Benitez has emerged as Everton’s top choice to become their new manager after talks with Nuno Espirito Santo faltered.
The Spaniard has expressed an interest in the job and following talks with Everton owner Farhad Moshiri, he is now expected to become the next man in charge at Goodison Park.
But Benitez’s appointment is set to be controversial given his cult status at Anfield where he won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005.
Southall stressed that Benitez is a solid manager but his Liverpool connections mean he is not going to be accepted by the die-hard Everton supporters.
He feels if the Spaniard gets the job he would have to do something extraordinary to win over the fans and that is unlikely as the Everton squad are not good enough at the moment.
The Everton legend said on talkSPORT: “I think Rafa Benitez is a good manager but is he right for Everton? No, not a chance.
“He is Liverpool, they won’t have it.
“He is going to have to produce something special and at the moment the squad we have got, he is going to have to do well to produce something special there because they are a work in progress.
“Rafa Benitez is a good manager in his own right but too many connections with Liverpool.”
Moshiri is believed to be ready to handle the backlash from fans if Benitez is appointed.
