Benitez throws hat into England ring

Former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez wants to be considered for the England manager’s job when Fabio Capello steps down.

The ex-Real Madrid boss has already made it clear that he intends to leave after the European Championship campaign in Poland and Ukraine.

Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson and Italian Capello have both managed the Three Lions, but there has been a groundswell of support, led by the FA, in favour of the next national team boss being an Englishman.

Nevertheless, Benitez appears to be interested in the role.

When quizzed whether he might be tempted to manage England or Spain, the ex-Valencia and Inter boss told Sky Sports News: “Yes, why not? Everyone is asking you in Spain ‘Do you want to be the manager in the future’?”

“And in England now everybody is talking about the position of Capello.”

“I think you have to respect the (incumbent) managers – that is the first thing – they are working and they have to carry on and see what happens in the future.”

“But, as a manager, always you are thinking about to have a big challenge like Spain or England but we have to wait.”

Benitez’s last job was an ill-fated six-month stint at Inter before he parted ways with the club in December last year.

He will soon have been out of the managerial game for a year, but the Spaniard insists that he has had several offers on the table.

“I have had some offers in Asia, in Russia, in South America,” Benitez said.

“You always talk about big money not in this country but my priority is in Europe – the Premier League was the first idea.”

“If we don’t have any option, a club that will be at the maximum level, then we will find another one.”