Hitoshi Morishita has stepped down as manager of struggling Jubilo Iwata after a dreadful start to the season, the J. League club said Saturday.

Assistant coach Tetsu Nagasawa will take over as caretaker manager of the three-time J. League champions.

Jubilo’s 2-1 defeat away to Ventforet Kofu on Friday left it next-to-last in the standings with just five points from nine games so far this season.

Morishita, 40, took over from Masaaki Yanagishita last season, when Iwata finished in 12th place. He had been assistant coach since 2008 before taking the manager’s job.