FC Tokyo named Massimo Ficcadenti as their new manager on Monday.

Details of the 46-year-old Italian’s contract were not released by the club, which lost to Sanfrecce Hiroshima on penalties in the Emperor’s Cup semifinals on Sunday. Tokyo finished eighth in the J. League this season.

“For years, I have been taken by the Japanese culture,” Ficcadenti said in a statement. “So when I was approached by FC Tokyo, I had absolutely no reason not to accept their offer.

“I hope I can pass on to the team a winner’s mentality, which is at the root of Italian football.”

The former Cesena and Cagliari boss replaces Ranko Popovic, whose one-year deal with Cerezo Osaka was announced Monday.

Popovic takes over for Levir Culpi, who managed Cerezo to fourth place and qualified them for next season’s Asian Champions League. Popovic was at Tokyo for two seasons. The team finished 10th under the Serbian in his first season.