TOKYO (AFP) - Serbian football great Dragan Stojkovic said Tuesday he had sought advice from his former mentor, Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger, as he takes over J-League strugglers Nagoya Grampus.

Stojkovic, who played under Wenger at Nagoya in the 1990s, said he spent a week gathering tips from the Frenchman who has won three English Premier League titles since moving to the London club.

"I spent about a week at Arsenal last month and spoke to him (Wenger) about Nagoya," Stojkovic, who has signed a one-year contract as Nagoya coach, told reporters in Toyota.

"And he gave me some advice and told me to have total belief in myself.

"I always strongly believed that I would one day become Nagoya manager and now that I am I will give it my very best shot."

Nagoya have never won the J-League title but lifted the prestigious Emperor's Cup in 1995 and 1999. They also finished as J-League runners-up in 1996 but could only manage 11th out of 18 teams last season.

"We have a good team," Stojkovic said, according to Kyodo news agency.

"Results weren't so great last year but I will work hard. Each player has room to improve.

"I understand what people will be expecting of me and I want to show what we are capable of doing. I have a never-give-up attitude and hopefully that will rub off on the players."

The former attacking midfielder joined Nagoya in 1994, playing for eight seasons until his retirement in 2001. He quit as chief executive of Red Star Belgrade in October.

Stojkovic also played for Marseille and Red Star Belgrade and helped Yugoslavia reach the 1990 World Cup quarter-finals.