Nielsen leaves as head coach of Japanese women's team, weeks after Asian Cup glory

[p]Last month, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/japan/ltLyWcnC/"]Japan[/a] rounded off ‌a dominant Asian Cup campaign by ‌defeating tournament hosts [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/australia/YXMhvJho/"]Australia[/a] 1-0 in the final to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/australia-YXMhvJho/japan-ltLyWcnC/?mid=WSoIRXdD"]win the continental title ‌for the third time[/a] in ⁠the last ‌four editions.[/p][p]The team also booked their spot at ​the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil after reaching the ​semi-finals of the Asian Cup.[/p][p][b]"Nils Nielsen, head coach of Nadeshiko Japan (the Japanese women's ⁠national team), ​stepped down upon the expiration of his contract,"[/b] the JFA said in a brief statement.[/p][embed guid="13353bb6-3985-4521-ba63-c0769df24a5c" url="https://x.com/jfa_nadeshiko/status/2039606822399819818" social-type="twitter" /][p]Nielsen in 2024 became the ‌first foreign manager of the "Nadeshiko", replacing Futoshi Ikeda, who led Japan to the quarter-finals of the Women's World Cup in 2023 as well as the last eight of the 2024 Paris Olympics.[/p][p][b]The 54-year-old served as the director of football for Manchester City's ‌women's team before joining Japan, and ​was the manager of the Swiss ‌women's team from 2018 to 2022.[/b][/p][p]He also coached the Danish women's side from 2013 to 2017, leading them to a runners-up finish at ⁠the Women's European ⁠Championship in ‌2017.[/p]