Japan offer ‘interesting’: Fernandez

AFC – TOKYO, Spanish coach Victor Fernandez has described as “interesting” Japan’s offer for him to become their new coach but has not indicated whether or not he will accept, a press report said Friday.

The 49-year-old, who guided FC Porto to the Intercontinental Cup in 2004, said his agent had been contacted by the Japan Football Association (JFA) about the offer, the Sports Nippon daily reported.

“I appreciate such a proposal and it is interesting,” Fernandez was quoted as telling the daily on Thursday.

But he refused to make any comment on talks under way between his side and the Japanese association, the Sports Nippon said.

Fernandez, who resigned as coach of second-division Spanish outfit Real Betis last season, told the daily that the most important detail in the offer is what kind of “project” is envisaged, without elaborating.

JFA vice-president Kuniya Daini told Japanese media on Thursday that the association was hoping to sign a contract with a new coach “next week, if possible.”

JFA President Junji Ogura said earlier that there were three candidates for the job, without giving any names.