While War Raged, He Returned to Sarajevo
Legendary coach Ivica Osim left an indelible mark on the world of football, and his resignation as Yugoslavia's head coach at the start of the war remains a testament to his personal integrity.
Legendary coach Ivica Osim left an indelible mark on the world of football, and his resignation as Yugoslavia's head coach at the start of the war remains a testament to his personal integrity.
Few in the world of football leave such a deep mark that they get a street named after them in their hometown after they die. Legendary Bosnian-Herzegovinian coach Ivica Osim achieved this, not only in Sarajevo but also in Graz, Austria. He passed away on May 1, 2022, at the age of 81, and his memory remains vivid, especially through the poignant testimonies from the war years.
The popular "Strauss from Grbavica" began his playing career at Željezničar in 1959, where he stayed until 1968. After a brief stint with Dutch club Zwolle and a return to Grbavica, he continued his career in France, playing for Strasbourg, Sedan, and Valenciennes. For the national team of the former Yugoslavia, he played 16 matches and scored eight goals.
However, what truly defined Osim's life journey was his decision at the start of the war. In the book "Childhood in War" by Jasminko Halilović, Osim recalled the dramatic journey in April 1992.
"At the very beginning of the war, when I was coming to Sarajevo for the last time, at Belgrade airport they asked me: 'Where are you going?' I said: 'To Sarajevo.' They said: 'You're the only passenger going to Sarajevo.' It was April 1992, I got on the plane and arrived in Sarajevo. The flight attendants kept saying: 'What are you doing, where are you going? No one goes there; no one is allowed to leave the plane.'"
Upon returning to Belgrade on one of the last flights from Sarajevo, he found chaos at the airport. "People had gathered to flee. A small plane, but the airport was packed," he recalled. Although he had only one ticket, he managed to get five and distributed them to people so they could also fly out.
It was then, in Belgrade, that he made a decision that would bring him both respect and insults. He resigned as Yugoslavia's head coach. "Most people accepted my decision with respect," he said. But soon after, a shocking encounter followed.
"Shortly after, something happened that hurt me. A class of schoolchildren was passing by, led by their teacher, a younger man. He recognized me and said to the kids: 'Here's the traitor of Yugoslavia!' If I could have caught him, I would have torn him apart then."
Osim described his decision as a personal act, the only thing he could do for his city, which was under shelling. In the foreword to Halilović's book, he added a bitter remark: "In any case, my resignation couldn't change anything; things had gone too far. Football couldn't change anything. Even if we had become world champions in Italy, there would still have been war."
His name resonated far beyond the borders of the former country. In Japan, where he worked as a coach, he achieved legendary status. In 2016, the Japanese government awarded him the Order of the Rising Sun in recognition of his contributions to the development of football and the promotion of understanding between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Japan. Books have been written about him in Japan, and after his death, he was honored with a monument. A commemorative plaque was unveiled at the FK Željezničar stadium.
Osim was also a great friend of the celebrated Croatian coach Ćiro Blažević, who, after Osim's death, spoke words that best capture the greatness of the man from Grbavica.
"I'm sad, son, deeply sad. A gentleman in football boots has left us, a gentleman on the sidelines. All of Bosnia and Herzegovina is in tears, and rightly so; there were few characters like him. A truly great man, in every sense, has left us," said Blažević.
