Rafa Benitez, the 66-year-old managerial veteran who once orchestrated one of football’s greatest comebacks in Istanbul, says he’s open to taking charge of the Scotland national team.
The Spaniard, currently without a club after being dismissed by Greek side Panathinaikos on May 22, 2026, told talkSPORT he wouldn’t rule out the role. His exact response when asked about Scotland: “No, no, it wasn’t a no.”
From Champions League nights to Hampden Park
The Scotland vacancy opened up following Steve Clarke’s departure after the 2026 World Cup, leaving the Scottish Football Association in rebuild mode.
Benitez’s CV includes Liverpool, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Napoli, and Inter Milan. The 2005 Champions League trophy with Liverpool remains his crowning achievement, a night in Istanbul that turned a 3-0 halftime deficit against AC Milan into a victory.
