Former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez could take the US decision that Jurgen Klopp turned down

Following Jurgen Klopp’s reported rejection of the vacant United States Men’s National Team head coaching job, another former Liverpool boss has thrown his hat into the ring.

Rafa Benitez, a Champions League winner at Anfield, is said to have actively contacted US soccer officials about his interest in the position, according to CBS. Benitez is reported to have used former club player and USMNT midfielder Luca De La Torre as a link between himself and the federation.

The search for a new United States head coach has officially begun after Gregg Berhalter was fired last week following a disappointing Copa America campaign on home soil. Reports suggested Klopp was the top choice for the role, but with him turning down the offer, US Soccer must now consider a wider range of candidates.

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Despite not currently holding a senior position and failing to match his success from the early 2000s, Benitez remains a globally recognized and respected figure. His coaching CV includes spells in La Liga, the Premier League and Serie A – far more prestigious leagues than any Berhalter has managed.

Furthermore, some of Benitez’s most notable achievements have come in tournament formats, with wins in the UEFA Cup, FA Cup, FA Community Shield, Champions League, Europa League, UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup and Coppa Italia.

In 2026, the United States will co-host the World Cup in what is considered one of the most important moments in USMNT history. After botching the coaching situation at the Copa America, where the Stars and Stripes collapsed in the group stage, the pressure is on to get this job search right.

“Our immediate focus is to find a coach who can maximize our potential as we continue to prepare for the 2026 World Cup, and we have already begun our search process,” said U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker, who renowned Berhalter. last year.

Benitez last worked at Celta Vigo in La Liga. The Spanish club sacked him amid a relegation battle, although he led the team to the Copa del Rey quarter-finals in another signal of his tournament format skills.

His reported interest in the USMNT comes despite warnings from another former Premier League manager, Jesse Marsch, about the state of American soccer. Marsch led Canada to the Copa America third-place match after failing to earn the USMNT job in 2023.

“I’d like to say I’m just focused on what we’re doing here in Canada, but obviously I’m paying attention, as always, to the U.S. Men’s National Team, and like you, I’m sad,” Marsch. said FOX Sports. “I’m disappointed in the performances, the lack of discipline. There’s a lot of things that I think we’ve tried to be about, about the U.S. game, and I’ve always believed in this group of players.”