The Madrid coach has been without a coaching job for over a year since he was fired from Celta de Vigo.
Rafa Benítez is close to a return to British football, and he will do so in a big way. The experienced Madrid coach, who has been without a club since leaving Celta de Vigo in March 2024, is about to become the next manager of Celtic FC. Despite a modest spell at the Galician club, during which he did not achieve the expected results in the centenary season, he still has considerable weight in the international market.
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Negotiations have accelerated
According to Scottish media, Celtic see Benítez as the ideal leader to maintain dominance in the Premiership and raise the level in Europe. Talks between the club and the coach are progressing with force, and the deal could be finalized in the next few days. Benítez has reportedly turned down other offers, including from Brazilian side Botafogo and a national team, in order to prioritise the Glasgow club’s project.
The Spanish coach’s track record speaks for itself: he is a Champions League winner with Liverpool, a league champion with Valencia, and has had stints at giants Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Chelsea and Napoli. His potential arrival at Celtic is causing excitement among fans, who see him as a significant upgrade from the past few years. Moreover, his desire to compete at a high level in a familiar environment will be crucial to making Celtic far more competitive at European level.
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