Arsenal FC manager Arsene Wenger has been short-listed as a possible successor to Zico as the Japan National coach. Brazilian legend Zico is leaving the Japanese coaching role in July, after having successfully guided Japan to the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.

"Wenger said he is interested in Japan," the Japan Football Association president Saburo Kawabuchi said in Friday's edition of Japanese newspaper Hochi Shimbun.

"He's an excellent coach. We won't be able to afford his current salary; 400 million yen, 500 million yen, (approx. £2-£2.5m), that is impossible. But if Wenger is willing to take a pay cut, then we can ask him." Zico is estimated to earn approx 200-300 million yen (£1-£1.5m) a year, so it would mean a hefty pay cut for Wenger.

The JFA has approached the 56-year-old Wenger twice in the past about the job of coaching the Japanese National squad, the first time following the 1998 World Cup finals, and the second in 2000, as a replacement for the then manager Philippe Troussier.

Both times, Wenger, who is already familiar with the J League, having been the former coach of J.League side Nagoya Grampus Eight, turned down the JFA’s offer because of his commitment to Arsenal. The Frenchman's contract with the London club runs through to the end of the 2007-08 season.

But Kawabuchi, who personally chose the managerially inexperienced Zico to take over from Phillipe Troussier, is hoping that it will be third time lucky in his attempt to obtain Wenger’s services.

"Back then, he had just renewed his contract with Arsenal," Kawabuchi said, referring to his conversation five years ago with the two-time English Premiership manager of the year. "He told me then that when the time comes, he wants to come to Japan to end his coaching career."

As for his selection criteria for the next coaching role, Kawabuchi, who insisted he was in no major hurry to decide, said that the next manager is certain to be… "a foreigner who knows Japan very well."

J League club JEF United Chiba’s manager Ivica Osim, who led the club to its first J League title by winning this year's Nabisco Cup, has also been mentioned as a candidate, yet the JFA’s Kawabuchi has all but ruled him out. (Ivica) "Osim is a little too old," Kawabuchi said of the hugely popular Austrian tactician, who, at 64, is 8 years the senior of Frenchman Wenger.

The JFA chief also said that whoever steps in, he wants him to coach the 2008 Beijing Olympics football team as well. Phillipe Troussier coached both the senior, and under-23 sides, and the JFA feel it is important for the success of future teams. "Troussier was successful in looking after the younger generation, and then bringing them up to the full national side," said Kawabuchi.

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