I knew he wasnt the man for me, but because it was Liverpool I just had to sign.. 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 miss all that a little.". Rafael Bentez Maudes (born 16 April 1960) is a Spanish professional football manager and former player who most recently managed Premier League club Everton. It's a little frustrating because you see that you can help. Rafa Benitez. It was not easy, my job is not a normal job and it was not just any game, but I never regretted it. I looked at him. . 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. 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. Rafa Benitez promised me a certain development, but very quickly he took away that promise and it was a totally different situation. But the players he brought in werent bad, were they? May is a special month for. 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LIVE Transfer Talk: Man United monitoring Lewandowski's future. He moved away from Real Madrid in 1995, but management spells at Real Valladolid and Osasuna were short-lived and unsuccessful. ago. 1. wesap12345 3 mo. I don't want to speak on behalf of other players at Liverpool, but people know what happened to Albert Riera and Xabi Alonso. [107][108] He suffered defeat in his first match in charge, losing 10 away to eventual champions Leicester City on 14 March. The season also saw Bentez make his debut in the Champions League, where his side reached the quarter-finals, losing to Inter Milan. 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. In 1997, he joined another Segunda Divisin side, Extremadura, and this time led them to promotion, finishing second in the table behind Alavs after winning 23 out of 42 games. 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. Everton won four of their first six league games under Benitez, taking 13 points from a possible 18, but their form has collapsed since October. By the way, we won 0-1 with a goal from Torres.. "You see that the team are not doing well and there are no changes. Rafa Benitez & Jamie Carragher on how Liverpool won the Champions League in 2005 Sky Sports Premier League 1.1M views 3 years ago Simon Jordan SLAMS Rafa Benitez for making out his. 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. Admittedly I never really asked the manager, but he never said anything either, never said I wasn't good enough. I havent really thought about it, I said. Real Madrid B were then playing in the Segunda Divisin and on 4 September 1993, he made his debut as a Segunda Divisin manager with a 31 over Hrcules. Leaving for Celtic in January, he was not happy with how Benitez had treated him at all. He won his first league game in charge, beating Southampton 31. Key players missed much of the season through injury and Liverpool failed to challenge Chelsea and Arsenal for the league title, finishing fifth. Liverpool also won the FA Cup beating both Manchester United and Chelsea, as well as a thrilling 53 win against Luton Town in the third round, on the way to the final against West Ham United. [54] We played attacking football. "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. "Stevie was unbelievable playing that 10. I'm a total fan of his tactical methods, and have read a lot about it. [15] He was unable, however, to convince Michael Owen to extend his contract; he was subsequently sold to Real Madrid. Liverpool finished the calendar year top of the Premier League for the first time since 1996. Benitez spent six years as Liverpool manager, winning the Champions League in 2005 and reaching the final of the competition in 2007. On 3 June 2015, Bentez was confirmed as the new Real Madrid manager, signing a three-year contract. I had to make a decision and decided to be with my family. "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. Gillett declared himself delighted with the manager of his new investment, as Bentez overcame his domestic difficulties to lead Liverpool to another Champions League final. Benitez famously led Liverpool to the 2004-05 Champions League crown, and has twice won the UEFA Cup (Valencia, Chelsea). He was highly regarded for his tactical acumen[136][137] particularly in European ties, setting his team up to exploit opposition weaknesses. It says plenty about the dysfunction at the club that days later, Benitez has gone. Benitez did far more. I should have stayed a bit longer and trusted myself, I should have. 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. [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. [145], Bentez's father, Francisco, worked as a hotelier. 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. 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[24], Following Bentez's great early success, the English media were predicting Liverpool would challenge Chelsea for the 200607 Premier League title after Bentez addressed Liverpool's perceived weaknesses in the transfer window, a belief reaffirmed after his side won the Community Shield with a 21 victory over Chelsea. Ill have Scott and a kid from the Academy. The long-serving Danny Murphy was one such player. Rafa Benitez at the Run for the 96 5K in Stanley Park, Liverpool (Image: Liverpool Echo) But being a born winner is just one part of Benitez's multi-layered appeal. In 1985, he signed for Segunda Divisin B club Linares and under Enrique Mateos, he served as a player/coach. I say by myself on the plane back to England the next day. Benitez, 50, replaced Gerard Houllier as Liverpool manager in June 2004 and. Punching a Liverpool manager who had won the European Cup only a few months earlier wouldnt have looked too good on the CV I guess, but I was still angry. They thought I was playing well but Benitez told me he was surprised the fans booed because I was not good enough. I told Benitez I would go if he wanted, but he told me I was important and he would give me a new contract, which I signed. . I spent six months with Liverpool hardly getting a game. We discuss a first half that was below par, and the goals we conceded, as well as Bukayo Saka's brilliant equaliser. He did everything so coldly, almost inhumanely, because he saw things as business. I certainly had no complaints about that. The Spanish gaffer delved into some of the players. on July 16, 2010. Three days before the