Football
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Benitez: Easier to get England coach's job than one with top-six Prem club

Rafael Benitez has admitted it could be easier for an Englishman to secure the England manager's job than one with a top-six Premier League club.

Current national boss Gareth Southgate was handed the reins by the Football Association after Sam Allardyce's ignominious departure.

Allardyce followed in the footsteps of Roy Hodgson and Steve McClaren, who were separated by Italian Fabio Capello's reign, with Kevin Keegan's departure in October 2000 prompting a first-ever appointment in the overseas market with Sven-Goran Eriksson.

However, with the country's top clubs all being managed by foreign coaches, Spaniard Benitez acknowledges that the England job could be less difficult to secure.

The Newcastle boss said: "The England manager's job is a difficult job, but you have more chances to get the job because you are English.

"The top six jobs, it is different because you have foreign owners spending a lot of money, and what they want is the best. That doesn't have to be English, just the best.

"In England, I know you talk about having an English manager. You have four or five options and it is easier than getting a job in the top six.''

Benitez's comments came as he prepared to pitch himself into battle with Burnley counterpart Sean Dyche, one of the rising stars of the domestic game, on Monday evening.

The Clarets boss is currently being linked with the vacant job at Everton and the Magpies manager is confident he could succeed at a higher level.

Benitez said: "He is doing a good job. He has been there five years -- that means you can sign the players you want, play the style you want. It is easier like that.

"The good thing about long-term managers is if they do well, they can be better. Now when you change managers every three weeks, it is impossible to do what you want.

"He does a great job. It depends on owners to say they want this kind of manager, who plays this kind of football or do this kind of business.

"Is he doing well? Yes. Can he manage in another team? Yes, I think so.''

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