Tokyo: Japan’s football chiefs refused to comment on Tuesday on reports linking Danish former Barcelona and Real Madrid star Michael Laudrup to the national team’s vacant coaching job.
Laudrup, who won league titles as a player with some of Europe’s biggest clubs, has emerged, along with former England coach Glenn Hoddle, as a possible replacement for sacked Mexican Javier Aguirre.
The Sports Nippon, quoting unnamed sources, said the Japan Football Association (JFA) may officially offer the job to 50-year-old Laudrup, who is currently coaching in Qatar after a two-year stint with English Premier League side Swansea City ended with his sacking a year ago.
A spokeswoman for the JFA declined to comment on the report, saying only: “The issue of the national team’s next coach is still under consideration.”
According to the sports daily, the JFA is set to open formal negotiations with Laudrup’s current employer, the Doha-based Lekhwiya, over any fees that would need to be paid to release him from his contract.
“Laudrup is taking a positive stance over the idea of becoming coach of the Japan national team,” an unnamed source close to the Middle East country’s football world told the daily.
“The possibility of his move to Japan is high if the issue of penalty charges can be resolved,” the source said.
Along with former England midfielder Hoddle, other names suggested for the post include one-time Portuguese national coach Paulo Bento and current Iran coach Carlos Queiroz.
