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Steve Clarke stepped down as Scotland manager after their 2026 World Cup exit this summer.
Scotland reached the 2026 World Cup in the USA, their first men’s World Cup appearance since 1998, ending a 28‑year wait for the Tartan Army.
Clarke, appointed in 2019, had already led Scotland to three major tournaments out of four and signed a new four‑year deal in May designed to keep him in charge through to the 2030 World Cup cycle.
However, group-stage elimination this summer was followed quickly by Clarke announcing that he was stepping down despite that fresh contract.
And now it seems former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has refused to rule himself out of the Scotland job when asked directly about the vacancy on talkSPORT this week.
Benítez confirmed he watched Scotland’s World Cup run closely, arguing that Clarke’s side “achieved what they could achieve” and insisting he is “open to the challenge”:
Speaking on talkSPORT, Benitez admitted that he was open to the vacant Scotland job:
“I was watching Scotland play, and I think they did well to go to the World Cup.”
“For me this World Cup has too many games and too many teams, there has to be less games and more quality.”
“Scotland achieved what they could have achieved, I don’t think they could have done more.”
“It’s always a challenge, but I’m open to the challenge but if I’m given the tools.”
“But the main thing is also [Scotland’s] target. I’m open to international football because you can do a different kind of job.”
Benitez is currently a free agent after leaving Panathinaikos at the end of last season, where his contract was reported in Greece as the highest‑ever salary for a coach in the Super League.
The Spaniard has also indicated this week that he would be open to a Premier League return, keeping one eye on club football even as he talks up the appeal of a national‑team project.