New Grampus Eight coach Dragan Stojkovic is hoping to emulate Arsene Wenger and bring success back to the ailing Japanese club.The Serbian, who captained his country at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, was named coach of the J-League side in January and was immediately tasked with changing the club's fortunes.

Grampus Eight have been unable to recreate the success they achieved under Wenger during the mid-1990s and have turned to Stojkovic, who played under the current Arsenal manager at the club, to bring them their first silverware in nine years.

It is the former Red Star Belgrade player's first coaching position and he is under no illusion about the task he faces.

"It is a challenge, but I am not afraid," he told the Japan Times.

"It is completely different to how it is as a player. Now I am thinking about football around the clock.

"As a player I played 90 minutes and that was all. Now I have more responsibility and it takes more concentration, but I think I am ready.

"I am ready for good and bad moments. The aim is to explain my philosophy to the players, how I see my team and how I want them to play.

"Then the results will either come or they won't come, but you have to know which road you are going to take. You have to be organised."

During Wenger's reign, Grampus Eight captured the Emperors Cup as well as finishing runners-up in the J League.

And Stojkovic admitted he has sought the advice of the Frenchman ahead of Grampus' opening game of the season against Kyoto on Saturday.

"I spent a week in London with Arsene at Christmas," he added. "And we were together every day.

"The message and advice from him was to just believe in your work. That is all. And I strongly believe in my work."

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