Japanese Government Awards Ivica Osim the Order of the Rising Sun

Legendary Bosnian-Herzegovinian footballer and coach Ivica Osim has been awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, presented to him on Wednesday by the Japanese government at the residence of the Japanese ambassador in Sarajevo.

Osim coached the national football team of this country from 2006 to 2007.

The award is given as recognition for his contribution to the development of football in Japan.

The legendary Osim took over Japanese club JEF United Ichihara in 2003, and two years later won the Yamazaki Nabisco Cup with this club. The following year, he became the head coach of the Japanese national team, which he left in 2007 due to health issues. However, he remained working as an advisor to the Japan Football Association, NAP reports.