Honor where credit is due. Ivica Osim passed away on Sunday at the age of 80. The coaching legend led Sturm Graz to two championship titles and the Champions League. Now the body of the deceased storm legend will be laid out in the Merkur Arena as part of the commemoration on Wednesday. The Bundesliga team confirmed this today, Tuesday, during the commemoration ceremony on Wednesday in the Merkur Arena. In memory of Osim, SK Sturm will open its stadium gates in Graz-Liebenau on Wednesday. Starting at 7:09 p.m., the floodlights will illuminate the site of Osim’s greatest achievements for exactly 81 minutes.
But the fans will not have the opportunity to personally say goodbye to Sturm’s coach of the century. This will be near the lawn. However, seats in the grandstand are reserved for participants in the commemoration. On the stadium forecourt, fans will have the opportunity to place devotional items in front of a picture of Osim in front of the north stand. A book of condolences will also be provided. The stadium gates are open from 6 p.m., Sturm President Christian Jauk, companions and political actors will give speeches in honor of Osim.
Ivica Osim undoubtedly enjoyed legend status in Graz. Now the city of Graz is considering putting a monument to the coaching legend in the street network. So will about one Edge–Except-Street or -Square thought about. The mayor of Graz Elke Kahr (KPÖ) wants a possible place or street name but beforehand with the family and the survivors of Except clarify and then discuss it in a city senate meeting on Friday. “There’s no need to rush things, it’s our collective task to collect ideas and then test them,” she stressed. If she has her way, it must be a square or a street that also has a historical context Except depicts.
The Socialist Youth of Styria already had one in a broadcast on Monday Edge–Except-Street required for Graz. Except deserved that a street in Graz is named after him. Graz must erect a monument to this great personality for his merits. “Edge Except was not only a role model for generations from a sporting point of view, but also as a person. Naming a street after him is probably the least we can do to pay him the honor he deserves,” says Jonathan Kaspar, chairman of the Styrian Socialist Youth.
