Rafa Benitez is my favourite coach in world football. The club began their campaign with an unimpressive 21 aggregate win over Grazer AK in the qualifying rounds and were minutes away from going out of the competition in the group stages. [109] Bentez would have to wait until 16 April for his first win in charge of The Magpies, recording a convincing 30 victory over Swansea City in the Premier League. [76][77] On 5 December 2012, Bentez recorded his first win as Chelsea manager, a 61 victory at home to Nordsjlland in the Champions League. [47] It was suggested that this Liverpool team was missing Bentez's characteristic defensive rigidity[48] despite the fact that only Manchester United and Chelsea conceded fewer goals than Liverpool, and lacked the necessary depth to cope with injuries to key players such as Gerrard and Fernando Torres while Bentez's decision making was called into question. But the media was not interested anymore. Istanbul's districts extend far from the city center along the full length of the Bosphorus (with the Black Sea at top and the Sea of Marmara at bottom). The lads could see I was fuming so all hung around to see what would happen. [134] Bentez's ruthlessness can also be seen in the way he disposed of all but Gerrard and Jamie Carragher from his Champions League winning squad within four seasons, with penalty shoot-out hero Jerzy Dudek made back-up goalkeeper the very season after the European triumph. Starting the 3-2 AET second leg defeat a week later, it would prove to be his final appearance for the club as Benitez called him into his office to tell him he would be sold and wouldnt be involved for the remaining games of the season. Thank you for your three years of service, now you can call your agent to do a deal with another club.' However, an 87th-minute goal by Steven Gerrard defeated Olympiacos 31 and saw the club progress to the last 16 on head-to-head difference. In the blue corner, Kylian Mbappe stands tall as the undisputed champion of the world. The appointment is a controversial one, as Benitez spent six years at Anfield, winning the Champions League, FA Cup and UEFA Super Cup during his spell. [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. Who are you going to buy with pace? He also confirmed that he would be leaving the club at the end of the season. Then the consequences of doing so flashed through my mind. But with Rafa, it was constant directions. 'He was around 10m': Rafa Benitez says he nearly signed Brazil legend for Liverpool Charles Jones 4 days ago Speaking on the Official Liverpool FC Podcast, Rafa Benitez has been. Craig Bellamy joined Liverpool from Blackburn Rovers in a 6m deal in June 2006. Raphael Varane hands Manchester United injury scare ahead of Liverpool clash, Manchester United have been dealt a late injury scare ahead of their Premier League clash against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, Why Everton fans have 'spared' Amadou Onana as Sean Dyche juggles centre-backs, Here's your Everton FC evening headlines as Amadou Onana acknowledges fan support and Sean Dyche balances his centre-backs, Liverpool told how they can still sign Moises Caicedo as summer transfer stance emerges, Liverpool continue to be linked with a move for Moises Caicedo despite the midfielder signing a new contract with Brighton & Hove Albion, ITV Loose Women's Carol McGiffin explains appearance change as fans concerned, The panelist lifted the lid on her "drama", Live updates as police and ambulance surround rock climbing gym, An air ambulance was also seen landing close to the scene, Emmerdale fans taken aback as Lucy Pargeter shares real age, The Chas Dingle star has appeared in Emmerdale since 2002, Coronation Street character to look totally different in return to cobbles, It'll be the first time viewers have seen him in six years, Coronation Street fans demand to know where they've seen newcomer before, Many viewers took to social media to ask where they recognised Sarah Platt's new business partner from, BBC The Wheel fans say it's 'not fair' as player loses 45,000 before end of episode, Some viewers thought Rhonda should have won, Ant and Dec in stitches after dad shares mother-in-law's name in contacts, Ant and Dec burst into laughter as Naz from Wirral revealed the name, Tiny Merseyside brewery supplying beer to Michelin star restaurants, Julie and Les O'Grady decided to leave behind their successful aquatics company to start a brewery, Jurgen Klopp and Erik ten Hag send message to fans over 'poison' chants before Liverpool vs Man United, Liverpool and Manchester United have released a joint statement referring to inappropriate chants heard at previous meetings, Police called after car crashes into building, Pictures show damage to the exterior of the building on Pembroke Place, Family's old hen-party tradition on busy city centre street, The Scottish tradition aims to bring good luck and fertility to marriage life, Lost 90s nightclub with 95p drinks that replaced iconic Fallows, It hailed itself as Liverpool's newest 'twin scene discotheque', Bent system cost Merseyside town thousands when asking for Government help, Sefton Council has had to self fund its most recent and unsuccessful Levelling Up Fund bids while other Merseyside areas received money to prepare applications, I made salt and pepper chicken in the air fryer after being promised a super easy recipe, Air fryers have become increasingly popular so I decided to dust mine off and use it, Paedo answered door naked to schoolchildren after grooming them with vapes, Serial offender performed sex acts at his doorstep and sexually assaulted 12-year-old girl, Meet the doctor who travels the world helping those in need, "I think he was just so scarred from what had happened to him. An infamous attack on Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson in the media led some pundits and opposition supporters to suggest Bentez was "cracking up" under the pressure of a title bid. Given Bellamys reputation, you can imagine these were not the only occasions when the duo failed to see eye to eye. 