Ex-Liverpool boss has odds slashed on becoming new Scotland manager

Ex-Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is moving up in the odds to become the new Scotland boss after Steve Clarke's exit.

Steve Clarke left his position in charge of the Scottish national team after they were knocked out of the World Cup in June.

They failed to progress past the group stage following defeats to Morocco and Brazil, despite beating Haiti in their opening game.

Several candidates have been touted to be approached by the SFA in the coming months, with a decision imminent before they face Slovenia and Switzerland in September.

Former Liverpool and Everton boss Benitez has been linked to the vacancy as he searches for another job.

The 66-year-old's last role ended in May as he was sacked by Panathinaikos following a tough seven-month tenure.

Rafael Benitez sees odds slashed to 7/1 to be the next Scotland boss

Benitez is yet to take a national team job in his 33-year management career so far, but could see it as the next step after leaving Panathinaikos.

He is regarded as one of Liverpool's greatest managers after guiding them to unlikely Champions League glory and several other trophies between 2004 and 2010.

The 66-year-old has also taken charge of Chelsea, Newcastle and Everton, but has only had brief stints at Celta Vigo and Panathinaikos in his last two jobs.

One of the top UK bookmakers has slashed Benitez's odds to be the next Scotland boss to 7/1, making him one of the favourites for the job right now.

What has Benitez said about taking the Scotland job?

Sources have revealed to Football Insider that David Moyes would be open to being the next Scotland boss, but he is not set to take the job right now.

Steven Naismith, Roberto Martinez and Kasper Hjulmand are all above Benitez in the running right now, but the Spaniard has expressed a desire to take an international role.

After being asked about the position in an interview with Sky Sports last month, he said: "I'm open to international football. It's a different way, it's a different approach. You have players that go fully motivated, and then you can organise the team in a way that they will be proud for the country.

"Any country that they can offer you the possibility to do something, to get something, to achieve something. I'm open to all the good countries, yes."