Football - 2024 / 2025 UEFA Champions League - League Phase - Matchday 2 / 8 -Liverpool vs Bologna - Anfield - Wednesday 2nd October 2024 Kop banner showing former Liverpool managers Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan, Sir Kenney Dalglish, Rafa Benitez and Jurgen Klopp, at Anfield. PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUK
Former Scotland captain Gary McAllister has thrown his support behind Rafa Benitez as a strong candidate to become the next Scotland manager.
McAllister believes the experienced Spanish coach would bring valuable elite European pedigree to the position left vacant by Steve Clarke.
Benitez, 66, admitted earlier this month that he was open to a first job in international football after being sacked by Panathinaikos in May.
The former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Napoli boss is among the bookmakers’ favourites to take over following Clarke’s departure after Scotland’s first round World Cup exit.
Benitez famously led Liverpool to Champions League glory in 2005, recovering from 3-0 down against AC Milan to win on penalty kicks in one of football’s great finals.
McAllister, a Hampden Hall of Fame member who won 57 caps and captained Scotland at Euro 96, says feedback from former teammates gave him confidence in Benitez as a manager.
He said: “They really enjoyed working under Rafa. I think he was a good man-manager. I think he was very disciplined in his thinking and very thorough and meticulous in his preparation.”
McAllister also pointed to the broader search Scotland’s football authorities appear to be conducting, noting: “I saw Rafa was linked. I have no inside information, but I would imagine they’re looking at interviewing people from outside Scotland.”
He referenced Thomas Tuchel’s appointment with England as evidence that national teams are willing to look beyond traditional boundaries when recruiting managers.
McAllister was generous in his assessment of Clarke’s tenure, saying: “Steve has just got us to three major tournaments after a long spell of not getting to a Euros or a World Cup. I felt he did an amazing job.”
The 61-year-old, who has not coached since leaving Aston Villa alongside Steven Gerrard four years ago, also confirmed he would welcome an invitation to join the national set-up in some capacity.
He said: “I’m enjoying life at the moment. But yeah, it goes without saying, whenever anybody from the SFA, or any of the Scottish guys who are coaching or managing out there, asks for help, you would help at any point.”
McAllister made clear his commitment to Scottish football runs deep, adding that as a former player and captain he would always be willing to assist whoever takes the job, whether scouting opponents or attending matches.
Whoever is appointed will face an immediate challenge with six Nations League fixtures against Slovenia, Switzerland and North Macedonia scheduled across September, October and November.
Euro 2028 qualifying will follow, with Scotland potentially eyeing a home European Championship as one of the tournament’s co-hosts.
McAllister is confident that key figures Andy Robertson and John McGinn still have plenty to contribute to the national side going forward.
He said: “John McGinn is still only 31-years-old, and he’s been magnificent for club and country over the last 12 months.”
Robertson’s recent move to Spurs was cited by McAllister as further proof the full-back remains far from finished at the highest level.
He added: “When you’ve seen what those two have done for their country, they won’t be pulling away from Scotland games, that’s for sure. I think they’ve still got a bit to give.”
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