Relegation-threatened J. League first-division club Yokohama FC said Monday it has dismissed manager Takuya Takagi and appointed Brazilian Julio Cesar in his place. Takagi, 39, helped Yokohama FC win the second-division title and earn promotion in his first year in charge. However, his side has been struggling all season in the top flight and is currently at the bottom of the 18-team table on 11 points from 22 games. Yokohama FC, which has been winless for three months, is six points behind second-to-bottom Omiya Ardija and 10 behind 16th-place Ventforet Kofu in the J. League table. The lowest two teams are automatically relegated to the second division.
