SHIZUOKA (Kyodo) Iran coach Afshin Ghotbi will take control of Shimizu S-Pulse after next month's Asian Cup, the J. League first-division club announced Friday.
Ghotbi's contract is for one year.
S-Pulse, who finished sixth in the J. League this season, are parting ways with manager Kenta Hasegawa after six years to begin overhauling the squad in search of its first championship.
The 46-year-old Ghotbi, an Iranian-American, was part of the technical staff with the U.S. national team and also an assistant coach with South Korea.
He led Piroozi to the 2007-08 Iranian League title before taking over the national side last year.