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Next Tottenham manager: Rafael Benitez ‘wouldn’t be the worst shout’ for Spurs job, says Peter Crouch
Tottenham could do much worse than appoint Rafael Benitez as their new manager, according to former striker Peter Crouch.
Spurs are currently searching for their next full-time boss after parting company with Jose Mourinho last month just six days before the Carabao Cup Final defeat by Manchester City at Wembley.
Ryan Mason has been placed in temporary charge of the first team until the end of the season, while Standard Sport understands that Tottenham are in no rush to appoint a permanent successor to Mourinho.
The club are undersood to be currently drawing up a list of candidates before identifying, and then approaching, a favoured choice.
Potential target and current RB Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann will take over at Bayern Munich this summer, while another rumoured coach of interest, Erik ten Hag, has signed a new contract at Ajax.
The likes of Brendan Rodgers, Graham Potter, Scott Parker, Ralf Rangnick, Gareth Southgate and Roberto Martinez have also been linked with the vacant post.
Meanwhile, Benitez is currently out of work having left his role as manager of Chinese Super League outfit Dalian Professional by mutual consent in January.
The vastly experienced Spaniard, 61, has an intimate knowledge of English football following previous spells in charge at Liverpool and Chelsea, while his departure from Newcastle in 2019 was bitterly lamented by fans on Tyneside.
Ex-Spurs forward Crouch worked with Benitez at Liverpool and holds his former boss in the highest regard, believing his experience and list of successes at the top level of the game make him far from the worst candidate for Tottenham at this time.
“I could not have any more admiration for Rafa than I do,” Crouch wrote in his latest Daily Mail column. “The man is a football obsessive and when I see pictures of him walking his dogs, I expect them to be in formation! His attention to detail is exemplary and he devotes every second of every day to the game.
“I'll never forget the look on his face when he asked Jermaine Pennant one day at Melwood, Liverpool's old training ground, if he'd watched a Champions League quarter-final the previous night. Jermaine, bless him, had no interest in watching football and replied: 'No — who was playing?'
“Rafa was absolutely dumbstruck. The moment those two particular worlds collided will stay with me for ever! In terms of Tottenham, it wouldn't be the worst shout. He's proven at the highest level, his CV is superb - there are worse candidates, for sure.”
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