Nils Nielsen has stepped down as ?head coach of the Japanese women¡¯s team, the country¡¯s soccer association (JFA) said on Thursday, less than two weeks after the Dane guided Nadeshiko Japan to ?the Women¡¯s Asian Cup title.
Last month, ?Japan ?rounded off a dominant Asian ?Cup campaign by defeating tournament host?Australia 1-0 in the final to win the ?continental title for the third time in the last ?four editions.
The team also booked a spot at the 2027 Women¡¯s World ?Cup in Brazil ?after reaching the semifinals of the Asian Cup.
¡°Nils Nielsen, head ?coach of Nadeshiko ?Japan (the Japanese women¡¯s national team), ?stepped down upon the expiration of ?his ?contract,¡± the JFA said in a brief statement.
Nielsen in 2024 became the first foreign manager of the ¡°Nadeshiko,¡°?replacing Futoshi Ikeda, ?who led Japan to the quarterfinals of the Women¡¯s World Cup in 2023 as well as the last eight of the 2024 Paris ?Olympics.
The ?54-year-old served as the director ?of soccer? for Manchester City¡¯s women¡¯s team ?before joining Japan, and was the manager of the Swiss women¡¯s team from 2018 to 2022.
He also coached the Danish ?women¡¯s side from 2013 to 2017, leading it to a runner-up finish at the Women¡¯s European Championship in 2017.
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