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Celtic managerial candidate Rafa Benitez has made it clear he wants a long-term project at his next job.

The Spanish boss is currently out of work after electing to leave Chinese Dalian Professional at the end of January.

The 60-year-old is not expected to be without a job for long, though, with a CV including the likes of Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Liverpool and Chelsea and a track record of success all making him an extremely attractive option for many clubs.

Indeed, he has been linked with a quick return to football this week, with his name among the front runners for the vacant position at Celtic following Neil Lennon’s departure yesterday.

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Current odds for the position have him as low as 8/1, just outside of the likes of Roberto Martinez, Frank Lampard and Eddie Howe.

It’s likely they’ll drop as speculation about the position ramps up, with Celtic keen to ensure they get the right man in after Lennon’s less than successful second spell.

Benitez is sure to be on a list somewhere, and he’s now made it clear what he would need from the club to make the move to Scotland.

“I am a realist, and there are not so many teams in the countries you want to coach,” he told Onda Cero, relayed by MARCA.

“So I should look at long-term projects that allow you to develop young players and make a team that is competitive at the same time.”