[117] However, in an interview with The Athletic in December 2020, Bentez stated he was left no choice but to leave the role due to disagreements with Ashley, describing him as "a businessman who I don't believe really cares about his team. Ex-Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez linked with managerial return after Everton sacking. [138] His calm demeanour and tactical changes at half time of the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final were said to give players belief they could battle back from 30 down, although he had to correct his plans when it was pointed out to him his new formation would require 12 players on the pitch. They stopped me from being free. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. [9], Valencia fans also were soon won over by Bentez after he introduced a more attacking style of play than his predecessor, Cper. When Craig Dawson is the best defender - possibly player - over 45 minutes, it sums up our issues. Bajcetic has been one of the few positives for the Reds throughout a disappointing season and looks set for the biggest game of his career tonight. [8], In 2001, Bentez was appointed coach of Valencia, replacing Hctor Cper. "Just sometimes, he might as well have turned a player into an Xbox, dressed me up like RoboCop and put a picture of my face on it. The Israeli would depart Liverpool for Chelsea in a 5.5m deal in the summer of 2010 following Benitezs departure, though the move had been agreed with the Spaniards blessing before his exit. There are also easier fixtures than playing away against Wolves (with a rotated side) and Brighton as well as facing Chelsea at Anfield, as Liverpool has had to do recently. In November 2012, he was appointed interim manager of Chelsea for the remainder of the season and he won the 2013 Europa League. Liverpool finished. But from the start I felt basically left out, by myself, no help and that was of course very difficult for a 20 year old. The thinking fan's Chelsea blog. [60] Despite criticism, Bentez guided Inter to win the FIFA Club World Cup in December 2010. I spent six months with Liverpool hardly getting a game. [43] Bentez's decision to sell Alonso and replace him in the side with Lucas Leiva, in addition to Aquilani having arrived at the club injured, was called into question as Liverpool's title campaign began with two defeats in the first three games. Home. I am delighted to play for Liverpool and if I was playing, I would love to stay, because it is a brilliant place to play football. [114], On 24 June 2019, Newcastle announced that Bentez would step down as Manager upon the expiration of his contract, and he departed the club on 30 June 2019. [36] Striker Keane was later re-sold back to Tottenham Hotspur in the January transfer window, with some analysts claiming he was a "pawn in a power struggle" between Bentez and the club's owners. On the face of it, Yossi Benayouns relationship with Benitez was a pretty standard one with the Israel international proving himself to be an important player for Liverpool. [88], In the Europa League final against Benfica on 15 May, Chelsea won 21. Despite this success, Bentez fell out with Jess Garca Pitarch, the club's director of football, over control of new signings and the club's failure to reinforce the squad with the players he wanted. [79], At the FIFA Club World Cup in December 2012, Chelsea defeated Monterrey 31 to reach the final,[80] where they were beaten 10 by Brazilian side Corinthians. "It was for the Champions League quarter-final squad against Inter," Alonso said. Footballers love seeing a bit of confrontation on the training ground! Join our group for FREE by clicking here! "[27] Bentez did not reciprocate his owner's kind words, demanding his club's new owners had to back him in the transfer market in order for Liverpool to progress following his side's 21 loss to Milan in the final. Leaving for Celtic in January, he was not happy with how Benitez had treated him at all. It was either his way or no way. I knew I had to get away from Benitez. On 21 August 2010, Bentez won his first trophy as manager, the Italian Super Cup, after they defeated Roma 31. To be completely honest, I genuinely considered punching Rafa in the face. "We have not had any talk about why it is. The no-nonsense former Liverpool boss might have been criticised by former players for not being the warmest of man-managers, but in the past he has tended to get results. Benitez swapped Liverpool for Inter Milan in 2010 and last coached in the Premier League at Newcastle before joining Chinese side Dalian Professional in 