Ex-Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez could make USA decision Jurgen Klopp refused

Following Jurgen Klopp's reported rejection of the available United States men's national team head coaching post, another ex-Liverpool boss has thrown his hat into the ring.

Rafa Benitez, a Champions League victor at Anfield , is said to be actively reaching out to U.S. Soccer officials about his interest in the position, according to CBS . It's reported that Benitez has 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 officially began after Gregg Berhalter was sacked last week following a disappointing Copa America campaign on home turf. Reports suggested that Klopp was the top choice for the role, but with him turning down the offer, U.S. Soccer now needs to consider a wider range of candidates.

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Despite currently being without a managerial position and not having matched his early 2000s success of late, Benitez remains a globally recognized and respected figure. His coaching CV includes stints in La Liga, the Premier League and Serie A - leagues far more prestigious than any Berhalter has managed in.

Moreover, some of Benitez's most notable achievements have come in tournament formats, with victories 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's considered one of the most pivotal moments in USMNT history. After botching the coaching situation at the Copa America, where the Stars and Stripes crashed out in the group stage, pressure is high to get this hiring search right.

"Our immediate focus is on finding 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, the man who re-appointed Berhalter last year.

Benitez last worked at Celta Vigo in La Liga. The Spanish club dismissed him amid a relegation battle, though he did lead the team to the Copa del Rey quarter-finals in another signal of his tournament format abilities.

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

"I would love 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 told FOX Sports . "I'm disappointed by the performances, by the lack of discipline. There's a lot of things that I think we've tried to be about, about the game in the U.S., and we've always believed in this group of players."