Kiyoshi Okuma has been appointed as Cerezo Osaka’s new coach, the club announcing the move on Friday.

The 51-year-old former general manager will be charged with taking the outfit back to the top-flight in 2016, given his previous success performing exactly that task with FC Tokyo in 2011.

“I am very pleased to become Cerezo Osaka’s new manager given their tradition and history,” Okuma said in a statement via the club’s official website.

“I will work to strengthen the mentality, technique and physical attributes of my players at Cerezo, while it is very important everyone in the team and our supporters remain united.

“We want to accomplish the ultimate target of taking this club back to the MEIJI YASUDA J1 League.”

Okuma had already been in the dugout this term, replacing Paulo Autuori after the latter resigned following a dismal record of only 17 wins from 41 games in charge.

Cerezo, relegated from the top-flight in 2014, narrowly missed promotion after being defeated by Avispa Fukuoka in the promotion play-off this season.