Three-time Bundesliga-winning manager Felix Magath is set to become the new manager of Sagan Tosu, the J. League first-division club revealed Wednesday.
The 62-year-old, who won top-flight German titles twice with Bayern Munich in the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 seasons as well as another with Wolfsburg in 2008-2009, is expected to sign a multiyear deal, Sagan's president Minoru Takehara said.
"We'll show we are going for the very top to those both inside and outside the club," said Takehara, who admitted the negotiation is in its final stages. "There is also him (Magath) wanting to leave his mark in Japan."
A source close to the matter claims the deal is agreed in principle, with Magath, often dubbed as a drill sergeant for his stringent approach to training, set to fly to Japan in the coming weeks.
Magath has bought and worked with Japanese players in the past, acquiring current Japan captain Makoto Hasebe in January 2008 as well as Yoshito Okubo a year later en route to Wolfsburg's first ever major title.
Schalke's Atsuto Uchida was also brought in by Magath in July 2010 as a 22-year-old.
Tosu finished its fourth season in J1 11th, and the club is set to hand manager Hitoshi Morishita another position to stay at the club.
