Former Rangers defender Kevin Muscat has secured the J-League title with Yokohama F Marinos after a dramatic final day victory over Vissel Kobe.
The Japanese side defeated their divisional rivals 3-1 over the weekend to top the table with 68 points, narrowly pipping Kawasaki Frontale, who’d beaten FC Tokyo despite playing with 10 men for most of the game.
Yokohama F Marinos went in at half-time at 1-1 in their match, but roared into a 2-1 lead within 10 minutes of the restart and rounded off the victory 20 minutes before the end of the game.
It’s Yokohama’s fifth J-League title and their first since 2019, when they won it whilst being coached by now Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou.
Ex-Rangers defender Kevin Muscat lifts J-League title
Fellow Australian Kevin Muscat – who played for Rangers in the treble-winning 02/03 season – took over in July 2021 and lauded his side for the victory at full-time.
“I don’t know (how I feel) at the moment, it’s just a little bit surreal,” said Kevin Muscat.
“But just really proud. If there’s an overriding emotion, it’s pride – not only in the result, but the way we played, the way we won was tremendous and made me really proud.
“There’s emotion, of course, and that’s why the game is so great.
“For us, personally, we’ve been focusing on creating moments, many moments, through challenges … and today, the moment that we created also created history. These guys will go down in history as one group that won the trophy for Marinos.
“To see the support, not only today, but to see the unconditional support that we’ve had throughout the season – I hope you enjoy tonight, and party hard.”
This is Kevin Muscat’s third role in management, having previously coached Aussie side Melbourne Victory and Belgian side Sint-Truiden.
Meanwhile, one Rangers summer signing is already being linked with the Ibrox exit door.
