Japan national coach Osim suffers stroke

TOKYO, Nov 16 (Reuters) The coach of Japan's national soccer team Ivica Osim suffered a stroke today, the Japan Football Association said.

Osim, a 66-year-old Bosnian who has led Japan since their exit from the 2006 World Cup, suffered the stroke at his home near Tokyo and had been taken to hospital.

''We're shocked. More than the state of the Japan national team, we want Osim to recover quickly,'' a tearful Japan Football Association President Saburo Kawabuchi told reporters.

REUTERS SSC RN1413