Ex-Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez drops hint about replacing Gareth Southgate as England manager

Former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has hinted he might be interested in replacing Gareth Southgate as England boss, as the 2005 Champions League winner refused to rule out becoming a contender to take over from the Three Lions chief.

Southgate, 53, became England's head coach in 2016 and is contracted to stay until after Euro 2024. As that date is getting closer, fans are starting to wonder who will take over 'the impossible job' when the position becomes available. Benitez, who has managed Liverpool, Chelsea and Real Madrid amongst other top European clubs, has suggested he'd be open to the role.

When asked by The Athletic if he'd prefer to coach England or his home country Spain, he said: "That is always a dangerous question as there is a manager who is doing the job well. I even have friends on Southgate's staff - we have a very good relationship.

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"But thinking about the future, I'd like to have a national team capable of competing for trophies. I suffer a lot with defeats. When you are in a team which does not lose so often, you get used to competing to win things. So I would like to have a national team capable of achieving things - but again, [that is] all in the future."

It is not unexpected that a two-time UEFA Manager of the Year and major trophy winner in three of Europe's top leagues should have high expectations. However, the jury's out as to whether the majority of England fans would be in favour of Benitez, 63, taking charge of the national team.

Perhaps chief among the factors against