Japan may sack Brazilian legend Zico as coach of the national side, according to reports in the local media.
The Sports Nippon said the Japan Football Association’s technical committee were lining up former Yugoslavia coach Ivica Osim to replace Zico, who has come under increasing pressure folloiwng a series of faltering displays in recent months.
“There is the possibility that a move to discharge Zico will come into the open,” if Japan fails in future World Cup qualifiers or at the Asian Cup in China in July and August, the newspaper said quoting unnamed sources.
An official at the association’s media office said: “We have not heard about such activities. It is not my understanding that the technical committee is entrusted with the selection of a coach.”
Japan only beat Oman 1-0 thanks to an injury-time goal at home and scraped past low-ranked Singapore to a 2-1 away win in Asian Zone Group 3 last week.
