Rafa Benitez has admitted that he was aware of Celtic’s interest in potentially making him their new manager over the summer, but claimed that he did not consider the option because he was still contracted to Newcastle United.
The Spaniard was one of a host of names that were linked with the vacant job at Parkhead before it was given to Neil Lennon on a permanent basis, with The Scottish Sun reporting that Benitez was even favourite for the role at one point.
But the 59-year-old has suggested that no concrete offer was ever made to him.
Writing in a Q&A for The Athletic, he said: “I was aware of some interest but we didn’t have any official approach.
“I was still under contract at Newcastle so we couldn’t even consider this option.”
How would Benitez have faired at Celtic?
Benitez at Celtic would have been a truly fascinating prospect.
The Spaniard is renowned for his defensively-focused, meticulously-organised sides, with a heavy emphasis on shutting out the opposition.
During his time at St. James’ Park, his Newcastle side conceded 171 times in 146 matches, despite winning just 62 of those games, as per Transfermarkt.
Even last season, when the Magpies suffered a terrible start and looked like relegation candidates for large spells, Benitez’s men only conceded 48 goals, the joint-seventh lowest in the division, as per the Premier League.
But that defensive mindset comes at a price, and it’s hard to imagine a manager with Benitez’s outlook winning over many fans at Celtic – a club who are used to steamrollering their way to victories, and who have already hit 15 goals in their first three Scottish Premiership matches this season.
What would Rafa have brought to the role?
Despite his defensive tendencies, however, having a manager of Benitez’s quality would have been a massive coup for the Hoops, and probably would have given them a major boost in one area they have repeatedly struggled in in recent times: Europe.
Sitting back and picking off an opposition might not play over too well in the domestic game, where everybody is used to Celtic winning at a canter, but on the continent, where the gap between the Bhoys and their competition seems to be widening, Benitez might have been able to arrest the slump.
After all, this is a man with a Champions League, a Europa League, and a UEFA Cup to his name.
In all three of those triumphs he was working against the odds with unfancied squads, and his time on Tyneside has kept that reputation going.
Benitez had to work on a shoestring for much of his time with the Toon Army, and yet he still managed to pick up some impressive results, including a 2-1 win against Manchester City in January despite only having 24% possession [BBC Sport].
If that’s what Benitez can do with those odds stacked against him, imagine what he could have done in Glasgow.