Japan in talks with Osim over coach's job

TOKYO, June 24 (Reuters) The Japan Football Association is in talks with former Yugoslavia coach Ivica Osim over taking charge of the national side after Brazilian Zico stepped down, media reports said today.

President Saburo Kawabuchi said the JFA had been talking to the 65-year-old Osim, currently coaching Japan side JEF United Chiba, since before the World Cup, the reports said.

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

''We want to sign a formal contract as soon as he accepts our offer,'' Kyodo news quoted Kawabuchi as telling a news conference following the Japan team's early return home from the World Cup.

''We don't know yet whether we can sign him. I'm talking about what we feel is going in our favour, 70 or 80 on a scale of 100.'' Kawabuchi said the deadline for the talks will probably be shortly after the July 9 final.

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

Reuters DH RS1951