Former Yugoslavia soccer coach Ivica Osim to take charge of Japan Soccer News SportsNews24h.com

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Former Yugoslavia soccer coach Ivica Osim to take charge of Japan

TOKYO (AP) _ Former Yugoslavia soccer coach Ivica Osim on Friday accepted an offer to take charge of Japan's national team.

Osim and Japan Football Association chief Saburo Kawabuchi announced the appointment at a press conference Friday.

``It's an honour ... I hope to build a playing style that's unique to Japan,'' Osim said through an interpreter.

Osim, 65, led Yugoslavia to the quarter-finals of the 1990 World Cup in Italy, and has also led Austrian club SK Sturm Graz to the Champions League.

He became manager of J-League side JEF United in 2003 and helped the team win the Japanese League Cup last year for their first title.

Osim takes over from Brazilian-born Zico, who stepped down as Japan coach when the squad was eliminated from the Germany World Cup in the first round.

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End: Former Yugoslavia soccer coach Ivica Osim to take charge of Japan

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