Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has recalled when he was first turned down for the job.
In 1995, Wenger was interviewed to take over from Stewart Houston, who had been in caretaker-charge since the departure of George Graham the previous February. However the Board decided to give the position to Rioch, who had built-up a solid CV at Bolton Wanderers.
However the Scot would only last a season and, after a spell in Japan at Grampus Eight, Wenger returned to take over the reins at Highbury on October 1, 1996.
He told arsenal.com: "I believe they had already made up their mind when they interviewed me the first time.
"They gave the job to Bruce Rioch and maybe he was a better candidate than I was at the time.
"I went to Japan and I was not disappointed at all because I had a fantastic time there. I decided to only come back to Europe for a big club.
"But I still had good relations with Arsenal, I was friends with the Board, so I had no problem with that. I understood their position at the time."
