Chronicle
After the death of Ivica Osim on Sunday, SK Sturm opened the stadium gates of the Grazer Merkur Arena on Wednesday in memory of their coach of the century. The body of Osim was also laid out.
In memory of Ivica Osim, from 7:09 p.m. – the year the club was founded – the floodlights illuminated the Merkur Arena for exactly 81 minutes – one minute for every year Osim lived. As part of this commemoration, the body of Osim was also laid out in the stadium. However, fans did not have the opportunity to personally say goodbye to Osim directly at the coffin – it was on the lawn, and there were seats in the stands for the participants of the memorial service.
On the forecourt of the stadium, fans might place devotional items under the north stand in front of a picture of Osim, and books of condolence were also placed here.
In memory of Ivica Osim
He shaped football around the turn of the millennium with modesty and intellect. Ivan “Ivica” Osim was one of the most successful coaches to ever work in Austria, and yet more than that – his philosophical approach to the world’s most popular sport and constant struggle for peace in his homeland earned him a reputation as a football sage who looked far beyond the horizon. The dismay and sadness regarding Osim’s death are correspondingly great.
Sturm President Christian Jauk, companions and political actors also gave speeches in honor of Osim.
Deep sadness following the death of Osim
Osim shaped football around the turn of the millennium with humility and intellect. He was one of the most successful coaches to ever work in Austria, and yet more than that – his philosophical approach to the world’s most popular sport and constant struggle for peace in his homeland earned him a reputation as a football wise guy who thought outside the box looked out. The dismay and sadness regarding Osim’s death on Sunday were correspondingly great – more on that in Deep sadness following the death of Ivica Osim.
Trauerfeier von Ivica Osim
Ivan “Ivica” Osim was one of the most successful coaches ever to work in Austria. There is great dismay and sadness at Osim’s passing.
How does the city honor Sturm’s coach of the century?
Meanwhile, the discussions also picked up speed as to whether and in what form the city of Graz might erect a monument to Osim – we are talking regarding an Ivica Osim street or square. Conrad-von-Hötzendorf-Straße, the stadium forecourt or parts of the Augarten were named as possible locations in newspaper reports on Tuesday – more on this in After Osim’s Death: Discussing Appreciation.