Vissel fire Wada, set sights on Nishino

KOBE — Vissel Kobe announced Monday they have sacked coach Masahiro Wada, appointing assistant Ryo Adachi as caretaker for their next match at home to Omiya Ardija.

Said to be at the top of Kobe's wish list as new manager is Akira Nishino, who led Gamba Osaka to five trophies, including the 2008 Asian Champions League title, in his decade in charge before leaving the club after last season.

Various reports say the 57-year-old Nishino, who has a J. League record of 239 coaching victories, is keen to sign with Gamba's regional rivals. The two parties are already deep into negotiations, the reports said.

Kobe would be the third team for Nishino to manage, after Gamba and Kashiwa Reysol.

Vissel have never won a title. They finished last season in ninth place, in their best ever result in the top flight.

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Serrao succeeds Nishino at Gamba

OSAKA — Gamba Osaka have appointed Brazilian Jose Carlos Serrao as their new manager for next season, the J. League first division club said on Monday.

The 61-year-old possesses a wealth of coaching experience with clubs such as Sao Paulo in Brazil and Suwon Bluewings in South Korea.

Former Japan striker Wagner Lopes was initially offered the hot seat by the 2008 Asian club champions, but the Japan Football Association later said he was ineligible to become manager of a J. League club. Lopes, 42, will take the position of head coach.

Serrao takes over from Akira Nishino, who left after a decade as Gamba's manager in the J. League's longest coaching tenure.

Lopes joined Nissan Motors, now Yokohama F. Marinos, in 1987 and obtained Japanese citizenship in 1997 before appearing in the World Cup in France a year later.

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