Former Japan soccer coach Ivica Osim, who suffered a serious stroke last month, has been moved out of an intensive care unit to a special rehabilitation hospital in Tokyo, Japan Football Association General Secretary Kozo Tashima said Tuesday. Tashima confirmed that the 66-year-old Osim has begun full-scale rehab after being released from the ICU unit of a hospital in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, and transferred Monday. "He's in higher spirits than I would have ever imagined," Tashima said after meeting Osim directly for the first time since he was hospitalized. During their meeting, which lasted about 30 minutes, Tashima also told the Bosnian coach about Takeshi Okada, who has replaced Osim as the new Japan coach. "He's a very smart person, so I believe he is able to remain objective," said Tashima, referring to Osim's reaction. Until now, information about Osim's successor had been kept under wraps at the request of his family and so as not to influence the progress of his treatment. On being transferred to the rehab unit, Osim quipped, "Transfers come with the territory in the world of soccer."
