Born in Sarajevo, Osim, who would have turned 81 on May 6, died in Graz, Austria, according to Bosnian national television BHRT.

"Osim will be remembered as the legendary +Strauss of Grbavica+ (named after the district of Sarajevo where he grew up, editor's note), a high-level player and coach, but also as a great man and a patriot, endowed with a charisma and unique moral qualities", writes in a letter of condolence Sefik Dzaferovic, president of the collegiate presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On Sunday evening, the floodlights of the Grbavica stadium, where FK Zeljeznicar Sarajevo plays, were turned on in his tribute, while dozens of supporters flocked.

The spotlights were to remain on for 81 minutes, in reference to the birthday that the deceased should have celebrated on Friday.

A giant portrait of Ivica Osim was projected on Sarajevo City Hall.

Midfielder, Osim began his professional career in 1959 at the Zeljeznicar Sarajevo club where he remained until 1970. He then left to play in France, in Strasbourg (1970-72), Sedan (1972-75), Valenciennes (1975-76) then a final year in Strasbourg.

Stojkovic's tribute

He has 16 selections (and 8 goals) for the Yugoslavian team, between 1964 and 1969.

He then turned to a coaching career, starting as when he was a player in Zeljeznicar Sarajevo, before being appointed coach of the national team of Yugoslavia (1986-92) which he led to the World Cup-90 in Italy, eliminated on penalties by Diego Maradona's Argentina in the quarter-finals.

He will be the last coach of Yugoslavia before the war which led to the break-up of the country.

Osim then coached Partizan Belgrade, Panathinaikos in Greece, Sturm Graz in Austria and JEF United in Japan, where he became coach (2006-07) before retiring due to health issues.

Former Yugoslavia strategist and current Serbia coach Dragan Stojkovic, who played under his leadership at the 90 World Cup, hailed the memory of "a football strategist, with great intuition".

"Osim was one of the most famous names in football in the former Yugoslavia and that is how he will be remembered," Stojkovic wrote in a statement published on the Serbian Football Federation website.

© 2022 AFP