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Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez has been namechecked by Vicente del Bosque as one of the three coaches he believes could succeed as Spain manager.

Benitez only took over as Magpies manager last month and has overseen just three games as United boss so far - two losses and a draw.

Yet the 55-year-old Spaniard has a break clause in his three-year Newcastle contract which both he and the club can choose to invoke should the Magpies be relegated, something which is looking increasingly likely following Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at fellow strugglers Norwich City.

With just seven games to go, United are six points shy of safety and have a far inferior goal-difference to that of the 17th-placed Canaries.

Though Benitez has enjoyed a distinguished managerial career at club level - lifting the Spanish title twice with Valencia, as well as winning the Champions League with Liverpool and Europa League with Chelsea - he has never taken charge of his country, or of any national side for that matter.

Yet close friend Del Bosque - Benitez briefly became his compatriot’s assistant manager at Real Madrid back in 1994 - has backed the current Magpies boss to succeed him with La Roja.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez, as well as former Porto boss Julen Lopetegui, are the other two names Del Bosque mentioned as his potential replacements after Euro 2016.

“There are many good Spanish managers - Benitez, Roberto Martinez, Julen Lopetegui,” Del Bosque said when asked who have the credentials to be his successor as national-team coach given that he has lifted both the World Cup and European Championship as Spain boss.

“Finding a new manager is very easy.”