Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger identified his successor seven years before his departure in 2018.

Wenger had planned to see Dragan Stojkovic eventually replace him - though it would be Unai Emery who would take the post.

Wenger managed Stojkovic between 1995 and 1996 at Nagoya Grampus Eight in Japan, and the two hit it off.

He told Vecernje Novosti: "I would love Stojkovic to be my successor; there are a hundred reasons for that.

“Our ideas are the same and we both strive for perfect football. I knew he was going to have teams playing attacking football with many passes. He has done that, showing he will be a great coach."

“Dragan Stojkovic may not be a household name in England, but he is considered one of the greatest footballers in Serbian and Yugoslav history."