Brazilian Sergio Farias is a leading candidate to take over the manager's job at relegated Cerezo Osaka to succeed Yuji Okuma, who will return to coach the youth academies from next season, club operations chief Isao Miyamoto said Sunday.

Farias, 47, who most recently coached Brazilian club Duque de Caxias and guided South Korean side Pohang Steelers to the AFC Champions League title in 2009, is among the shortlist to manage Cerezo, whose demotion to J2 was decided Saturday.

"There are a number of people on the list, and it will be decided after the final leg (on Dec. 6)," said Miyamoto.

Cerezo had approached Hwang Sun-hong, who also played for the Osaka-based club, but were unable to negotiate a deal with the former South Korean international.

Kiyoshi Okuma, Okuma's elder brother who previously managed Omiya Ardija, has been assigned head of team development and is handling negotiations of managerial candidates in Brazil.