TOKYO (AFP) -- Japan coach Ivica Osim, a Bosnian who led the former Yugoslavia to the 1990 World Cup quarterfinals, suffered a stroke Friday and is in a serious condition, the Japan Football Association said.

""His situation is very unstable and at this stage it is not appropriate to give prospects for the long run,"" association president Saburo Kawabuchi said. ""I hope he survives.""
Kawabuchi, who fought back tears as he announced the news, said Osim collapsed overnight in suburban Tokyo and was rushed to hospital, where he was in intensive care.
The 66-year-old, a former striker for Strasbourg, has suffered heart problems and high blood pressure in recent years. Kawabuchi said no one was named interim coach and that the association was ""praying for his recovery.""
Osim took over the job last year after Japan's winless exit from the World Cup in Germany under Brazilian legend Zico.
Under Osim, Japan have won 13 matches, lost five and drawn two. Japan advanced to the semifinals in the Asian Cup but failed to take their third straight title, which went to dark horse Iraq.
Osim joked about his health during a make-or-break Asian Cup game against Australia.
He retreated to the changing room after extra-time and refused to watch Japan win 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
""I didn't see it because it was bad for my heart,"" Osim said at the time.
""I don't want to die while I coach Japan's national team,"" he said. ""I want to die in my home town, Sarajevo.""
He had gone to a domestic match Thursday evening accompanied by a football association official and did not seem to be in poor health, said Kozo Tajima, the association's executive director.
He said Osim collapsed at home after watching an English Premier League match on television and was discovered by his wife.
""No one from the association has yet seen him in person. Only his family and interpreter are with him at the hospital.""
Osim had undergone monthly health checks at a university hospital and always had medication with him in case of emergency, Tajima said.
Osim last coached Japan in an October 17 match in Osaka, in which the team cruised to a 4-1 victory over Egypt.
The next fixtures slated for Osim's Japan are the East Asian championships in February. Japan next year will also launch its campaign for a berth in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Osim coached clubs in Greece and Austria before coming to Japan in 2003 to guide J-League strugglers JEF United into title contention.
Osim's blunt and pithy remarks have won the hearts of many Japanese fans. A collection of his quotes, entitled ""The Words of Osim,"" has sold more than 400,000 copies since late 2005.
Former Yugoslav star Dragan Stojkovich, who played in Osim's 1990 World Cup squad, told Japan's Asahi newspaper: ""I heard about the news without delay. I feel very sad.""
""Mr. Osim is one of the coaches who has given me great influence and whom I can respect,"" said Stojkovic, 42, who played for in the J-League from 1994-2001. He quit as Red Star Belgrade president last month.