Rafael Benitez considers taking a national team job after exit from Celta Vigo

In a recent interview, Rafael Benitez, the former manager of prominent English clubs like Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle, and Everton, expressed his interest in potentially stepping into a national team coaching role. The 64-year-old Spanish coach, who has been out of direct involvement in football since he was dismissed by Celta Vigo in March 2023, is looking for new professional challenges. His comments regarding Norway came during a conversation on the Norwegian podcast Bakrommet, where he acknowledged that he would consider coaching a 'good team' and subsequently showed a willingness to take on the national team if it's regarded as a strong one by the listener. Norway's football team is currently under the management of Stale Solbakken. Despite the current success of the team, which involved winning their Nations League group and achieving promotion to a higher tier, they have faced challenges in qualifying for major tournaments. Since Euro 2000, Norway has not managed to earn a place in significant competitions, even with high-profile athletes like Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard in their ranks. There are concerns that failing to qualify for the expanded 2026 World Cup could lead to Solbakken's departure from the role. Benitez’s potential candidacy for the role comes amidst increasing scrutiny over Solbakken's management, especially if the team does not secure a spot in the upcoming World Cup. Given Benitez's extensive experience in managing top clubs and his previous successes, there may indeed be a push from both the public and footballing authorities in Norway to see him take over the reins of the national team. Furthermore, this situation represents a broader trend in football, where individuals with notable club-level accomplishments are being eyed for national duties, often when their current coaching changes do not yield expected outcomes. As the 2026 World Cup qualifies are underway and will soon determine the fate of many national teams and their coaches, the conversation surrounding Benitez and Norway could evolve further. His willingness to consider coaching a national team emphasizes his desire to remain engaged in football and his readiness to tackle new challenges despite previous setbacks in his managerial career, where recent positions ended quite early due to mixed results. Ultimately, this situation could lead to substantial conversations within Norway's football community about the future direction of their national team, promising both intrigue and uncertainty in the coming months.