Rafael "Rafa" Bentez Maudes (born 16 April 1960) is a Spanish football manager who was the manager of Liverpool from 2004-2010. 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. [21] In doing so, Bentez became only the third manager in history (after Bob Paisley and Jos Mourinho) to win the UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League in successive seasons, and the second Liverpool manager (after Joe Fagan) ever to win the UEFA Champions League/European Cup in his first season in charge. With this team, he won two league titles in 1987 and 1989. Bentez played as a midfielder for both Real Madrid Aficionados in the Tercera Divisin and Castilla CF in the Segunda Divisin. It was a really emotional moment for me. Rafael Bentez Maudes (born 16 April 1960) is a Spanish professional football manager and former player who most recently managed Premier League club Everton.. 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. 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. [111] However, the team was relegated to the Championship due to rivals Sunderland claiming 12 points from their final six fixtures. Then, when we played Birmingham after I hadn't started a game for a month, he didn't tell me I was starting until two hours before the game. Yes, I would have if I were not present at the delivery. 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. [24][140], Bentez is a firm believer in squad rotation and zonal marking. I played all of last year, and sometimes if I did not play so well in one game, I would still play the next week. Footballers love seeing a bit of confrontation on the training ground! ", 'Pubs need to adapt' if they are going to survive the times ahead, "Although we are living during a cost-of-living crisis people still do have money. "On a psychological level, it was very hard because I restrained myself a lot. [146] Rosario is a big football fan and supported Real Madrid, while his father supported Atltico Madrid. The thinking fan's Chelsea blog. He told me I was a better player as a substitute instead of starting in the team. At the start of the 198687 season, he was appointed coach of Castilla B. Topics the dayTopicsThe Best winnersInflation Relief Checks liveF1 Bahrain TVNBA scheduleChampions League schedulesNBANFLNFL ScoresNFL ScheduleLaLiga StandingsLaLiga ScoresPremier League StandingsPremier League SchedulePremier League ScoresEuropa League ScheduleEuropa League ScoresSerie ScoresPowerball numbers todayMega Millions numbers todayWBC teams schedule2023. [87] Chelsea reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup, losing 21 to Manchester City at Wembley Stadium, and also progressed to the final of the UEFA Europa League. He left the club, and coached Tenerife in 2000, winning promotion in his only season. Like Bellamy, it is perhaps no surprise that Jermaine Pennant was a player not best suited to playing for a manager like Benitez, given his reputation and the disciplinary issues that dogged his career. [127], Bentez has had confrontations with both Jos Mourinho (Chelsea manager from 2004 to 2007) and Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson during his time in English football. 8m ESPN. The manager had the option to choose between Dutch. We were sitting in his office, just about to sign, and he showed me a picture of me shouting at a player! We played attacking football. [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. Therefore, I'm happy to give you some advice for emulating his Liverpool 4-2-3-1 tactic. "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. The 37-year-old, who retired at the end of an unsuccessful Ashes tour of England in 2015, said he would consider returning in any capacity to help out Cricket Australia (CA)."I would do anything to 419HbFo help the Australian cricket team," he told Australia's Daily Telegraph newspaper on Sunday. I wasnt in the mood. "I just thought, 'am I so bad that they want me to leave and they want him?'. "When you have so many instructions, it makes it so difficult. Im a flair player and do my own thing. [8], Bentez subsequently quit Extremadura and took a year off from football to study in England and Italy. [144], Bentez instigated a host of backroom changes at the end of the 200809 season to improve the club's youth development, including the appointment of club legend Kenny Dalglish in a senior role at the academy. But while the striker disputed such claims, he did twice voice his grievances with some of his managers decisions to the press over the course of the season, prior to being sold to the Villans in a 6.5m deal. Now in charge at Everton, Lucas Digne could be the latest player to not get a second chance with Benitez after the France international defender found himself dropped in recent weeks following a reported falling out between the pair. I agreed to join Chelsea before Roy Hodgson was appointed Liverpool's new manager. "Right now the only market open is the Russian one, I have offers from two teams and, looking at my situation, that has made me reflect a lot.". He said: I dont want to see this'. [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. It's a little frustrating because you see that you can help. [28] It was reported Bentez did not feel he had the complete support of the new owners, a thought that was compounded by Liverpool's initial lack of activity in the transfer window, although the club played these rumours down. Liverpool finished the calendar year top of the Premier League for the first time since 1996. I tried to plead with him a little bit, and he repeated the fact that my time was done, really, in his own way. "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. Were going to buy another striker, he said. [34], In a sign of the increasingly strained relationship between the Liverpool manager and his board, Bentez was reportedly close to quitting Liverpool in the summer of 2008 over the board's failure to back him in his bid to purchase Gareth Barry from Aston Villa. 