Rafa Benitez is open to taking over as Scotland coach - whatever he can

Rafa Benitez open to becoming Scotland coach - whatever

 In the search for a new coach of the Scotland national team after the unexpected resignation of Steve Clarke, Rafa Benitez became the most recognizable manager who declared his interest in the job. The coach, who won the Champions League in his career, admitted that he watched the Scots play during this year's World Cup, where they were eliminated in the group, scoring only three points in three games. The 66-year-old Spaniard recently left Panathinaikos, where he was fired after seven months on the job, and is looking for a new challenge. Could this be the first step in his career towards national team work - is it a viable option for Scotland? What could Benitez bring to the team? Benitez was a guest on Talksport, where he was asked about the vacant Scotland coaching job. He replied that he knew about some of the national team's players and praised the team for advancing to the World Cup. Benitez's main goal in his next job will be to achieve results. However, he suggested that Steve Clarke's team had achieved their maximum potential at this year's Championships. The Scottish players scored points in the first match against Haiti, and in the next matches they lost to Morocco and Brazil, which is why they did not advance to the knockout stage. "They achieved what they could have achieved. I don't think they could have achieved anything more," Benitez said. However, he added that he would be "open to the challenge", but only if he is given "the tools" - but what does this mean in the context of the national team? When Scottish TV journalist Jim White asked him if his answer to the Scottish national team was "no, then no", Benitez replied: "No, then no. I'm open to football, to the national teams, because I think you can do another job." Last May was the 21st anniversary of one of the most amazing comebacks in the history of football, when Rafael Benitez's Liverpool managed to win the match 4-3 after penalties after losing 0-3 after the first half against AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League final. However, time passes quickly. In 2004, after stunning successes in Spain, where he won the national title twice with Valencia and won the UEFA League, Benitez moved to Liverpool, where he was also successful, but was unable to win the English championship. For years, Benitez was considered one of the best managers in Europe, always leading his teams to the knockout stages of the Champions League. However, in recent years his reputation has declined. Benitez was revered during his three-year tenure at Newcastle, but at clubs such as Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Everton and Celta Vigo, he was sacked after a very short period of time. There are also doubts whether his playing style, which is based on solid defense, will suit the Scotland national team. Many people argue that Scotland's playing style should change and be more attacking. How will the Scottish authorities react to all this? Will they want to hire a coach of Benitez's caliber? However, there is one fundamental problem - will the authorities of the Scottish Football Federation be able to finance Benitez's salary? It was reported that in Greece Benitez earned an annual salary of £3 million, which isa record amount in this country. In turn, Steve Clarke's salary was around £500,000 a year, so it is unlikely that the SFP could offer an amount that would meet Benitez's expectations. Initial demands for Ange Postecoglou to be the new coach of the Scotland national team were ridiculous - but the Australian signed a contract with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, worth a fortune. Similarly, it is doubtful that David Moyes will agree to take over the Scotland national team, as he has one year left on his contract with Everton.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Rafa Benitez?

Rafa Benitez is an experienced Spanish coach who won the Champions League and recently worked at Panathinaikos.

Why did Steve Clarke quit as Scotland coach?

Steve Clarke resigned as Scotland coach, which resulted in the search for a new coach.

What were the achievements of the Scottish national team in the last World Cup?

Scotland scored only three points in three games and was eliminated in the group.

What did Rafa Benitez say about the potential of the Scotland team?

Benitez suggested Scotland's team has achieved its maximum potential at this year's World Cup.

What conditions did Rafa Benitez set to take over the Scotland national team?

Benitez stressed that he would be open to the challenge, but only if he is given the right 'tools'.

Read more on our latest coverage and stay tuned for updates on what happens next.