Tatsuma Yoshida has been let go as manager of relegation-haunted Niigata Albirex, the J. League first-division team announced Tuesday.
The 42-year-old Yoshida will be replaced by coach Koichiro Katafuchi after four straight defeats have left Niigata 15th in the overall J1 table with seven wins, 17 losses and six draws.
iigata just one point clear of 16th-place Nagoya Grampus.
Yoshida, who will step down along with coach Hideaki Kitajima, was named Albirex manager in December 2015 after having guided Kashiwa Reysol to the quarterfinals of the Asian Champions League.
The Albirex are the fourth J1 club to make a midseason coaching replacement this year, following Kashiwa, FC Tokyo and Nagoya.