TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Toru Oniki, who won a record four J-League first-division titles while in charge of Kawasaki Frontale, was named the new Kashima Antlers manager on Thursday.

The 50-year-old former Kashima player guided Kawasaki to their maiden J1 title in his first year in charge in 2017 and repeated the following year. He led them to back-to-back championships again in 2020 and 2021, giving him more J1 crowns than any other manager.

Oniki also steered Kawasaki to two Emperor's Cups and one League Cup before leaving the side at the end of the recently concluded season.

He takes the reins of an Antlers club looking for their first league championship since 2016.

"I want the players to enjoy playing football, and also the fans watching them. We'll be fighting believing we can definitely get wins at the end of it," Oniki said in a statement.

Masaki Chugo, who took charge of Kashima midseason this term, will go back to his coaching role at the club.