‘Could Change Celtic Fortunes’ – Exclusive: Whelan reacts to Sky’s Benitez update
Rafa Benitez “would change the fortunes of Celtic” if he replaced Neil Lennon as manager, according to Noel Whelan.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Aberdeen and Leeds United striker said that Benitez, 60, could take the Scottish Premiership champions “to another level”.
The former Liverpool, Newcastle United and Real Madrid boss left his position as manager of Chinese Super League side Dalian Professional by mutual consent last week.
Sky Sports claim the Spaniard wants to return to the Premier League and is not interested in Neil Lennon’s job even if it was to arise in the near future.
Whelan believes former Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe would also be a good candidate were the Hoops to dismiss Lennon.
“Benitez demands respect wherever he goes,” he told Football Insider.
“What he has done in the football game and the football world, wow. Nobody has anything but admiration for him. He is the sort of manager players want to play for. There is probably to even many managers who do not like Rafa Benitez – he seems a lovely fella.
“If they can pull that one off, it would change the fortunes of Celtic. He could take them to another level.
“Do they want to take the club forward into a new era and into a new direction?
“I look at Eddie Howe as well, he is young, fresh and would give a different approach. He is a great manager and I think he would thrive up there.”
In other news, Celtic have been told to sign a winger who is “better than Scott Sinclair” and available for a “bargain” fee this month.