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. Liverpool were hit with budget restrictions in 2006, and then-reds boss Benitez was only given 10 million to spend on a right-midfielder. He had to protect his interests, but it was hard to be on the receiving end of it., Knowing he would leave Liverpool at the end of his contract in 2007, Dudek at the time said Benitez had treated him like a slave.. Liverpool host Real on Tuesday night in the first leg of their. Ralf Rangnick may yet be right about Liverpool and Man United as Jurgen Klopp sends subtle transfer warning, Manchester United are having a better season that Liverpool, that cannot be questioned, but Theo Squires wonders whether there has been a long-term power shift, Roberto Firmino's agent breaks silence on 'unbelievably emotional' Liverpool exit, Roberto Firmino refused to hold talks with other clubs before deciding his Liverpool future, according to his agent, Liverpool predicted line-up for Manchester United as Jurgen Klopp makes two huge calls, How Liverpool could line up against Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League, John Barnes makes 'worried' Liverpool v Manchester United admission and Mohamed Salah goals point. "I'm not one of these players that likes to sit around on the bench and just pick my money up. "[122] Benitez is only the second person to manage both Liverpool and Everton, since William Edward Barclay in 1890s. A stalwart under Gerard Houllier, Murphy never really had a falling out with the Spaniard as such. He started to get up to go but I told him to wait for a second. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. The previous season when we finished second in the Premier League, I was happy with my performance in the final months but I was not sure if the manager thought I was a good player,. [124] This win was followed up with a 22 draw at Leeds United, a 21 win at Huddersfield in the EFL Cup and a 20 win against Brighton in the Premier League. 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. You promised you would help me but now I have a concrete offer youve not kept your word., I cannot risk it. The situation is said to be dire and Leach may have suffered seizures. "I have not said I am going to leave Liverpool. The manager ignored me when I wanted to know why. 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. Home. Despite the lack of silverware, the main talking points were off the pitch, with Bentez in the middle of a power struggle with the Liverpool board. [107][108] He suffered defeat in his first match in charge, losing 10 away to eventual champions Leicester City on 14 March. Bentez argued he needed to rotate his small squad to ensure key players were fit for the latter stages of these knockout competitions. 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. I say by myself on the plane back to England the next day. The resulting coverage resulted in a show of support by fans in support of Bentez which culminated in a fans' march in support of Bentez ahead of the critical Champions League home tie with Porto, which they won 41. Then the focus is on a remarkable last . Something went wrong, please try again later. And Babel has since described his relationship with his first Reds manager as weird, repeating pointing the finger of blame at Benitez for the fact he was unable to push on on Merseyside. [8], In 2001, Bentez was appointed coach of Valencia, replacing Hctor Cper. 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. It was a privilege for me to play for such a great club in front of great fans. I miss all that a little.". Ill get 800,000, great, but I cant spend it today and Ill be five months without an experienced reserve goalkeeper. He did everything so coldly, almost inhumanely, because he saw things as business. Real later played Cdiz in the Copa del Rey round of 32, winning away 31 in the first leg. On 3 June 2015, Bentez was confirmed as the new Real Madrid manager, signing a three-year contract. GAMEWEEK 7 - DISCUSSION, RANT & INFO THREAD. In his second interview he said: "I do not want to make trouble with the manager. [15] He was unable, however, to convince Michael Owen to extend his contract; he was subsequently sold to Real Madrid. [98][99] They lost 42 on aggregate to Athletic Bilbao in the qualifying stages, thus entering the Europa League. 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. 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. [147][146] Francisco died in December 2005 while Bentez was in Japan for the FIFA Club World Championship. 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 . Poor, but better than them. The lads could see I was fuming so all hung around to see what would happen. "With Rafa, it is all about himself.
,