The Japanese football league has confirmed that Yoshikazu Nonomura is to be appointed chairman.

Nonomura is the current chairman at first division side Consadole Sapporo.

He will officially take on the role as the new chairman after confirmation is given at the league employees’ general meeting on March 15, 2022.

The 49-year-old will become the first chairman of the league to have also played in it.

During his playing career, Nonomura was a midfielder for JEF United Ichihara and Consadole Sapporo.

He retired from professional football in 2001.

After calling time on his playing days, Nonomura was Sapporo’s team president before he was appointed chairman in 2013.

During his time as their chairman, he oversaw the club’s promotion to the J1 League in 2016 and has helped them become a mainstay in the top division.

It is hoped that his knowledge and experience of playing in the league and also operating a club at that level will help to boost the league and its competitiveness.

Nonomura will become the sixth person to have taken on the role of league chairman and was recommended for the position by the director candidate selection committee.

He takes over the role from Mitsuru Murai, who will be stepping down from the position.

Murai has been in the job since 2014 and had a background in business beforehand.

During his time in the role, he made several reforms that have benefited the league structure and given it financial stability.

This has contributed to an increase in revenue and attendance figures during his time at the helm.