Ex-SPFL star quits manager job after two months as historic club faces first EVER relegation two years after title win
NOR WAY BACK Ex-SPFL star quits manager job after two months as historic club faces first EVER relegation two years after title win
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A former Celtic manager and an ex-Rangers star have both led the club to championship glory in recent years.
But now, a historic club are facing up to the possibility of what would be a first EVER relegation.
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Patrick Kisnorbo was a key player during two years at Hearts
Credit: Kenny Ramsay - The Sun Glasgow
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He was capped 18 times by Australia
Credit: Reuters
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He's left his most recent managerial role
Credit: Getty
Yokohama F. Marinos reached the top level of Japanese football in 1982 and they've been there ever since.
They've won the J.League five times, most recently just over two years ago.
That title triumph came under the management of former Rangers defender Kevin Muscat.
Three years before that, they were also crowned champions under Ange Postecoglou who would move on to Celtic a matter of months later.
They fell short of retaining the title under Muscat in 2023 as the finished second behind Vissel Kobe.
Last season saw a disappointing eighth placed finish, with former Celtic coach Harry Kewell being sacked mid-season after just seven months in charge.
Unfortunately for the club, this season is verging on disaster.
Former Chelsea and England assistant manager Steve Holland was appointed manager ahead of the new campaign in December but was sacked in April.
His assistant - former Hearts defender Patrick Kisnorbo - took over on an interim basis initially before being handed the reins permanently.
However, the ex-Australia international has failed to oversee any kind of major turnaround.
Derek McInnes spotted leaving Rugby Park for last time as Kilmarnock fans thank ex-manager
Kisnorbo lost his first five matches as interim boss, before recording back-to-back wins over Kashima Antlers - the league leaders - and Machida Zelvia.
It was a brief reprieve, however, with Yokohama losing 1-0 at Albirex Niigata on Sunday.
With half of the season gone, Yokohama F.Marinos incredibly sit BOTTOM of the J.League table.
With just three wins from 19 games, they're rock bottom at that and find themselves six points adrift of safety.
The dire situation has led to yet another change of manager.
The club have confirmed Kisnorbo has decided to QUIT the role after just two months.
He's left with immediate effect.
Kisnorbo, 44, spent two years with Hearts between 2003 and 2005.
Signed from hometown club South Melbourne, he became a key man for the Jambos playing in both defence and midfield.
He played 48 times for Hearts and scored once - a strike in a 2-1 derby win over Edinburgh rivals Hibs.
Kisnorbo was one of the Scottish-based players taken to Leicester by his former Jambos boss Craig Levein in 2005 and he enjoyed four years with the foxes.
He had a four-year stint at Leeds United too before returning to Australia with Melbourne City in 2013.
Kisnorbo quickly moved into coaching after hanging up his boots in 2016, taking charge of Melbourne City Women between 2017 and 2018 and then becoming boss of the men's team in 2020.
Kisnorbo led the club to their first A-League Championship in his first season as boss.
He moved within the City Football Group in 2022, leaving Melbourne City to take over at French club Troyes.
He couldn't continue his success, however, with the club relegated to Ligue 2.
Kisnorbo departed after just over a year in charge in December 2023.
Last summer, he took over at Melbourne Victory - former club City's big rivals - but was sacked just seven games into a three-year contract.
That was despite winning five of those matches.
Kisnorbo became Holland's assistant in Yokohama at the end of last year before becoming manager in April.
However, exactly two months on, he's now exited the role.
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