2019, leaving that role in January. [62][63] On 23 December 2010, just five days after bringing Inter to the triumph, Bentez was dismissed by Inter. Looking back, I do appreciate honesty from managers. In February 2007, he was caught up in a drunken fight with team-mate John Arne Riise. A horrific broken leg derailed the Frenchmans first season with the club, though he would return to help them win the Champions League in 2005. READ MORE: Naby Keita shows 'humbled' James Maddison how Liverpool situation has changed, READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp will already fear worst for crunch Chelsea clash as Liverpool myth exposed. [95], In his first season in charge, Bentez guided the club to victory in the Coppa Italia, defeating Fiorentina 31 in the final,[96] and into the last 16 of the Europa League, exiting after a 32 aggregate defeat to Porto. On the winning goal scored by Branislav Ivanovi, Juan Mata said, "Rafa told us we had to aim to the far post, because it was Artur's weakest place. Released at the end of his contract, he signed for Real Zaragoza in the summer of 2009 on a free transfer and has repeatedly slammed Benitez in the years that have followed. This time, Pepe Reina saved three penalties during the shoot-out to secure the silverware. It was funny. [53] On 15 June 2010, Bentez was presented to the Italian media for the first time after signing a two-year deal. Only then will I be better than I am now. Connect with Liverpool fans from around the world in our official supporters group. He also brought in both Mista from his former club and Francisco Rufete from Mlaga, with Mista going on to become top goalscorer for Valencia with 19 goals in the 200304 season. We have since done another (better) post on Rafa Benitez's Liverpool. Benitez went to Real Madrid instead and Rodgers limped on until Klopp, who had long since been identified as the perfect successor, made it clear he was ready to cut short his sabbatical.. Babel would remain a Liverpool player for another half a season after Benitezs exit, playing under his immediate successor Roy Hodgson before being sold by Kenny Dalglish to Hoffenheim in an 8m deal in January 2011. You can't treat a player like this and expect him to be happy. There was an issue over whether it was a loan move first or a permanent transfer straight away. [20] Bentez's calm, methodical approach at half time was said to give the players the belief they could pull off an improbable comeback and win Liverpool an historic fifth European Cup. [65][66][67][68] He was unveiled as the new Chelsea manager at a press conference on 22 November 2012. He moved away from Real Madrid in 1995, but management spells at Real . In 2000, he was appointed manager of Tenerife of the Segunda Divisin and with a team that included Mista, Curro Torres and Luis Garca, he gained promotion to La Liga by finishing third in the league behind Sevilla and Real Betis. Arrested after drunkenly refusing to leave a bar on the same training camp that saw Bellamy assault Riise, he admitted in his autobiography that he once came close to hitting Benitez after the Spaniard blocked him from leaving the club for Koln despite his game-time being limited. Bentez stands by his tactic, pointing out that teams who man-mark concede just as many, if not more, goals from set pieces. Which Liverpool player do you wish Rafa Benitez had never sold? A 6.7m signing from Birmingham City in the summer of 2006, he impressed during his first season with the club and was a standout performer in their 2007 Champions League final defeat to AC Milan. It was, in my opinion, a weird relationship (with Benitez) because when he signed me I looked at him as the big uncle who wanted to give me a chance and help me succeed," he told the Guardian. I was sure he wanted me to attack him in the press during the season so he could turn the fans against me, so I kept quiet. At first, I thought maybe he was going actually coming to justify his decision to leave me out. Peter Crouch has suggested that Rafael Benitez's prior association with Liverpool was, in part, behind his undoing as Everton manager.. Benitez, 61, was given his marching orders on Sunday, less than 24 hours after his side were beaten by relegation-threatened Norwich City. On 3 June 2015, Bentez was confirmed as the new Real Madrid manager, signing a three-year contract. This is a player who had spent time in prison and played in the Premier League wearing an electronic tag after all. Sometimes there were rows, others were just ostracised from the team, but all of them knew their Reds days were numbered