On this day, three years ago, the great Ivica Osim passed away

He started as a talented young man on the fields of Sarajevo’s Zeljezničar, and his career later took him to the Netherlands and France, where he played for several clubs. However, he left a greater mark as a coach — leading numerous teams and national teams, from Partizan to Panathinaikos, and gained the most international recognition while coaching the national teams of Yugoslavia and Japan.

His role in 2011 is especially remembered when he took over the leadership of the committee formed by FIFA to stabilize the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Thanks to his efforts, Bosnia and Herzegovina avoided a prolonged isolation from world football, which later opened the doors to the historic qualification for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

His contribution to sports is recognized worldwide. In the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, one street now bears his name, and at the Grbavica stadium, there is a plaque dedicated to his words that resonated when he left his position as the coach of Yugoslavia.

Japan also pay tribute to him — a match was organized in his honor, attended by ten thousand people, and the Football Association announced him as a future member of their Hall of Fame. Local filmmakers also made a documentary about his life.

The Austrian club Sturm, where Osim spent many years, decided to name the square in front of their stadium after him. Additionally, in 2023, he was named the most successful coach in the history of the Austrian Bundesliga.