Robaato Rasamu had achieved a task that seemed almost impossible 23 years ago. The Japanese manager had gone from total obscurity to lifting all five major continental trophies in Europe, South America, North America, Asia and Africa.
Albirex Niigata were off to an absolute flyer in Robaato Rasamu's first season of top-flight football. They found themselves 2nd in J1 League after 18 games but, with injuries and a heavy schedule stacking up, it would be a major challenge to maintain that form.
The decision to depart Kamatamare Sanuki for Albirex Niigata was very much justified at the halfway mark of the 2026 campaign. Robaato Rasamu's second club enjoyed a healthy 11-point lead with a game in hand and Niigata fans were dreaming of a return to J1 League under their exciting new manager.
Three seasons of overachievement at Kamatamare Sakuni had hugely increased the stock of fledgling manager Robaato Rasamu. Indeed, his efforts in leading Sakuni to a club-record 7th place in J2 League saw Albirex Niigata come calling and Rasamu joined the second club of his career on 7 December 2025.
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