Report: Benitez was approached about overseeing Spain at World Cup

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) asked Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez to take over the national team for its World Cup campaign, BBC Sport understands.

Julen Lopetegui was dismissed two days before Spain's Group B opener against Portugal after he agreed to succeed Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid when the tournament was over. Fernando Hierro, who was serving as sporting director of the RFEF, then took temporary charge until Spain bowed out to Russia in the round of 16.

Benitez admitted there was "a chance" he could have taken a short-term stint with the national team, but didn't reveal whether he had been officially approached for the role. Former Barcelona handler Luis Enrique has since been appointed to oversee Spain on a full-time basis, signing a two-year contract, while Hierro left the RFEF.

Benitez - previously in charge of a host of clubs including Valencia, Liverpool, Inter, and Real Madrid - is currently preparing his Newcastle side for the 2018-19 Premier League season. He admits he is forced to "wheel and deal" on Tyneside, and so far this summer has re-signed Chelsea's Kenedy on loan, turned Martin Dubravka's temporary stay into a permanent one, and snapped up Sung-Yueng Ki on a free transfer.