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/File PhotoShow less

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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Brighton v Newcastle ratings

BRIGHTON RATINGS: Robert Sanchez - 6: Nothing to do in first half bar one commanding claim from a Clark long-ball into box. Nothing to do in second bar one easy save from Fraser. AFP

Jakub Moder - 6: Pole making his first Premier League start could have scored two in opening few minutes. Hacked first high and wide, shot straight at Dubravka with second. Saw another weak finish saved comfortably after half-time. AP

Ben White - 7: Centre-half strolled through game up against a woefully impotent away attack. Getty

Lewis Dunk - 7: No problems whatsoever in first half for the captain when Newcastle failed to manage a single shot on target. Not exactly over-exerted in the second either. PA

Joel Veltman - 7: Dutch provided the ball forward for Trossard’s goal. Swept up well at the back on few occasions Newcastle threatened. PA

Pascal Gross - 6: German found himself in dangerous positions in first half but final ball was often lacking. Found his radar with excellent cross to Maupay for third goal. AP

Adam Lallana - 7: Doesn’t affect matches like he used to but still helped team dominate this game game from start to finish. PA

Yves Bissouma - 8: African midfielder showed his tackling ability when he tracked back a Shelvey surge forward and produced perfectly timed sliding challenge. Found himself at other end of pitch soon after but his side-foot finish from edge of box easily saved by Dubravka. Left distraught when his accidental collision with Hayden saw Newcastle man pick up serious injury. Reuters

Leandro Trossard - 8: Belgian can drop his shoulder and beat a man so easily. Was often given too much time and space by Newcastle. No surprise when he put Brighton in front with brilliant run and curling finish just before half-time. Reuters

Danny Welbeck - 8: Former Arsenal and Manchester United striker provided clever first-time pass for Moder that the Pole could only fire straight at goalkeeper. Caused Newcastle lots of problems and stretched their back four throughout. Took advantage of poor defending to cut inside and fire home a wonderful finish from edge of box just after half-time. AFP

Neal Maupay. - 7: Scored two goals in the first seven minutes in the corresponding fixture back in September and it was his good ball into box set up early chance for Moder. Had ball in net after nine minutes but had fouled Dubravka before poking home. Should have done better with side-footed shot blocked by Dummett. Made emends with lovely acrobatic first-time finish to make it 3-0. AP

SUBS: Alexis Mac Allister – (On for Trossard 78’) N/A. Andi Zeqiri – (on for Welbeck 85’) N/A. Davy Propper – (on for Moder 89’) N/A. PA

NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Martin Dubravka - 6: Not commanding enough on early cross that he spilled, although had been given nudge by Maupay. Woefully exposed and had no chance with any of Brighton’s goals which were all quality finishes. Getty

Javier Manquillo - 4: Spanish full-back returned to the side after injury and was under pressure early on as Brighton targeted his right flank. Picked up painful looking knock after 20 minutes kicking bottom of Moder’s boot but carried on. Poor defending to allow Welbeck to ghost inside and make the score 2-0. Reuters

Jamal Lascelles - 4: Captain couldn’t lift his team as Newcastle produced their worst performance of the season, for which there is plenty of competition. Getty

Ciaran Clark - 4: Important tackle on Maupay just before half-hour mark when French attacker was threatening to get shot away. Allowed Trossard to come inside and fire Brighton into the lead just before break. Getty

Paul Dummett – 5: One important block from Maupay in first half, although not convinced he knew much about it. Booked for heavy challenge on Gross and allowed the German too much space when he crossed for the third goal. AFP

Jonjo Shelvey - 5: Put in a shift but looks slow when Brighton had possession and his distribution was often wayward. Supplied cross Hayden with Newcastle’s only chance in first half. Threaded one good ball through to Fraser down left midway through second period. AFP

Joe Willock - 5: Has made a difference to Newcastle’s midfield since joining on loan from Arsenal but couldn’t lift an all-round woeful team performance. Hooked on the hour – but could have been any of midfield or attack. AFP

Isaac Hayden - 4: The usually reliably midfielder looks uncomfortable in current team set-up. Weak header wide after 37 minutes was Newcastle’s first effort on target. Very unlucky when an off-balance Bissouma fell onto his leg and was in agony as he was carried off the pitch. Looked a bad one. EPA

Ryan Fraser - 3: Awful in first half, no attacking threat and poor distribution from the Scotsman. Handed golden opportunity by Almiron just after break but his curling finish struck outside of post. Brighton made it 2-0 minutes later. Saw another shot saved by Sanchez that was going wide anyway. AP

Miguel Almiron - 3: Paraguayan rushed back into side after missing two games through injury but was non-existent going forward. Supplied Fraser with one good ball that led to Scot hitting post. Didn’t look fit and went off with 15 minutes to go. Reuters

Joelinton - 2: An absolute waste of space. Contributed absolutely nothing and it continues to defy belief that Newcastle paid £40m for the Brazilian. PA

SUBS: Jeff Hendrick – (On for Hayden 45’) 3: One appalling touch just before hour that gifted possession to Brighton. Confidence shot to pieces. AP

Jacob Murphy – (on for Willock 62’) 4: Couldn’t bring about any change in momentum. One embarrassing attempt to lob the keeper in injury-time that summed up Newcastle’s attack. Sean Longstaff – (On for Almiron 76’) N/A.

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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.