J2 Júbilo Iwata announced on April 22, 2026, that head coach Ryō Shigaki has stepped down, with assistant coach Fumitake Miura appointed as his successor effective immediately.
The club stated that Shigaki decided to resign after feeling that the team’s performance and style of play had drifted far from the soccer philosophy he had advocated. In his statement, he said, “Although my time was short, I feel responsible for the gap between the soccer I promote and the actual content and results we have seen.”
Shigaki, who was promoted to head coach this season after serving as a coach since late September of the previous year, expressed gratitude to fans, sponsors, local governments, partner companies, players, and staff for their support during his tenure.
Under his leadership, Júbilo Iwata recorded five wins (including three via penalty kicks) and six losses (including one via penalty kick) in the Meiji Yasuda J2-J3 Century League, placing them seventh. The team had endured a club-worst start, failing to win in regulation time during their first eight matches. However, they showed signs of improvement with three consecutive wins in April, including a penalty-kick victory.
Miura, aged 55, who has previously coached Júbilo Iwata and played for clubs including Yokohama F. Marinos, commented on his new role: “As someone who has supported the head coach from the sidelines, I take full responsibility for the results so far. Now that I have been entrusted with the team, I will face the remaining matches with determination and without retreat.”
The change comes as Júbilo Iwata continues its pursuit of promotion back to J1, a goal the club has emphasized following a challenging previous season marked by defensive vulnerabilities. Miura is set to lead the team in their upcoming home match against Gifu on April 25, 2026.
