adminRafa Benitez has opened Rangers door to succeed Russell Martin already after past brush with Ibrox job
The legendary boss is without a club after being shown the door by Celta Vigo last year
Out of work Rafa Benitez has been pitched as a replacement for Russell Martin at Rangers – having already had close calls with the Ibrox hot seat.
Russell Martin has endured a nightmare spell at Ibrox with Rangers fans demanding he is shown the door with the club languishing in the lower reaches of the Scottish Premiership.
They have failed to impress in Europe having been sent crashing into the Europa League by a heavy 9-1 aggregate defeat to Club Brugge in the Champions League play-off.
And after defeat to Sturm Graz, the Glasgow giants have suffered two defeats from two in Europe’s second tier competition.
Benitez has been out of work since leaving Celta Vigo last year – and has been told by his former Liverpool Vladimir Smicer to make a move to Ibrox should he get the call.
And speaking last month to The Telegraph, the 65-year-old stated he was eyeing another crack at European football – throwing open the door to Rangers: “Sometimes to be described as ‘a legend’ is very nice, but also complicated.
“For sure, I do, particularly in England and Europe. I do not want people to think I am finished. I am still evolving.”
It’s not the first time he has been linked with Ibrox – having been touted before the appointment of former Southampton gaffer Martin.
In March – while Barry Ferguson was in the dugout on an interim basis – Morton boss Dougie Imrie revealed that Benitez was aware of the noise around himself and Rangers after meeting the legend on a UEFA coaching course.
Imrie revealed: “To speak to a guy like Rafa, who has managed at so many top clubs, and have a personal chat with him was refreshing.
Asked about conversations regarding Rangers, he added: “He said he had heard the speculation but that is as far as he went.”
And Gregory Vignal revealed that had the new Ibrox owners made an approach, Benitez would have been interested: “I met Rafa in Liverpool and we spoke about the Rangers job before Russell got it.
“He’s not working at a club right now, he’s with UEFA. But if Rangers would have considered him? Of course he would have been interested.”
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