As the search for a new Scotland head coach rumbles on following the shock resignation of Steve Clarke, Rafael Benitez has become the most high-profile manager to publicly declare an interest in the role.
The Champions League-winning boss revealed he had watched the Scots this summer at the World Cup, where they limped out at the group stage after picking up three points from three matches.
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The 66-year-old recently departed Panathinaikos after being sacked following seven months in Athens, and the two-time La Liga champion is looking for a new challenge.
Could that be a first venture into international management with Scotland? How realistic a possibility is that? And what would Benitez bring?
What did Benitez actually say about Scotland?
Benitez was on Talksport when asked about the vacant Scotland position.
He said he had knowledge of some of the squad and praised the Scots for reaching the World Cup.
Benitez’s main driver in his next role seems to be “the target”, but he suggested Clarke’s side had hit their ceiling at this summer’s finals.
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Scotland picked up a nervy win in their opener with Haiti before a narrow defeat to Morocco and a 3-0 loss to Brazil meant they failed to finish as one of the eight third-placed teams to progress from 12 groups.
“They achieved what they could achieve,” Benitez said. “I don’t think they could have achieved any more.”
Despite that, he went on to say he would be “open to the challenge”, but only if he is given “the tools” – whatever that means at international level.
When pressed by Scottish broadcaster Jim White, who asked: “That wasn’t a no to Scotland, was it?”, Benitez replied: “No, no, I’m open to international football, to national teams, because I think you can do a different kind of job.”
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From one of Europe’s elite to nine jobs in 16 years
Last May marked 21 years since Benitez’s Liverpool pulled off one of the most remarkable comebacks in football history, when the Anfield side roared back from three goals down to defeat AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League final.
Yep, life moves fast.
Benitez had moved to Merseyside off the back of stunning success in Spain, winning La Liga twice and the Uefa Cup with Valencia.
He failed to win the Premier League at Liverpool, but his coaching thrived in Europe and established him as one of the continent’s elite managers in the early to mid-2000s.
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He consistently led the Reds to the latter stages of the Champions League, including another final in 2007.
He also won the Europa League with Chelsea in 2013, plus multiple domestic cups during his time in England and Italy with Inter Milan and Napoli.
People often praise his detailed defensive work above anything else. That is crucial at all levels of the game, but particularly in international football, where there is less time to work on complex patterns of play in possession.
Liverpool greats Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher have often hailed Benitez’s tactical nous and described him as the best coach they worked under, but a long time has passed since then.
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Benitez has had nine jobs since leaving Anfield in 2010, lasting less than a year in six of those.
He was adored during his three-year spell at Newcastle but was dismissed quickly at clubs such as Inter, Real Madrid, Everton and Celta Vigo.
What would Benitez cost?
Those brief stints will perhaps raise red flags.
As well as that, Scotland fans have been crying out for a manager who can provide a more thrilling brand of football while continuing to qualify for tournaments.
Sections of the support will doubt Benitez can provide that, but would the Scottish FA be in a position to turn their nose up at a manager of his calibre?
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The big issue, though, is whether they would be in a position to afford him.
Reports suggested Benitez was on a record salary for Greek football at Panathinaikos, earning over £3m a year.
Clarke was estimated to be earning about £500,000 per annum in the Scotland job, so it feels wholly unrealistic that the SFA could stretch to a figure Benitez’s representatives would inevitably demand.
Calls for Ange Postecoglou to be appointed as Clarke’s successor now look comical. The former Celtic boss has just signed a mega-money deal with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
Shouts for David Moyes fall into the same category, given he has a year left on his Everton contract.
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Benitez may be out of work and open to a new challenge but it would seem the Spaniard is simply out of reach.
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