Brazilian legend Zico said today he was ready to take over as Japan's new national football coach.
"I feel honoured to have been picked as one of the candidates. I cannot answer in a few days," the Kashima Antlers manager told reporters at Tokyo's Narita airport before flying back to Brazil.
"The terms of the contract are not a big problem. If we agree on the terms, I'm ready to accept," he added after talks on Wednesday night with Japan Football Association (JFA) bosses.
"There's no need to rush for a conclusion. I'm going to negotiate with the association further. If I take over, I'd like to make a strong team like Brazil," Zico said.
The 49-year-old took part in three World Cup finals from 1978. He came out of retirement to play for Japanese club side Kashima, hanging up his boots for good in 1994.
He is now Kashima's general manager and the team has won the league title four times.
Zico, Brazil's technical director at the 1998 finals, has emerged as one of the top candidates to replace outgoing coach Philippe Troussier.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who used to coach Nagoya Grampus Eight, has also been in the JFA's thoughts along with Yugoslav Bora Milutinovic, who led China to their first appearance in the World Cup, and Aime Jacquet, who guided France to their 1998 triumph.
AFP