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. "Pollard � 419aTEJ continues to recover from a knee injury sustained late last year and Roach is still trying to get over a shoulder injury that forced him to return home from the tour of India without playing and required surgery."West Indies won the last edition of the tournament in 2012 after beating hosts Sri Lanka in the final in Colombo. I remember the conversation and he was all right, to be fair. I was frustrated when I was not included in the Spain squad for the World Cup in 2010 because I hadnt had a lot of playing time in the Premier League for like two months. His reign at the club was a short one and he was dismissed midway through the 201011 season. That's when Chelsea made an offer and the deal was done before Benitez left. The players and the people at the top of the club knew how I felt. 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. "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. I dont think people in England ever saw the best of me. Rafa Benitez has been in England working with Sky Sports and made clear that he would like to return to the Premier League after his last job with Everton.. "I am fine and happy in . 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. After that I did another interview and said that I have to be my first critic. Then the focus is on a remarkable last . Former Liverpool star Mark Gonzalez is recovering in hospital after suffering a heart attack, his wife has confirmed. I have some offers. "No-one's shown me any respect and Rafael Bentez, since his arrival, has treated me as if I was the dumbest of the dumb. I had great contracts on the table, and choices of managers who really wanted me and that made me feel good. Benitez defence a stern test for Liverpool's attack. [97] Napoli finished third in Serie A in 201314 to qualify for the next season's Champions League. [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. When Craig Dawson is the best defender - possibly player - over 45 minutes, it sums up our issues. 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. It says plenty about the dysfunction at the club that days later, Benitez has gone. [132] In a match in April 2009 when Allardyce was manager of Blackburn, he accused Bentez of arrogance over a gesture he made when Fernando Torres scored Liverpool's second goal. 1. wesap12345 3 mo. This is the place to moan and discuss about every single thing that happened in games and with your team. Looking back, I do appreciate honesty from managers. It was suggested that Bentez's position was now under serious threat. [49] The club subsequently exited the UEFA Europa League at the hands of Atltico Madrid. The club said they understood why I was unhappy and promised they'd let me leave in the summer if an offer came while Benitez was manager. Bentez left the club "by mutual consent" on 3 June 2010[50] with a reported 6million pay-off;[51] the media speculated that this was because the team had finished seventh in the Premier League, missing out on the Champions League, and suffered poor results, including the defeat by Wigan Athletic. . [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. infiniti qx80 indicator lights. [41] Alonso said that Bentez's attempts to sell him the previous summer were a deciding factor in his move. The biggest problem I had with Rafa was the first day, he told Sky Sports. Rafa came to sit next to me, he recalled in his 2013 autobiography. [135], Bentez's preferred formation is a 4231 which he adopted during his time at Valencia and Liverpool. "I was disappointed and that is all. "If I'm doing something badly and you are my boss, and you value me, then you are going to come and tell me what I have to do to play again. 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. That is something I can never forget. The former Liverpool manager remains a top defensive mind but will have his work cut out for him when he brings his Newcastle side to Anfield. Xabi Alonsos relationship with Benitez is a curious one. Bentez, however, later explained this gesture: he said he had previously told Xabi Alonso to take a short free-kick. Scott played in the cups. However, the current Blues boss has taken . 