Former Corinthians manager Oswaldo de Oliveira, the most successful manager in Japanese football history with six trophies in five seasons, is leaving Kashima Antlers to be nearer his family.
"My family cannot stay with me here so long. Along with several other reasons... I have to stay in Brazil for at least one year," he said after telling Kashima of his decision to return home, according to Kyodo news agency.
"I love to be in Japan. I love the country. I love the club. I love the football here but at least for one season, I have to go back home," he said Monday on his 61st birthday.
Oliveira's family left Japan after the giant earthquake and tsunami that devastated the country's northeast on March 11 and crippled the Fukushima nuclear power plant, 170 kilometres (106 miles) from Kashima.
His family has reportedly been worried about radiation from the plant's stricken reactors.
"In this moment, it's important to my private life. My mother is very old. It's difficult to support (them) for so many years when you're far from everybody. We start to lose the link," Oliveria said, according to Kyodo.
Oliveira, who led Corinthians to the inaugural Club World Cup title in 2000, took the helm at Kashima in 2007 when the club started an unprecedented run of three straight J-League titles.
His side also won the Emperor's Cup in 2007 and 2010, and last month won the J-League Cup, known as the Nabisco Cup.
Kashima finished sixth in the J-League first division in the season that ended on Saturday, with Kashiwa Reysol lifting their first-ever title.
Oliveira said he was going to take over Botafogo in his native Brazil where he has previously coached many of the top sides.
"I'm in conversations with the club and I'm probably going to Botafogo," he said. "I had (offers) in China and in the Middle East but I prefer to go back to Brazil."
Kashima still have a chance to claim the Emperor's Cup, with the final on New Year's Day. They are in the last 16 of the tournament.
Copyright 2011 AFP Global Edition
