Rafa Benítez has refused to rule himself out of the Scotland job, telling talkSPORT that his answer on the vacancy “wasn’t a no” when asked directly about the role. The remarks come as Scotland continue their search for a permanent successor to Steve Clarke, who resigned immediately after the team's World Cup exit last month.
Benitez boasts a stronger CV than most of the managers linked with the job, giving the Scottish FA a proven international option to consider alongside the domestic candidates already in the frame.
Rafa Benitez Leaves Scotland Door Open
Speaking to talkSPORT, Benitez said he had followed Scotland’s World Cup campaign closely despite having no official connection to the squad. “I was watching Scotland, and I know some of the players,” he said.
“I think you did well to qualify for the World Cup. They achieved what they could achieve, and I don’t think they could have achieved any more.”
Benitez then broadened the discussion to international management in general rather than the Scotland job specifically. “But it’s always a challenge,” he continued. “I’m open to that challenge. I’m open to international football and to managing a national team, because it’s a different kind of job.”
Pressed on whether the Scotland job itself appealed to him, Benitez avoided giving a direct answer while leaving the door open. “No, no, it wasn’t a no,” he said.
The remark leaves room for interpretation. Managers of Benitez’s experience often respond this way when no formal approach has been made, and nothing in his comments suggests that he is actively pursuing the role.
Why Steve Clarke Quit After Scotland's World Cup Exit
Scotland opened the tournament with a 1-0 win over Haiti, but successive defeats to Morocco and Brazil left them short of the points required to progress as one of the eight best third-placed teams in the expanded competition.
Clarke resigned within an hour of Scotland’s elimination being confirmed, only weeks after signing a new four-year contract extension ahead of the tournament. Even so, the campaign marked a milestone of sorts.
It was Scotland’s first World Cup appearance in 28 years, and Clarke’s seven years in charge and is widely regarded as the most successful in the national team's history, despite the team failing to reach the knockout stage in any of the three major tournaments he oversaw.
His departure leaves the Scottish FA searching for a new head coach with little time to spare, with the Nations League campaign beginning in September and Euro 2028 qualifying following soon after.
Who Else Is In The Running For The Scotland Job
Everton manager David Moyes currently tops the bookmakers' lists to replace Clarke, making him the early domestic frontrunner in the search.
Falkirk's John McGlynn, Millwall boss Alex Neil, current Scotland assistant Steven Naismith, and former Belgium and Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez are also among the names being discussed. Benitez himself has been out of work since leaving Panathinaikos at the end of last season.
A spell that yielded a fourth-place finish in the Greek Super League and a run to the Europa League Round of 16 before his departure.
His career sets him apart from most names in the current conversation. Titles with Liverpool in the Champions League, two La Liga crowns with Valencia, and spells at Real Madrid, Chelsea, Inter, and Napoli give him a body of work that few candidates linked with Hampden can match.
Nothing beyond Tuesday's interview formally links him to the role, leaving the Scottish FA's search wide open.
