Avispa Fukuoka have renewed their contract with current manager Masami Ihara, the club have announced.

Despite the former defender’s record of 23 losses in his second season with the Kyushu side causing them to finish last in this season’s MEIJI YASUDA J1 League, news he will be retained was released on Sunday.

Ihara, who spent the majority of his playing career with Yokohama F. Marinos, is a five-time member of the J.League Best XI selection and was named AFC Player of the Year in 1995. 

He is Japan’s second most-capped international with 122 appearances for the Samurai Blue.