Japan coach Ivica Osim has awoken from a coma following a stroke earlier this month, Japan Football Association (JFA) officials said on Wednesday.

The 66-year-old Bosnian has been in intensive care since collapsing at his home in Chiba, near Tokyo, on Nov. 16 while climbing the stairs.

"He's slowly regaining consciousness," the JFA's Hideto Teshima told Reuters.

"He's still not able to speak but he is gradually improving."

The JFA are expected to name former Japan coach Takeshi Okada, who coached the side at the 1998 World Cup, as Osim's replacement next month.