Former Gamba Osaka boss and Japan Football Association technical director Akira Nishino will replace Vahid Halilhodzic as Japan head coach with two months remaining until the start of the World Cup finals in Russia, the association said Monday.

Halilhodzic steered Japan through qualifying to its sixth straight finals appearance, but the JFA told the 65-year-old from Bosnia Herzegovina their decision to dismiss him on Saturday, according to the association.

For details, see latest update: 

Football: Japan axes head coach Halilhodzic 2 months before World Cup