Former England and Chelsea assistant Steve Holland is set to be appointed head coach of Japanese top-flight side Yokohama F. Marinos.
Holland, 54, has been out of management since departing his role with England alongside Gareth Southgate following the 2024 European Championship final defeat to Spain.
He is now expected take up the position with J1 League side Marinos, a club with whom the City Group own a minority stake, in what would represent his first head coach role in 16 years.
Marinos have been without a permanent manager since the dismissal of former Liverpool and Leeds United forward Harry Kewell in July, with the Australian’s assistant John Hutchinson taking interim charge.
Holland was assistant manager to Southgate throughout his eight years in charge of the national team as England reached two European Championship finals and the World Cup semi-finals in 2018.
At the 2022 World Cup, Holland made a comment about Ben White that the Arsenal defender took issue with. White and Holland are said to have spoken afterwards to clear it up, but the 27-year-old later left camp and has not played for England since.
Holland joined the England set-up on a full-time basis in 2016 following eight years at Chelsea, where he worked as assistant manager to Andre Villas-Boas, Roberto Di Matteo, Rafa Benitez, Jose Mourinho, Guus Hiddink and Antonio Conte.
His only previous first-team managerial role came at Crewe Alexander between 2007 and 2008, having worked his way up from youth coach at the club.
Marinos are five-time J1 League champions, most recently in 2022, and are ninth in the 20-team table with two league matches of the 2024 season remaining. They are also third in their AFC Champions League group.
Marinos are owned by Nissan but City Football Group — the multi-club model that holds majority stakes in teams including Manchester City, New York City and Melbourne City — has a 20 per cent stake in them.
Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou led the team between 2018 and 2021, guiding them to their first J1 League title in 15 years.
Holland’s representatives did not respond when approached for comment.
(Top photo: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