transfer window closed I went in to see him again Relax, Jerzy, theres still time, but we want a permanent deal, but Meier was telling me that Rafa was still refusing to take his calls! GAMEWEEK 7 - DISCUSSION, RANT & INFO THREAD. Bentez said, "My heart is with Liverpool, so I'm delighted to sign this new deal, I love the club, the fans and the city and with a club and supporters like this, I could never say no to staying. "Apart from that, I loved everything at Liverpool - the players, the people, the fans, everything was great. Footballers love seeing a bit of confrontation on the training ground! Joshua Askew -. I would be against myself if I made such a decision. I understand what he was doing. He knows what he wants and how to get it. [18], In the Champions League, however, Liverpool fared differently. I just tried to put the ball there and Ivanovic did the rest. A "sell to buy" policy enforced by the ownership due to increasing debt, combined with Alonso's departure, prompted discontent amongst considerable sections of the club's fanbase who believed Bentez was not being backed sufficiently in the transfer market. 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. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. Ex-Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez linked with managerial return after Everton sacking. The manager had the option to choose between Dutch. But with Rafa, it was constant directions. I remember the conversation and he was all right, to be fair. He said: I dont want to see this'. "It is good for Liverpool that Benitez has gone, but it was too late for me. By Rafa Benitez May 24, 2020 Happy Istanbul Day! The club had previously approached Javier Irureta, Man and Luis Aragons and had been turned down by all three. The lads could see I was fuming so all hung around to see what would happen. [42] Alonso was immediately replaced in the squad by Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani, signed from Roma for 17million, who was recovering from a long-term injury. The centre-back had been first-choice under Houllier, forming a brilliant partnership alongside Sami Hyypia, and its no coincidence that Liverpools form under the Frenchman faltered when the Switzerland international endured prolonged periods on the sidelines through injury. 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. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. If you want to go and speak to other clubs, thats fine'. 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. In some ways, it is a surprise that Benitez lasted this long. John Arne Riise was another player who had his future taken out of his own hands by Benitez, with the Spaniard telling the Norwegian it was time for him to move on. Pennant simply wrote "GIRLS" in capital letters - and it was downhill for him from there. [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. At first, I thought maybe he was going actually coming to justify his decision to leave me out. Riera would later blame the media for the breakdown in his relationship with Benitez when speaking to Anfield HQ in 2016. Former Liverpool star Mark Gonzalez is recovering in hospital after suffering a heart attack, his wife has confirmed. [104] Meanwhile, Real topped their UEFA Champions League group with 16 points. "We were going into labour, and I told Rafa that I could not go. Murphy would sign for Charlton Atheltic in a 2.5m deal in August 2004. Cisse admitted, after joining Marseille on loan, that he did hold a grudge against Benitez for forcing him out. [111] However, the team was relegated to the Championship due to rivals Sunderland claiming 12 points from their final six fixtures. This time, Pepe Reina saved three penalties during the shoot-out to secure the silverware. Re: Half time: Liverpool 0-0 Wolves. [110], Newcastle ended the season with a six match unbeaten run, including a 51 final day win over third-place Tottenham Hotspur. [85] He described his relationship with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich as "excellent" and expressed his desire to remain as Chelsea manager until the end of the season. The more we have seen of him the more impressed we have become. In the blue corner, Kylian Mbappe stands tall as the undisputed champion of the world. And I would like to play there constantly.". They have two daughters, Claudia, who was born in Madrid in 1999, and gata who was born in Valencia in 2002. "[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. He never treated me with the respect I deserved. Benitez came to Liverpool from the Spanish side Valencia on 16 June 2004 after the sacking of Gerard Houllier. GALLERY: Rafa Benitez's Liverpool years in pictures View gallery In 2013 he headed to Mexico to take over at Estudiantes Tecos and then last August he landed the job at Maccabi Tel Aviv in. 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. See you on Wednesday.. 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. "I'm the king of the exiles here so, as far as I'm concerned, it's finished for me at Liverpool," he said. [24][140], Bentez is a firm believer in squad rotation and zonal marking. Liverpool actually failed to find a buyer for Riera before Benitez left the club in the summer of 2010, but he was sold by successor Roy Hodgson to Olympiacos that July in a 5m deal. [citation needed], Bentez has also had confrontations with Sam Allardyce when he was manager of Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers. However, Club Director Javier Subirats recognised the potential of Bentez and campaigned for his appointment. An FA Cup winner the following year, Cisse did feature fairly regularly in 2005/06 but often found himself utilised out of position or as a substitute. In 2002, these tactics saw Bentez lead Valencia to their first La Liga title in 31 years, winning it by a seven-point margin over second-placed Deportivo La Corua. 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. [19], In a classic final, dubbed the Miracle of Istanbul, Liverpool came from 30 down at half time to level the score at 33 in the space of just six minutes, eventually triumphing 32 on penalties with the assistance of goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek.

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