Rafa Benitez a fans' favourite for England role
The Spanish coach, currently at Newcastle United, is one of the candidates for the vacant England manager's job - a list which also includes Wenger, Klinsmann and Southgate.
The resignation of Roy Hodgson on Monday night after England’s humiliating loss to Iceland has already caused much speculation in the British press over who his possible successor could be. Ex-England centre-back Gareth Southgate has been installed as the early favourite for the role after his impressive spell in charge of the country’s under 21 side. Southgate’s work with some of the nation’s brightest young talents mark his out as a strong contender to take over from Hodgson.
List of candidates drawn up
However, there are plenty of other names in the hat of potential replacements, including Bournemouth coach Eddie Howe, Burnley manager Sean Dyche, as well as Brendan Rogers, Alan Pardrew and Sam Allardyce. And for the first time since Fabio Capello, a number of foreign coaches could also be up for consideration by the Football Asscoiation, with Arsene Wenger and Jurgen Klinsmann amongst those best positioned in the betting odds.
Benitez a fans favourite
One of the candidates most desired by fans though, according to the Daily Telegraph, would be Rafa Benitez. The Spaniard, who only just signed a three-year contract with Newcastle in May, has become well accustomed to British culture, something “Capello was never able to do” – affirms the newspaper – which also cites Benitez’s good experience in both managing teams with elite players, and sides in periods of reconstruction.