Porto president Nuno Pinto da Costa admits they came close to appointing Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger as coach.

Da Costa moved for Wenger way back in 1987 when Artur Jorge left for Racing Paris.

"The Frenchman came to Porto with manager Luciano D'Onofrio and everything was agreed to hire him," recalled Da Costa. "The problem was that Wenger had a contract with Monaco and could not free himself.

"The admiration was mutual."