Marinos
In his first statement as head coach, Holland outlined his objectives, stating, “Our challenge is to win the title again.” He emphasized the importance of playing aggressive attacking football and building a team that could compete consistently at the top of the league. Marinos finished ninth in the recently concluded season, 20 points behind champions Vissel Kobe. The club last won the league title in 2022 under Australian coach Kevin Muscat.
A New Chapter for Holland
This marks Holland’s return to management after a long spell as an assistant coach. His most recent experience as a head coach was with Crewe Alexandra during the 2007-08 season. Holland later spent time at Chelsea before joining Gareth Southgate to work with England’s U21 team. The duo moved on to the senior national team in 2016, helping England reach the final of Euro 2021, the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, and the final of Euro 2024.