after crossing paths with the Spaniard. "I was never given a chance and that hurts. "When you have so many instructions, it makes it so difficult. All I ever wanted to do is just to play football.". [12], On 16 June 2004, Bentez was appointed manager of Liverpool, replacing Grard Houllier, becoming the first Spaniard to manage in the Premier League. It was a privilege for me to play for such a great club in front of great fans. [41] Alonso said that Bentez's attempts to sell him the previous summer were a deciding factor in his move. "Stevie was unbelievable playing that 10. In January 2008, Riise would score an own goal against Luton Town in the FA Cup after failing to defend a cross coming in from the right. Liverpool fans knew that 'Agent Rafa' would not be there more than a season, and so it has proven. [74][75] This was followed by a 00 draw at home to Fulham and a 31 loss to West Ham. Despite this win, Chelsea failed to progress beyond the group stage of the competition. The 36-year-old was signed by Rafa Benitez in the summer of 2005 from. "Liverpool remains the place where I have suffered the most as a footballer, above all during the last season. And when the fans wanted me to play, Benitez told me he couldn't understand why. "I just thought, 'am I so bad that they want me to leave and they want him?'. I dont think I ever really played more than three games in a row. If you want to stay, theres not much point, I know you like playing and youre better off going. "There were times when I would get so angry about how boring and repetitive training was that I would just lose it and shout, For f**ks sake just give us a bit of a five-a-side!. This is nonsense and it is a fabrication that I wanted to leave the stadium. I should have stayed a bit longer and trusted myself, I should have. Then he told him who were coming in for me Tottenham, Charlton and Everton. After leaving Liverpool in June 2010, Bentez was appointed manager of treble-winning side Inter Milan. The young Dutchman enjoyed an impressive first season at Anfield under Benitez, but would later find himself often out of favour under the Spaniard as his starting opportunities in the following years. Only the two men would truly be able to answer whether their relationship changed after that trip to the San Siro. Claiming Liverpool were sinking ship under Benitez in March 2010, he said: "I've been here two years and I know how he (Benitez) is. An official statement from the club said, "Rafa will forever be part of Liverpool folklore after bringing home the Champions League following the epic final in Istanbul but after a. Starting the following season strongly, his manager even called for him to be given an England call-up. Fully fit again in time for Benitezs arrival, he featured throughout pre-season and even scored in a friendly vs Celtic. Real later played Cdiz in the Copa del Rey round of 32, winning away 31 in the first leg. [6], In 1986, at the age of 26, Bentez returned to Real Madrid to join the club's coaching staff. Subscribe to the CV Academy. Would he let me go? Given Benitezs reputation as one who cannot call upon humane man-management as one of his skills, it is understandable why it is believed their relationship broke down from that moment. It was another short-lived appointment and on 4 January 2016, he was dismissed following a 22 draw against his former club, Valencia. Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has issued an apology of behalf of Djibril Cisse following his controversial behaviour at Newcastle on Sunday. But with 47 of them coming from the substitutes' bench, and with the playmaker taken off on 53 of his 81 starts, behind the scenes he was not happy with his manager. [54] Liverpool finished third in the league, missing out on second place by one point. He knows what he wants and how to get it. Signed in an 8m from Espanyol in the summer of 2008, he featured regularly in his first season with the club as Liverpool fell narrowly short in the Premier League title-race. May is a special month for. The Frenchman spent the 2006/07 on loan at Marseille, with Cisse joining the club permanently in a 6m deal in July 2007. He also worked as a commentator/analyst for Eurosport, Marca, El Mundo and local Madrid TV. He said he understood and liked my desire to be playing so negotiations with Kln continued. ago. [16], During his first season, Bentez was unable to improve Liverpool's form in the Premiership. I learnt a lot. The manager understood my decision., Meanwhile, Benitez told his player: "When he is born, you call me and we decide. The. However, Club Director