Thespa Kusatsu Gunma on Friday announced that former J.League legend Amaral will join the team’s coaching staff beginning in 2016.

The Brazilian first came to Japan in 1992, guiding Tokyo Gas FC (now FC Tokyo) from the Japan Football League to the top flight.

Amaral – aptly nicknamed the ‘King of Tokyo’ – would go on to make nearly 300 appearances for the club, scoring over 150 goals in the process.

“I’m happy to be joining Thespa Kusatsu Gunma,” Amaral said. “I look forward to making a family with the team, our supporters, and the region.”
 
Thespa Kusatsu achieved an 18th-place finish in the MEIJI YASUDA J2 League this season.