Albirex Niigata part ways with SPL-winning coach Kazuaki Yoshinaga

SINGAPORE – For years, Japanese coach Kazuaki Yoshinaga was synonymous with an all-conquering Albirex Niigata, who dominated the Singapore Premier League (SPL) with a squad comprising mainly Japanese youth players.

But, following a poor start to the 2024-25 season, the defending champions announced on July 13 that they have parted ways with the four-time Coach of the Year by mutual consent.

The Jurong East-based side, who converted into a local outfit this season, added that assistant coach Keiji Shigetomi will take over till the end of the season.

Shigetomi, 45, is no stranger to the main role at Albirex, having been at the helm from 2019 to 2021, a spell in which the Japanese helped the club to the league title in 2020 and won the Coach of the Year gong.

Albirex chairman Daisuke Korenaga said: “Coach Yoshinaga has not only brought many trophies to Albirex Singapore but has also helped build our culture, philosophy and professionalism. Without a doubt, Yoshinaga is a significant part of this club’s history. I wish him success in his future endeavours.”

Albirex are eighth in the nine-team SPL, with one win, six losses and a whopping 25 goals conceded in seven matches. The latest defeat – their fifth in a row – came on July 12, when they lost 2-1 to a 10-man Tanjong Pagar United.

It is an unfamiliar territory for a side who have won six league titles in eight years. They had also lifted four Singapore Cups and four League Cups.

In an Instagram post addressed to the club, staff, players and partners, Yoshinaga said: “I would like to apologise profusely for the current situation of the top team. This result is fully my responsibility.

“I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to work for this great club for so long and to be involved in Singapore football... I will be away but I will continue to support Albirex and the development of Singapore football.”

Yoshinaga, 56, declined comment when approached by The Straits Times after their defeat by Tanjong Pagar, but it is understood that the decision was reached after his post-match talks with Korenaga.

When ST asked to speak to players, an Albirex spokesperson said they would not be available for interviews as the club want to “rebuild” and focus on the next match, a July 18 tie against Balestier Khalsa.

Yoshinaga is highly rated in Singapore football. In 2023, he was in talks with the Football Association of Singapore about the national coach position.

He is tied with former Singapore Armed Forces FC coach Richard Bok as the most successful SPL coach, but has one more individual accolade. He clinched the SPL Coach of the Year awards in 2017, 2018, 2022 and 2023 when he also led the White Swans to league titles.

Yoshinaga had two spells in charge of the club, first from 2017 to 2018. In 2019, he returned to Japan, where he was installed as parent club Albirex Niigata’s head coach in the J2 League.

In April 2021, he returned as the Singapore outfit’s technical director, before assuming the head coach’s position again for the 2022 season.

But while he got the best out of a team who had mainly Japanese youth players in the past, he has been unable to wave the magic wand on local players.

Albirex transitioned to a local outfit from this season, which means they have to abide by the same competition rules as local teams. This stipulates that each team, with the exception of Brunei DPMM, must field a minimum of five local players in their line-up.

The White Swans, who had been playing in Singapore’s top flight since 2004, went from being able to field nine Japanese players in 2023 to just six this season. And the dip in quality has been clear as they have gone from dominating to baffling.