Urawa Reds have fired manager Holger Osieck just two games into the new season and replaced the German with assistant coach Gert Engels, the J. League first-division club said Sunday.
"I felt that the relationship between the players and the manager was breaking down," said Urawa president Mitsunori Fujiguchi. "The team was not united and I figured the best way to solve the crisis would be to change the manager.
"Gert has the respect of the players and at this present time he is the only person for the job," said Fujiguchi.