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Ex-England assistant Steve Holland sacked just four months into managerial role
Steve Holland is the latest manager to prove that stepping up from an assistant doesn’t always go well. The former long-time No.2 to Gareth Southgate has been sacked after just four months amid a dire run of form with Japanese side Yokohama F. Marinos. Holland’s Japanese adventure has come to an abrupt endGetty In a statement, the relegation-threatened J-League side said: “Yokohama F. Marinos announce today that the club have decided to part ways with Steve Holland, who was appointed manager at the beginning of the 2025 season. “To fill the void, head coach Patrick Kisnorbo will serve as an interim manager for the time being.” Holland leaves with a record of five wins, five defeats and five draws in the dugout across the league and AFC Champions League. League champions in 2022 and 2019, so poor have Yokohama been under Holland that they’re now 19th out of 20 J-League teams following a 3-2 defeat to Shimizu S-Pulse last time out. Holland had a reputation as one of the best coaches in the game as he flanked Southgate with England for nine years. Together they reached the finals of Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 with the Three Lions undergoing a period of success not seen since their 1966 World Cup win. However, both the manager and his assistant departed after defeat to Spain in the 2024 final. Holland subsequently took up the role in Japan in December while Southgate has been on the sidelines. The job was Holland’s first as a No.1 since a spell at Crewe Alexandra in 2008, and after that he made his name as an assistant at Chelsea. Yet the 54-year-old didn’t have such success in Japan, with four defeats and two draws in his last six games. Holland built his reputation at England and ChelseaGetty Next up for Yokohama is Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr in the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League. It leaves Holland missing the chance to face what’s become one of the most famous teams in the region. Holland isn’t the only Yokohama manager to have a short spell, with former Liverpool and Leeds winger Harry Kewell lasting just seven months last season. Kewell won just 13 of his 33 matches in charge, though he did take them to the AFC Champions League final, where they lost 6-3 on aggregate to Al Ain. Before that they had another recognisable face in current Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou. The Australian coached the side form 2018 to 2021, winning the J-League in 2019.
Steve Holland is the latest manager to prove that stepping up from an assistant doesn’t always go well.
The former long-time No.2 to Gareth Southgate has been sacked after just four months amid a dire run of form with Japanese side Yokohama F. Marinos.
In a statement, the relegation-threatened J-League side said: “Yokohama F. Marinos announce today that the club have decided to part ways with Steve Holland, who was appointed manager at the beginning of the 2025 season.
“To fill the void, head coach Patrick Kisnorbo will serve as an interim manager for the time being.”
Holland leaves with a record of five wins, five defeats and five draws in the dugout across the league and AFC Champions League.
League champions in 2022 and 2019, so poor have Yokohama been under Holland that they’re now 19th out of 20 J-League teams following a 3-2 defeat to Shimizu S-Pulse last time out.
Holland had a reputation as one of the best coaches in the game as he flanked Southgate with England for nine years.
Together they reached the finals of Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 with the Three Lions undergoing a period of success not seen since their 1966 World Cup win.
However, both the manager and his assistant departed after defeat to Spain in the 2024 final.
Holland subsequently took up the role in Japan in December while Southgate has been on the sidelines.
The job was Holland’s first as a No.1 since a spell at Crewe Alexandra in 2008, and after that he made his name as an assistant at Chelsea.
Yet the 54-year-old didn’t have such success in Japan, with four defeats and two draws in his last six games.
Next up for Yokohama is Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr in the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League.
It leaves Holland missing the chance to face what’s become one of the most famous teams in the region.
Holland isn’t the only Yokohama manager to have a short spell, with former Liverpool and Leeds winger Harry Kewell lasting just seven months last season.
Kewell won just 13 of his 33 matches in charge, though he did take them to the AFC Champions League final, where they lost 6-3 on aggregate to Al Ain.
Before that they had another recognisable face in current Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou.
The Australian coached the side form 2018 to 2021, winning the J-League in 2019.