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. Not only was he a brilliant coach but he is a very sharp, savvy businessman. on July 16, 2010. I felt he was waiting for me to make a mistake so he could use it against me. [82] They subsequently lost 10 at home to 20th-placed Queens Park Rangers[83] in the Premier League and were knocked out of the League Cup semi-finals by underdogs Swansea City 20 on aggregate. Bentez still appeared to be at odds with Liverpool's owners, publicly turning down a contract extension and demanding more control over transfers. GAMEWEEK 7 - DISCUSSION, RANT & INFO THREAD. Allardyce suggested that Bentez had signalled the game was over despite Liverpool only having a two-goal lead. [30], Liverpool made a good start to the 200708 season, topping the Premier League table for the first time under Bentez after a comprehensive 60 win over Derby County. 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. [84], On 27 February 2013, following a 20 win at Middlesbrough in the FA Cup fifth-round, Bentez heavily criticised the Chelsea board for giving him the title of "interim manager" and the Chelsea fans for their protests against him. On 3 June 2015, Bentez was confirmed as the new Real Madrid manager, signing a three-year contract. 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. And thats prompted us to look back at Benitezs time across Stanley Park at Anfield, and recall some of the players Liverpool sold after disagreements with their manager. 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. The manager understood my decision., Meanwhile, Benitez told his player: "When he is born, you call me and we decide. He guided Segunda Divisin club Extremadura back to La Liga in his first season in the 199798 season, but the team was relegated the following season. It means that, suddenly, you mess up with a simple pass because your mind is all over the place. Joshua Askew -. Malcolm Macdonald in a rare Newcastle United attack during the ill-fated FA Cup final against Liverpool on May 4, 1974 . [35] Bentez had reportedly intended to sell Xabi Alonso to fund the purchase of Barry, but Liverpool CEO Rick Parry was reported to have prioritised signing Robbie Keane over Barry, causing tension when Barry did not arrive. 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. Rafael "Rafa" Bentez Maudes (born 16 April 1960) is a Spanish football manager who was the manager of Liverpool from 2004-2010. Ryan Babel was just 20 when he joined Liverpool from Ajax in an 11.5m deal in the summer of 2007. [88], In the Europa League final against Benfica on 15 May, Chelsea won 21. [18], In the Champions League, however, Liverpool fared differently. I have no problem talking to people. He was unable to avoid relegation, but earned promotion back to the Premier League the following year, winning the Championship. You'll also get the latest transfer talk and analysis every day for FREE! I couldn't say at the time, but I knew this was my last season at Liverpool and I wanted a special end. Yet he scored just one Premier League goal in the second half of the season and was sold to Aston Villa in the summer of 2005, starting his final game for the Reds as they famously beat AC Milan to win the Champions League. He didnt know I spent my whole childhood dreaming of playing for Liverpool, he didnt know I had all those memories and feelings. Liverpool came from 20 down and were losing 32 in stoppage time when Steven Gerrard scored a dramatic late equalizer. Fab was our best player that half, which is some sort of comfort. [112] On 25 May 2016, it was confirmed that Bentez would remain as manager. Youre a big name, you can play anywhere at all. Riera would later blame the media for the breakdown in his relationship with Benitez when speaking to Anfield HQ in 2016. Bentez joined Real Madrid's coaching staff at the age of 26, going on to work as the under-19 and reserve team coach, and assistant manager for the senior team. "When the coach says nothing to you and you are well, with no physical problems and training well, you cannot help but think it must be something personal. If you want to stay, theres not much point, I know you like playing and youre better off going. He could never let me do my thing. Bentez called me and said I wasnt in his plans, so it was better for me to find a (new) club. He started to get up to go but I told him to wait for a second. 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. He spoke a lot to us to change the intensity." [58], By December 2010, Inter had slumped to sixth in Serie A, 13 points adrift of the top (although Inter played two games less), having suffered consecutive defeats against arch rivals Milan (which ended a 46 match unbeaten home record),[59] Chievo and Lazio, as well as losing at Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League, leading to speculation that Bentez's position was under threat. "And maybe, after 10 days training with him, well, that's when I started asking questions. ", "Why Liverpool's Rafa Benitez is a master tactician", "Jamie Carragher: What really happened at half-time in Istanbul", "Rafa Benitez is the man behind Steven Gerrard's 100", "The cult of permanent rotation blights Bentez's bid for title", "Liverpool's demise against Chelsea the fault of Rafael Benitez's zonal marking", "RT Sport: Benitez stands by zonal marking", "Atltico fans ensure home is where the hatred is for Bentez", "Benitez to stay with Liverpool despite loss of father", "Montserrat Seara: "En nuestra primera cita Rafa me explic el 4-4-2", "Juventus seeking to prise Rafael Bentez away from Liverpool", "Rafa Benitez learned English listening to The Beatles and reveals man who inspired him to be manager", "Rafael Benitez replaces Roberto Di Matteo