It was probably in the best interests of everyone at Sanfrecce Hiroshima that Hajime Moriyasu stood down as manager on Tuesday, but that should not obscure the debt of gratitude that the three-time J. League champions owe him.

Moriyasu, who led Sanfrecce to three titles in the space of four years from 2012-15, quit his post following a 4-3 defeat to Urawa Reds on Saturday that left Hiroshima second-from-bottom in the first-division table at the halfway point of the season. Sanfrecce have won twice, drawn four and lost 11 times in 17 games.

Sanfrecce began the campaign with realistic ambitions of challenging for the title but soon fell into a slump, drawing their opening game before losing the next four and firmly entrenching themselves in the relegation zone.