The Japan Football Association on Friday approved the appointment of former JEF United Chiba manager Ivica Osim as national team coach.
The deal for Osim, of which details were not immediately known, came nearly a month after JFA President Saburo Kawabuchi revealed the association was in talks with the former Yugoslavia coach following Japan's elimination from the World Cup.
Osim, 65, takes over from Brazilian coach Zico, who left the post after four years in charge after Japan failed to advance to the knockout stage of the showcase tournament in Germany.
Japan will play Trinidad and Tobago in a friendly at Tokyo's National Stadium on Aug. 9 for Osim's first match in charge.
Osim led Yugoslavia to the quarterfinals of the 1990 World Cup in Italy. He became JEF United manager in 2003 and helped the J. League first-division side lift the Nabisco Cup last year for its first-ever title.