Javier Subirats recognised the potential of Bentez and campaigned for his appointment. He returned to Italy in 2013 to coach Napoli, where he won the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana. Former Liverpool player and Chile international Mark Gonzalez has suffered from a heart attack and is currently in hospital recovering, as confirmed by his wife. Just tell me. With this team, he won two league titles in 1987 and 1989. [125], Everton's form declined in the following months, and after a 21 defeat to bottom-placed Norwich City at Carrow Road, Benitez was relieved of his duties on 16 January 2022 after six-and-a-half months in charge, with Everton in 15th place, six points above the relegation zone, having lost nine of their previous 13 games. But to this day I still think I should have stayed. Rafael Benitez might have been sacked by Premier League club Everton, but the red half of Merseyside still remembers him fondly. [57] His first league win as manager came on 11 September 2010, a 21 win against Udinese at the San Siro. [139] Bentez often plays key players in unorthodox positions to suit a formation notably converting both Steven Gerrard (in the 200506 season) and Dirk Kuyt into right-wingers. What are your plans for next season? he said. [26], Supporters and manager joined to welcome new owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks, with the hope the new owners would bring funding for new players and a new stadium. He could never let me do my thing. [10], However, the following 200203 season was a disappointing one; the club failed to follow up on their title success, finishing 18 points behind champions Real Madrid, and missed out on the top four by a single point. Im not James Milner, who keeps it simple. [86] Results continued to be mixed, and at one point Chelsea found themselves 16 points behind league leaders Manchester United, having been just four behind when Bentez was appointed. After he ignored me for a long time, he needed me for Europe when Ryan Babel was suspended. 4y Dave Usher. Liverpool paid 20m when signing Robbie Keane from Tottenham Hotspur in July 2009. "I was furious with him, absolutely fuming, and in my head I could hear a devilish voice saying punch him in the face punch him in the face and hell let you go to Germany. It means that, suddenly, you mess up with a simple pass because your mind is all over the place. [citation needed], Bentez was unable to win any trophies as Liverpool's domestic campaign falter in the winter months including a shock FA Cup exit at home to Barnsley, with his side losing to Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals. Despite heavy criticism from the English press[141] Bentez persisted with the reward of a Champions League and FA Cup triumph in his first two seasons. Former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has named the two players that influenced Steven Gerrard the most in his time at the club. By Rafa Benitez May 24, 2020 Happy Istanbul Day! Yet despite his exit, Riise does hold Benitez in the highest of regards. I am not interested in making Rafa my enemy in the slightest, quite the opposite, but ultimately it is about playing, and if I am not, we have to talk about why not. He was highly regarded for his tactical acumen[136][137] particularly in European ties, setting his team up to exploit opposition weaknesses. [128][129], On 9 January 2009, Bentez delivered a controversial appraisal of certain aspects of Sir Alex Ferguson's tenure, accusing Ferguson and Manchester United of being nervous because Liverpool were at the top of the league,[130] then accused the Manchester United manager of not being punished for breaking FA rules, suggesting he was "the only manager in the league that cannot be punished for these things",[130] referring to Ferguson not being punished following an FA charge for comments he made about officials Martin Atkinson and Keith Hackett following an FA Cup tie with Portsmouth. He started to get up to go but I told him to wait for a second. Were going to buy another striker, he said. [100], Bentez announced that he would resign at the end of the 201415 season. Former Everton, Liverpool, Newcastle United and Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez is reportedly in the reckoing to take charge of Olympiacos. He also enrolled as a student at INEF, the sports faculty at the Universidad Politcnica de Madrid and in 1982 he obtained a degree in physical education. 