as Chelsea manager", "AD Parla: el tesoro que esconde Los Prados, el estadio en el que Rafa Bentez deslumbr como futbolista", "Rafael Benitez named Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month", Complete management career stats at Liverpool-kop.com, Rafael Bentez management career statistics, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rafael_Bentez&oldid=1140350114, *Club domestic league appearances and goals, This page was last edited on 19 February 2023, at 18:18. It was not easy, my job is not a normal job and it was not just any game, but I never regretted it. [56] Bentez's first Serie A game in charge was on 31 August 2010 in a 00 draw away to Bologna in the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara. I hated him at the time, but Ive lost that now. [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. He would later rue how Mauricio Pellegrino was brought in as his replacement. Bentez said that he had jokingly signalled to Alonso to ignore his instructions and not that he thought the game was effectively over. Cisse admitted, after joining Marseille on loan, that he did hold a grudge against Benitez for forcing him out. I repeat, if they come back in today they must pay double., I felt he was treating me unfairly, but thats how Rafa operated. By Rafa Benitez May 24, 2020 Happy Istanbul Day! "[39] With ten wins in their last 11 games, Liverpool finished the season on a high, finishing second in the league for the first time under Bentez, four points off champions Manchester United, with Liverpool playing an attractive brand of attacking football at odds with the side that struggled through the winter months. May 25, 2005 is a date that will forever have its place in Liverpool FC folklore thanks to events at Istanbul's Ataturk Stadium. "Liverpool remains the place where I have suffered the most as a footballer, above all during the last season. Liverpool have announced manager Rafael Benitez has left the club by mutual consent after six years in charge. [115][116] Mike Ashley criticised Bentez following his departure, stating that Bentez's demands made it impossible for him to remain as manager. If you want to go and speak to other clubs, thats fine'. "We have not had any talk about why it is. Still remember seeing him pull what appeared to be a tooth out of his mouth after colliding with a goalpost. Imagine the pressure Id be under if that happened, Why should I care? "I was very young and I just needed guidance. There's some speculation about what might have been said at half-time to spark a much better second half - collectively, and from certain individuals. You didnt mean it., I cannot let you go on loan. But I want Liverpool fans to know the truth and for them to know I made up my mind to leave a long time ago because of Benitez. I miss all that a little.". Benitez came to Liverpool from the Spanish side Valencia on 16 June 2004 after the sacking of Gerard Houllier. He never treated me with the respect I deserved. I dont want to blame the coach for me not having the ultimate career at Liverpool but I felt it could have been closer in terms of guidance and support.". Rafa just didnt understand. For the second consecutive season, he was named UEFA Manager of the Year. While at Real, Bentez also gained his coaching certificate in 1989 and in the summer of 1990 taught at a football camp at the University of California in Davis, California. After his success with the U19s, Bentez then succeeded Garca Remn at the start of the 199394 season. "Youve got two sets of instructions in your mind and youre left wondering what to do. [145], Bentez's father, Francisco, worked as a hotelier. "I'm not going to leave simply for the sake of leaving. Wed just lost the Champions League final. He left the club, and coached Tenerife in 2000, winning promotion in his only season. Hardly the sort of character you can see embracing the Spaniards totalitarian style. I can do the 100 metres in less than 11 seconds. And it appears that such a deterioration stemmed from the midfielder missing the Reds trip to the San Siro to face Inter Milan in March 2008 to be present for the birth of his child, with Benitez trying to sell Alonso the following summer to help fund a move for Gareth Barry. I want to know.. I really need to play games to be prepared for the World Cup.. It was a normal Craig Bellamy picture in a newspaper! Rafa Benitez fell out with a number of players during his time with Liverpool, leading to many leaving the club, Follow the latest transfer news and more with our LFC newsletter. 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. He was dismissed in January 2022 after a run where Everton lost 9 out of 13 games. According to Echoes of Liverpool, Brands wanted Graham Potter more than Rafa Benitez.Given the way the Benitez era has unfolded - Everton are 11 points behind Brighton are operating on a fraction of their budget - it is tempting to wonder how different this season would have been if Moshiri had followed suit with the sporting director. [40], Prior to Bentez's final season at Liverpool, Xabi Alonso, one of the key members of Bentez's squad, was sold to Real Madrid following a lengthy pursuit in a deal reportedly worth 30million. reach dental floss unwaxed, nick saban daughter adopted, burton police scanner,
Melissa Firpo Chin, Radio Tab Brisbane Contact, Articles R