Rafa Benitez has an agreement in principle to become the new

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Rafa Benitez has an agreement in principle to become the new manager of Celta Vigo.

The 63-year-old has had offers to manage in Saudi Arabia but Celta said on Friday that both parties are confident a three-year deal will be signed in July in time for pre-season.

The Spaniard has been eager to get back into management following his dismissal from Everton in January of last year and has been looking for an appropriate project to take on in one of the top five European leagues.

Benitez was linked to West Ham United and Leicester City last season but is now set to return to his native country.

✅👓 Principio de acuerdo para que 𝐑𝐚𝐟𝐚 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐢́𝐭𝐞𝐳 sea el entrenador del @RCCelta100 💙#100AnosdeAfoutezaeCorazón

— RC Celta (@RCCelta) June 23, 2023

Celta Vigo, who finished 13th in La Liga in 2022-23, have been on the lookout for a new manager since Carlos Carvalhal left his position by mutual consent earlier this month.

Benitez was Liverpool manager for six years between 2004 and 2010 and won the Champions League in 2005. He took over at rival club Everton in June 2021 but was sacked in January last year after nine defeats in 13 games.

He also had a three-year spell at Newcastle United, leading the club back to the Premier League in 2016-17 after winning the Championship.

Benitez has also managed Real Madrid, Napoli, Inter Milan and Valencia. He had a brief period as interim coach of Chelsea where he won the Europa League in 2013.