Rafa Benitez reveals ‘five or six’ offers to return to Premier League but admits ‘there are teams I won’t coach’
RAFA BENITEZ has revealed “five or six” Premier League clubs have made him managerial offers but insists he is waiting for the right “project”.
The former Liverpool, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Chelsea head coach, 64, has been out of work since being sacked by LaLiga side Celta Vigo in March.
His last job in the Premier League came with Everton when he spent six months at Goodison Park, winning seven of 22 matches before he was dismissed in January 2022.
And while he is yet to return to England, Benitez insists there has not been a shortage of opportunities among clubs towards the foot of the table.
Speaking on Stick to Football, brought to you by SkyBet, he said: “I’m thinking about taking a job in the Premier League.
“That is not easy because I had offers – trust me, I had five or six offers from teams at the bottom of the table.
“I am realistic. I have the passion, I have the knowledge, I have the experience so I can make a difference. And the methodology, I like to be on the pitch coaching players and improving players, little things.
“Anthony Gordon is one of the examples, so we can improve players and make things happen.”
Benitez also admitted he is aware he will no longer attract interest from top Premier League clubs.
However, he has also stressed he needs certain assurances before deciding to take a vacant position lower down the table.
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Rafa Benitez managerial record
Clubs:
- Real Madrid B: July 1993 – March 1994, July 1994 – June 1995
- Valladolid: July 1995 – January 1996
- Osasuna: July 1996 – November 1996
- Extremadura: July 1997 – June 1999
- Tenerife: July 2000 – June 2001
- Valencia: July 2001 – June 2004
- Liverpool: June 2004 – June 2010
- Inter Milan: June 2010 – December 2010
- Chelsea (interim): November 2012 – May 2013
- Napoli: May 2013 – June 2015
- Real Madrid: June 2015 – January 2016
- Newcastle: March 2016 – June 2019
- Dalian Professional: July 2019 – January 2021
- Everton: June 2021 – January 2022
- Celta Vigo: July 2023 – March 2024
Honours:
- LaLiga x2
- Uefa Cup
- FA Cup
- Champions League
- Uefa Super Cup
- Italian Super Cup
- Club World Cup
- Europa League
- Coppa Italia
- Championship
He added: “But, there are not too many [job offers at the top of the table]. Manchester United will not come for me, Chelsea will not come for me.
“So, there are teams that I will not coach because they will not come for me.
“Then, the teams at the middle of the table, bottom of the table, they start firing managers and then you have to make a decision.
“I want to coach in the Premier League, and that this team at the bottom of the table is coming with a project.”