20th Sep 2022, 7:39am. "It is not true that I had or have had disputes with Bentez, but I am annoyed that when I'm fit I only warm the bench, Baros said on the eve of Istanbul. But come the start of the season he didnt get a look in. Liverpool transfer news, rumours, gossip and speculation including updates on Roberto Firmino, Manuel Locatelli, Naby Keita and Mason Mount. I thought I would be staying for a lot longer.". In March 1994, he became assistant manager to Vicente del Bosque with the senior Real Madrid team before returning to coach Real Madrid B for the 199495 season. START DATES 2021-22 FA Community Shield He left the club, and coached Tenerife in 2000, winning promotion in his only season. I have some offers. "Youve got two sets of instructions in your mind and youre left wondering what to do. "I'm not one of these players that likes to sit around on the bench and just pick my money up. In some ways, it is a surprise that Benitez lasted this long. A 7th place league finish and a group stage exit in the Champions League ended Rafa Benitez's time on Merseyside. Then he said: I think its time we go our separate ways, Riise recalled in his 2018 autobiography. In terms of team instructions I think you nailed it. I really need to play games to be prepared for the World Cup.. And while there werent particularly any cross words with his manager, he did make a reluctant exit at the end of that season after being told his services were no longer required. Im still trying to come to terms with the disappointment of whats just happened and now you tell me you want to get rid of me. In the years since leaving Liverpool, Keane has never criticised Benitez for selling the striker but believes the Spaniard was simply the wrong manager for him at the wrong time in his career. Benitez came to Liverpool from the Spanish side Valencia on 16 June 2004 after the sacking of Gerard Houllier. Again, it was another case of Benitez controversially deciding a players time at Liverpool were up, with reputation and price-tag making no difference to his decision. The club had previously approached Javier Irureta, Man and Luis Aragons and had been turned down by all three. "I scored 19 goals and I never played! But after falling out of favour in his second season, he was fined, suspended, banished from Melwood and transfer-listed after slamming his manager in two different interviews with Spanish radio, and after allegedly assaulting a young team-mate in training. We discuss a first half that was below par, and the goals we conceded, as well as Bukayo Saka's brilliant equaliser. They are just choosing to spend it more cautiously. [7], During the 199293 season, Bentez also worked as an assistant coach to Mariano Garca Remn at Real Madrid B. In the blue corner, Kylian Mbappe stands tall as the undisputed champion of the world. Upon his arrival he had two very big personnel issues to tend to. Take part in our Liverpool FC 'Keep or Sell' survey: While Murphy was moved on straight away, it was a different story for Stephane Henchoz. [23], Bentez's signings helped the club's Premiership form improve considerably. ", "Rafael Benitez's Istanbul memories | Tactics, Gerrard switch and trophy lift", "Motion expert says Garcia's shot did cross the line", "Top 20 sporting moments of the decade: Liverpool's 'Miracle of Istanbul', "Benitez Uncovered: Inside The Dressing Room On That Amazing Night In Istanbul", "Rafa's Boys: How Successful Was Benitez in the Transfer Market? Given his past, the manager was a controversial choice. I say by myself on the plane back to England the next day. [146] Rosario is a big football fan and supported Real Madrid, while his father supported Atltico Madrid. [citation needed], In 200304 season, Valencia won La Liga with three games to spare and beat Marseille 20 in the UEFA Cup final. "Everyone asks me why I left Liverpool," he told the News of the World.. "There is only one reason - Rafa Benitez. After leaving Valencia, Benitez moved to English club Liverpool of the Premier League, guiding the club to victory in the UEFA Champions League in 2005. I've certainly never said a bad word about him as a manager, I thought he was top, Keane told The Football Show on Sky Sports last year. "There are many examples of him treating me badly. Its like telling (Lionel) Messi you need technique. [18], In the Champions League, however, Liverpool fared differently. [112] On 25 May 2016, it was confirmed that Bentez would remain as manager. If pushed, you would have guessed the man responsible for scoring the Blues' first goal at home for nearly two months was David Datro Fofana, the Ivorian forward signed during January's trolley dash. Liverpool FC today confirmed that Rafael Benitez is to leave the club by mutual consent.