Ex-Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez eyes Premier League return

FILE PHOTO: Britain Football Soccer - Newcastle United v Derby County - Sky Bet Championship - St James' Park - 4/2/17 Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Ed Sykes/Show more

Rafa Benitez says he is eyeing a return to Europe, with the Premier League a priority so he can be closer to his family.

The Spaniard, 60, has managed three English clubs during a distinguished career that began at Real Madrid B in 1993.

He was in charge of Liverpool from 2004-10, where he twice guided the Reds to a Champions League final, winning Europe's elite club competition in unforgettable style in 2005.

A six-month stint in charge of Chelsea ended acrimoniously in May 2013, but not before he had secured the Europa League title and a return to the Champions League.

Benitez coached Newcastle United for four years between 2016-19 before moving to China to take charge of Dalian Pro, which he left in January.

Reports in the British media have linked the former Valencia and Inter Milan boss with the Celtic manager's job after the Bhoys surrendered their stranglehold on the Scottish Premier League title to Rangers, managed Steven Gerrard, a former student of Benitez at Liverpool.

"The priority is England because I like the Premier League and my family is here," Benitez was quoted as saying by several British media outlets. "But I want to compete. Or have a project which will allow you to go closer and then compete.

"If not I would like to stay in Europe, Spain is difficult, Italy, Germany is not easy. I can speak French, so France. In Spain clubs don't have money to compete against Real Madrid and Barcelona. So priority would be England and then Europe.

"If it's the right one in England, we can do it tomorrow. The project, the competitive team, is not there at the moment so we wait. I would like to wait to find the right one. But I don't want to stay without working."

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Benitez is certain to be linked with a return to Newcastle, where Steve Bruce's position is increasingly perilous.

The Magpies are one place and two points above the relegation zone following Saturday's defeat to Brighton. Benitez remains popular among the St James' Park faithful, but given his fraught relationship with owner Mike Ashley as well as his desire to join a team capable of challenging for honours, a return to the north-east would appear unlikely at this time.

Benitez said it pained him to watch Newcastle's struggles this season but backed the club to avoid the drop.

"I wish them all the best and want them to stay up," he said.