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FOOTBALL

Osim is lined up to coach Japanese

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Osim is currently in charge of Japanese club JEF United Chiba.

TOKYO, Japan -- Former Yugoslavia coach Ivica Osim will take charge of the Japan national side in succession to Brazilian Zico.

Osim reached an agreement with Japan Football Association (JFA) technical advisor Kozo Tashima in talks on Saturday night, media reports said.

"We wanted to finalize a contract as soon as possible after the World Cup," Tashima told Kyodo news agency.

"It's a big responsibility," said Osim. "Football is such a very difficult sport, but I think I received this offer because of what I've done in Japan.

"They should turn to a different coach if they want to have the No. 1 team in the world," said Osim. "It's important to realize the reality."

Reports have said that the JFA was talking to the 65-year-old Osim since before the World Cup began, but that his current club, JEF United Chiba, had been reluctant to lose him in the middle of the season.

Osim led Yugoslavia to the quarterfinals of the 1990 World Cup in Italy. He became JEF manager in 2003 and helped the J-League first division side win the Japanese League Cup last year for their first title.

Brazilian Zico's four years as Japan coach ended in an early exit from the World Cup as Japan fell to Australia and Brazil and could only manage a scoreless draw with Croatia, leaving them at the bottom of their group.

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