- published: 26 Jan 2016
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Ivan "Ivica" Osim (born 6 May 1941 in Sarajevo) is a Bosnian former football player and manager. He was most recently head coach of Japan, before he suffered a stroke in November 2007 and left the post. On April 18, 2011 FIFA announced that Osim will head an interim committee to run the Football Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina after the country was suspended from all international competitions.
As a player, he was a member of the Yugoslavia national team and played in the 1964 Olympics. As assistant manager, he won a bronze medal with Yugoslavia at the 1984 Olympics, and reached the quarterfinals of the 1990 FIFA World Cup as the manager of Yugoslavia.
Born during World War II in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia, Osim's infant years were spent in difficult circumstances.
Following the end of war, he started playing football in the FK Željezničar Sarajevo's youth system. He graduated from the University of Sarajevo.
Osim began his professional career with FK Željezničar Sarajevo in 1959. Osim is considered one of the best Bosnians to step on a football field who was known as a ruthless dribbler. He stayed in Yugoslavia until the end of 1968, as transfers abroad were prohibited for players under 28 at the time. In December 1968 he went to Holland, to play for Zwolsche Boys. This stay lasted only three months, due to a knee injury. In 1970, he moved to RC Strasbourg and played the rest of his career in France, playing for Valenciennes, Sedan and again at Strasbourg.