Champions League winning manager says he once was in talks to join Tottenham

Tottenham Hotspur haven’t had the easiest of times when it comes to managerial appointments over the years.

Indeed, Daniel Levy has had to sack his fair share of managers over the years from Martin Jol to Antonio Conte.

Tottenham, clearly, haven’t always done the best of jobs when it comes to replacing their managers, and they haven’t always managed to land their top targets.

Indeed, Arne Slot was Spurs’ top target before hiring Ange Postecoglou, while Tottenham nearly hired Erik ten Hag before going for Nuno Espirito Santo.

Speaking in It was What it Was, Rafa Benitez has been discussing his managerial journey, and he says that he was actually in talks to join Tottenham before he became the manager of Liverpool.

Rafa Benitez was in talks with Tottenham

Benitez shared how he almost got the Tottenham job.

The Spaniard was managerial hot property in the mid 2000s after a successful spell at Valencia.

Benitez had the chance to join Besiktas, Inter Milan or Tottenham, but, ultimately, he headed to Anfield to become the Liverpool manager.

“Was there another English side, I believe, at that time?” Benitez was asked.

“Yeah, there was another one,” Benitez said.

“Was it Tottenham?

“It’s not important at this time. It’s not important.”

We are talking about a long time ago, but there was Besiktas, Inter, Tottenham and Liverpool. But when I say offers, interest, and then they were talking with my agent and that’s it. But the most serious for me and the most exciting was Liverpool.”

Rafa Benitez’s achievements at Liverpool

Benitez ultimately chose to join Liverpool instead of Tottenham, and that is a decision that changed the course of both clubs’ history.

Tottenham would eventually hire Martin Jol in 2004, and the Dutchman would do a decent enough job at Spurs.