12 Apr 2004(Mon)

It was no surprise to see the name of Ivica Osim being linked with the Japan national coach's job this week.

On Tuesday, a Japanese sports newspaper reported that the JEF United Ichihara manager was at the top of a JFA list of candidates to replace Zico should the national team continue to under-perform.

Personally, I doubt that the JFA has looked that far ahead.

After all, the record books show that Japan have a 100 percent record in two World Cup qualifying matches so far, even though the team's performance has not been good.

As a colleague pointed out recently, football is not ice skating. There are no points for artistic impression. There are only points for winning, and Japan have won both.

But back to Osim.

I hear he was very angry about the article, describing it as "unbelievable."

The club also said there had been no contact with the JFA, and they had no information about the link.

Still, Osim would be a popular choice, should Zico decide he had had enough, or should the JFA decide they had had enough of him.

Experienced, pragmatic, and working with his players like a grandfather with his grandsons--strict, but enjoying their development and ready to praise at the right time--Osim has made a big impact on the J.League.

He has quickly understood the strengths of the Japanese players, such as speed, fitness, technique and team work.

JEF are very well organised, and have demolished their last three opponents in league and Nabisco Cup with a game based on passing and mobility.

I saw them against S-Pulse in the Nabisco Cup, and the Shimizu players were overwhelmed. They were unable to touch the ball for long periods, as Osim's slick machine ran rings around them.

I thought after that game that Zico could learn a lot by watching JEF United. He could learn about organisation, team discipline and attacking rhythm, and about the job of each player within the team.

He could see how the team moved as one unit, and when one player left his position, another would cover him.

Osim has his admirers in the JFA. Of course he does, as anyone who studies coaching cannot help but be impressed with what they see from JEF United.

But I still think it is too early to talk about Japan's next head coach.

The Asian Cup in China in July-August will decide Zico's future.

And maybe Osim's, too.

ends