Albirex Niigata on Thursday announced the resignation of manager Fumitake Miura after the team’s poor start to the 2017 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League campaign.

In his J1 managerial debut, the 46-year-old has only managed one win along with seven losses, with the team sitting in 17th place as a result.

He will be replaced by Wagner Lopes, a former Japan international who played for clubs such as Shonan Hiratsuka and Nagoya Grampus in the early years of the J.League. 

Following his retirement, he has managed several Brazilian clubs and served as Gamba Osaka’s coach in early 2012.

“It’s an honour to receive this opportunity from Albirex Niigata,” Lopes said. “We all need to come together and do our best in order to win. I hope our fantastic supporters will come to the stadium and cheer us on.”

The club also announced that former longtime J.League defender Sandro will join the team as a coach.