Rafa Benitez ‘wants the Rangers job’ as he ‘seeks return to British football’
Rafa Benitez is keen to take over from Philippe Clement at Rangers and has made the club aware of his interest in the role.
That is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that Benitez is keen to return to management in Britain.
However, he explained that the former Liverpool boss is not currently considered among the frontrunners to take the job come the end of the season.
This comes after Ibrox hero Ally McCoist exclusively told Football Insider, with talkSPORT BET, that Benitez is interested in the Rangers job.
Barry Ferguson was appointed as Rangers’ interim manager until the end of the season to allow the club time to weigh up their long-term option to lead the club forward.
Steven Gerrard is Rangers’ “dream appointment”, while the likes of Sean Dyche, Steve Cooper and Kevin Muscat have also been linked with the job.
Meanwhile, former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson told Football Insider that Jose Mourinho is more likely than Benitez to take over at Rangers.
Rafa Benitez in the running to take over at Rangers
Benitez’s last managerial position was with La Liga outfit Celta Vigo, where he was dismissed in March 2024 after picking up just five wins in 28 games.
Brown, who has a wealth of experience working closely with top-level managers such as Ron Atkinson, Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes, has insisted the Spaniard, who won the Champions League during his Liverpool reign, is keen to return to British football and has thrown his hat in the ring for the Rangers job.
“Rafa Benitez has put himself in the frame at Rangers,” he told Football Insider.
“He still lives in the north-west [of England], and whenever a job has come up in this part of the world, he’s been mentioned in the running for it.
“It’s been a bit of a running joke, in all honesty.
“But I hear he is looking for a return to British football, and that Rangers job is one he’s looking at.
“He’s talking his way into it, so it doesn’t come as a surprise to me that he’s interested.
“He wants the job and would happily take the job.
“Whether Rangers see him as a real contender is a different matter, though.
“I don’t think he’s going to be among the leading candidates there, they’ll look at other options too because they’re still considering a number of potential managers.”
Jose Mourinho keen on Ibrox job after what he said
As Rangers continue to consider their options to take over at Ibrox come the end of the season, a number of high-profile bosses have been linked with the job.
Brown told Football Insider on 10 March that Jose Mourinho is a contender for Rangers and has emerged as a surprise option after his latest comments on the role.
Speaking ahead of his Fenerbahce side’s 3-1 defeat to Rangers, the two-times Champions League winner teased [via BBC]: “Why not in the future?” before gushing over the passion and size of both Gers and Celtic.
Brown explained that the former Chelsea and Man United manager is making his availability known and would be interested in the possibility of taking the job.
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