Shimizu S-Pulse manager Afshin Ghotbi has seen more changes in his two years at the club than most coaches experience in a decade, but that isn't stopping the Iranian-American from aiming high over the coming J. League season.

Ghotbi took over in 2011 with S-Pulse in a state of upheaval having shipped out practically the entire first-choice lineup over the offseason, but after a 10th-place finish at his first attempt and more squad changes ahead of his second, something began to click.

S-Pulse reached last season's Nabisco Cup final only to lose 2-1 in extra time to Kashima Antlers, and took their challenge for the J. League title down to the final month before falling away to a ninth-place finish.