The Chunichi Dragons have finalized a plan to appoint Kudo Kimiyasu (工藤 公康) as their new manager next season and are reportedly expected to entrust the team's rebuilding to a completely external appointment, with no prior affiliation as a player or coach. Kudo has led SoftBank to 5 Japan championships, and the club says it aims to build a strong team ahead of its 100th anniversary.
Reports say it is all but certain that Kudo Kimiyasu (工藤 公康) will be appointed manager next season. He has never previously been affiliated with the team, including as a player or coach, making this a completely external appointment.
Kudo is reportedly being appointed despite having no prior affiliation with the team as either a player or coach, and his record of leading SoftBank to 5 Japan championships is cited as a factor in his evaluation.
The club has indicated that it plans to build a strong team ahead of the next 100th anniversary of its founding, and the appointment of a manager is reportedly one element of that initiative.