Vissel Kobe announced Monday that Juan Manuel Lillo, a former assistant coach of the Chile national team, will take over as head coach in order to rebuild the J-League first division side.

Vissel have struggled to make headway in the 18-team J1 standings this season despite recently signing Spanish star Andres Iniesta and acquiring German World Cup hero Lukas Podolski last year.

(Juan Manuel Lillo)

The 52-year-old Lillo previously managed several teams in his home country of Spain in addition to Colombian teams, including top-division side Atletico National.

"I made up my mind to take the offer without debating over it," he told a press conference in Kobe. "Players hold the most importance to a head coach, not the other way around. So I took the job to contribute to the players."

"(This team) have all the necessary conditions for me to implement my style of soccer," he said. "I want to move forward together with the players."

He was presented by Vissel chairman Hiroshi Mikitani, who is also CEO of online shopping giant Rakuten Inc., the current shirt sponsor of Barcelona.

(Iniesta, center, scores in a 1-1 draw with Sanfrecce Hiroshima on Aug. 15)

"The team has been going through a tough situation, but there is still a chance for us to do better," Mikitani said. "We've found a head coach who has a lot of experience and intelligence."

Lillo will replace Takayuki Yoshida, who has been demoted to team staff after Kobe suffered its third straight loss on Saturday in the J-League. Assistant coach Kentaro Hayashi will lead the side temporarily until Lillo starts.

Vissel are currently eighth in the league table, with 10 wins, six draws and 10 losses.

(Lillo, right, and Hiroshi Mikitani)