Satoru Sakuma will remain the manager of Ventforet Kofu next season, the J. League first-division club announced Saturday.
The 52-year-old took over in May from Yasuhiro Higuchi with Ventforet languishing at the bottom of the J. League table, eventually propelling the team to 13th in the overall standings, nine points above the relegation zone.
"It means something significant to the whole J. League with provincial clubs like Kofu staying in J1," said Sakuma, who has agreed to extend his stay to the end of next season while remaining general manager of the team.
Sakuma originally intended to leave the post after this season with the club actively searching for a replacement with top-flight managerial experience, but the board eventually went for consistency in reappointing Sakuma to the position.