Urawa Reds celebrate their first J. League championship in Saitama on Dec. 2. KYODO PHOTO

"We are going to go move into negotiations with Osieck in the coming days," Urawa President Mitsunori Fujiguchi said Dec. 5.

Urawa appointed Osieck in 1995 and the German manager guided the team to a fourth-place finish in his first season in charge and sixth the following year.

Just two days after Urawa clinched their first championship title, Buchwald said he would leave the club. He will officially step down after the Emperor's Cup brings the Japanese season to a close.

The Japan Times Weekly: Dec. 9, 2006
(C) All rights reserved