Next Scotland Manager Odds – Rafael Benitez 25/1 shot despite being ‘open’ to role
Rafael Benitez has expressed interest in becoming the next Scotland manager following Steve Clarke’s departure. However, bookmakers put him as a 25/1 outsider due to his high salary expectations, compared to David Moyes, who leads the betting at 11/4. Others in contention include John McGlynn, Steven Naismith, and Roberto Martinez. The Scottish Football Association (SFA) is seeking a candidate who can take the national team to the knockout stages of a major tournament, a feat yet to be achieved.
- Rafael Benitez interested in Scotland job but a 25/1 outsider
- David Moyes is the frontrunner to replace Steve Clarke at 11/4
- SFA seeks a manager to achieve knockout success at a major tournament
Rafael Benitez is a 25/1 outsider to become the next Scotland manager despite confirming he would be “open to the challenge” of becoming Steve Clarke’s successor.
The Scots qualified for three major tournaments during Clarke’s reign – ending decades of qualification failure – but he was unable to mastermind any sort of success on the biggest of stages, as they fell at the first hurdle in all three of those competitions.
Those underwhelming performances ultimately led to Clarke quitting just weeks after signing a new four-year contract, and that has left the SFA looking for the man that can finally take Scotland into the knockout stage of a major tournament for the first time in history.
Several big names have been linked with the post in recent days, and one man who is open to speaking the Scottish FA is Benitez – who boasts quite the resume having had stints with Liverpool, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Napoli, Real Madrid, Newcastle and Everton.
The 66-year-old Spaniard is currently out of work, having been sacked by Panathinaikos in May, and the former Champions League winner told talkSport that he would be interested in making his international managerial debut as Scotland boss.
“I was watching Scotland and I know some of the players,” he told Jim White. “I think you did well to go there to the World Cup. They achieved what they could achieve. I don’t think that they could have achieved any more. But it’s always a challenge. So I am open to the challenge. I’m open to international football, to national teams, because I think that you can do a different kind of job.”
When pressed further on whether or not he would rule out taking the Scotland job, Benitez added; "No, no, it wasn’t a no.”
While the appointment of Benitez would be a blockbuster one, he is most likely out of the SFA’s price range at this time – he was earning over £3million a year in Greece, while Clarke’s previous Scotland contract before the extension was believed to be worth around £500,000 a year. This is reflected in the 25/1 odds with bet365.
So who are the front-runners?
David Moyes has spoken publicly of his desire to manage the national team in the past, and he is the 11/4 favourite to land the role with bet365, ahead of Falkirk boss John McGlynn and current Scotland assistant boss Steven Naismith, who are both priced at 7/2.
Roberto Martinez has emerged as a contender in recent days – having stepped down as Portugal boss following their elimination from the World Cup – and at 11/2 he remains behind current Millwall chief Alex Neil, but ahead of former Rangers caretaker boss Barry Ferguson and ex-Scotland midfielder Darren Fletcher, who are 8/1 and 9/1 respectively.
Duncan Ferguson – currently working as an analyst for ITV – is priced at 10/1, while current Kilmarnock chief Neil McCann is 16/1 to follow in the footsteps of Clarke by leaving Rugby Park for Hampden Park and Scotland’s top job.
Latest Next Scotland Manager Odds
| Odds | Name |
|---|---|
| 11/4 | David Moyes |
| 7/2 | John McGlynn |
| 7/2 | Steven Naismith |
| 5/1 | Alex Neil |
| 11/2 | Roberto Martinez |
| 8/1 | Barry Ferguson |
| 9/1 | Brendan Rodgers |
| 9/1 | Darren Fletcher |
| 10/1 | Duncan Ferguson |
| 14/1 | Thomas Frank |
| 16/1 | Neil McCann |
| 16/1 | Shaun Maloney |
| 16/1 | Zlatko Dalic |
| 20/1 | Jack Ross |
| 20/1 | Neil Lennon |
| 25/1 | Rafael Benitez |
Top Betting Sites
Betting offers
Upcoming Events
10 June 2026
- Volleyball Nations League 2026 -
- Volleyball
11 June 2026
28 June 2026
Load More
Today's Acca Tips
-
Soccer tips
-
Horse Racing tips
-
Tennis tips
