Japan Football Association President Kozo Tashima on Tuesday denied reports that former German national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann had surfaced as a likely candidate to succeed Japan manager Akira Nishino.
"It's 99 percent unlikely," Tashima told reporters at Narita Airport on the day. "The reports were a total surprise to me."
Nishino's retirement was announced after Japan's round-of-16 exit at the FIFA World Cup in Russia. The 53-year-old Klinsmann, a former Germany forward, has also served as the manager of the United States' national team.
Tashima stressed that he wants to choose a "person who would contribute to the development of Japan soccer."
The JFA president did not rule out the possibility of appointing a non-Japanese as manager, saying, "It's strange to say that the manager must be Japanese."
Tashima also hinted at the new appointment taking place in July, saying, "I don't think I'd rush, but there's no need to delay it to August or September."
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