Nagoya Grampus appointed former striker Takafumi Ogura as their new manager for next season, the J. League first-division club revealed Tuesday.
"I've informed the board about the appointment of Ogura as the new manager," said club president Kazumasa Kume, with the former five-time Japan international set to hold a news conference at the close of the current season.
The 42-year-old Ogura, who has been the assistant general manager since June, joined Grampus in 1992 before spending the 1993-1994 season on loan at Dutch second division side Excelsior, where he scored 18 goals in 33 games.
Next, the skillful left-footer returned to Nagoya where he stayed until the end of 1999 season, netting 35 goals in 118 games. He played for three other top-division sides before hanging up his boots at then second-division Ventforet Kofu in 2005.
Current manager Akira Nishino, the J. League's most successful coach of all time with 269 victories in the first division, took the helm at Grampus ahead of the 2014 season but only managed a 10th-place finish in his first season with the club.
The club announced earlier this month the 60-year-old will not be offered a new deal after finishing the first stage in ninth place this season and continuing to struggle in the second stage.