Rafa Benitez has not ruled out another spell as Liverpool boss.
The Newcastle chief entertains Liverpool on Sunday hoping for a successful stay at St James’s Park.
But Benitez, 57, still regards himself as “a young manager” and while not seeking the Anfield job, he’s still wonders if a second spell is possible.
He won the Champions’ League, FA Cup and Super Cup in charge of Liverpool between 2004 and 2010.
Benitez said: “I didn’t get too many chances to go back. But that is football, you never know.
“Have I come close? The job is quite difficult. I have been in Italy or Madrid or moving around. It has to be the right time. When you have problems and are available, they might be doing well.
“I am getting older but for a manager still a young manager.
“I don’t want to say (I will go back). I am really pleased here. I am happy here. And I wish Jurgen Klopp a lot of success.
"But in the future..... I want to be successful here. And what happens in the future you never know.
“We won four trophies, semi finals too in that short period. If you see the money we spent, and the money they've spent in the past years, the fans appreciate that.”
Benitez confirmed there was no plans for talks about a contract extension at Newcastle.
He said: “I don’t have to lose energy on that. Why create that debate? I have a contract, it is not an issue.”
Asked if he would accept a dinner invitation, as has been mooted, from United owner Mike Ashley, he said: “It it's not a big issue. I don't have a problem with Mike.
"The question is where we are, where we want to be and what we have to do to be there.
"If I sign a 20-year-old contract. It doesn't change my approach for the next game."