Rafael Benitez's last interview as Everton boss. It was a permanent deal or nothing as far as he was concerned. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. While Premier League Team A vs Premier League Team B is meant to be the main attraction of the Sky Sports show . Rafa Benitez is my favourite coach in world football. Despite this, poor results in the Champions League and a disagreement over future transfers lead to a public falling-out with the club's owners, which played out in the media at the end of November. Rafael "Rafa" Bentez Maudes (born 16 April 1960) is a Spanish football manager who was the manager of Liverpool from 2004-2010. Milan Baros finished Benitez's first season at Liverpool as the club's top goalscorer. But dont tell me you need pace. 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. Due to this unbeaten run, Benitez was nominated for the Manager of the Month award. Rafa Benitez says Liverpool have an outstanding 18-year-old youngster "I believe in these situations it is better to talk about it and try to fix it, or at least make sure everyone knows where they stand. "I'm the king of the exiles here so, as far as I'm concerned, it's finished for me at Liverpool," he said. The French hit-man was booked for pulling his shirt over . [8], In 2001, Bentez was appointed coach of Valencia, replacing Hctor Cper. An unused substitute in the Spaniards first two games against Grazer AK and Tottenham Hotspur, he rarely made a matchday squad appearance after. I can do the 100 metres in less than 11 seconds. Hardly the sort of character you can see embracing the Spaniards totalitarian style. ". An act of treason to some fans but what Rafa Benitez gave Liverpool 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. [92] Benitez didn't take part in the lap of honour after the match, but many fans showed their appreciation for his efforts during the season, a notable contrast to the hostile reception he received before. Take it easy. John Barnes is more worried about Manchester United coming to Liverpool on Sunday than he has been in recent times. He started to get up to go but I told him to wait for a second. Former Liverpool and Inter Milan boss Rafael Benitez believes the Nerazzurri should be worried about the Reds' attack ahead of their Champions League clash on Wednesday. Joshua Askew -. 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. For a player to really be at his best you have to give him a certain confidence, but I did not feel appreciated by some people at Liverpool, he told the Mirror. I thought I would be staying for a lot longer.". If they come back today to buy you, they need to double their offer as this is the last day of the transfer window.. Rafa Benitez nearly signed Dani Alves for Liverpool GAMEWEEK 7 - DISCUSSION, RANT & INFO THREAD. Steven Gerrard has lifted the lid on his "frosty" relationship with former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez. 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. Ill have Scott and a kid from the Academy. This is what hurts me. And he still lives in Liverpool. Goals from Casemiro and a deflection from Marcus Rashford put the Red Devils 2-0 up at half-time . However, the second leg was cancelled and Madrid were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player. The situation got worse afterwards. [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. The. "I had to be with my partner. Milan Baros finished Benitezs first season at Liverpool as the clubs top goalscorer. After leaving Liverpool in June 2010, Bentez was appointed manager of treble-winning side Inter Milan. 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. He left the club in June 2019 and the following month was appointed manager of Chinese Super League club Dalian Professional. Mike Leach 'had a heart attack and may have suffered brain damage' I hated him at the time, but Ive lost that now. [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. [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. Halfway through the 199091 season he succeeded Jos Antonio Camacho as the coach of Real Madrid's under-19 team. [102][103] Real Madrid remained unbeaten in the league until a 32 loss at Sevilla in the 11th matchday. 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. I say by myself on the plane back to England the next day. He said he understood and liked my desire to be playing so negotiations with Kln continued. The 36-year-old joined the. LIVE Transfer Talk: Man United monitoring Lewandowski's future. "With Rafa, it is all about himself. [18], In the Champions League, however, Liverpool fared differently. Liverpool came from 20 down and were losing 32 in stoppage time when Steven Gerrard scored a dramatic late equalizer. [100], Bentez announced that he would resign at the end of the 201415 season. Gary Neville vs Jamie Carragher is often the best part of Monday Night Football.. You didnt mean it., I cannot let you go on loan. "[118], On 2 July 2019, Bentez was appointed manager of Chinese Super League side Dalian Professional (formerly Dalian Yifang), signing a two-and-a-half-year deal. Not only was he a brilliant coach but he is a very sharp, savvy businessman. Steven Gerrard: I was never close to Benitez and his 'facts' speech "Honestly, Rafa was a nightmare like that. [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. I've got two or three possibilities already and things are starting to move behind the scenes.". Liverpool were hit with budget restrictions in 2006, and then-reds boss Benitez was only given 10 million to spend on a right-midfielder. Who are you going to buy with pace? Upon his arrival he had two very big personnel issues to tend to. I meet him from time to time like at Pepe Reinas wedding, or some family parties.. [32] Bentez, however, said that his future was at Liverpool and signalled his long-term intentions by appointing Sammy Lee as his new assistant[33] to replace his long-time right-hand man, Pako Ayestarn, who quit after a reported disagreement, which Bentez admitted "hurt" him and arguably Liverpool's titles hopes. May 25, 2005 is a date that will forever have its place in Liverpool FC folklore thanks to events at Istanbul's Ataturk Stadium. Ex Liverpool star suffers heart attack at age of just 36 []419aTEJ[] - Benitez spent six years as Liverpool manager, winning the Champions League in 2005 and reaching the final of the competition in 2007. 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. "There are many examples of him treating me badly. I have a normal relationship with Rafa. He did everything so coldly, almost inhumanely, because he saw things as business. 4y Dave Usher. [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. "I was very young and I just needed guidance. "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. [6], The first attempts by Bentez at senior management away from the Real Madrid fold were less than successful. Liverpool Fans Sing Former Manager Rafa Benitez's Name After He Is Rafa Benitez's Liverpool Machine - Holding Midfield I remember the conversation and he was all right, to be fair. The left-backs standards had arguably slipped in his final two seasons with Liverpool as he fought with Fabio Aurelio for a starting role with only the Brazilians injury record ensuring he didnt retain the position permanently. [57] His first league win as manager came on 11 September 2010, a 21 win against Udinese at the San Siro. 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. Subscribe to the CV Academy. [citation needed], Bentez has also had confrontations with Sam Allardyce when he was manager of Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers. He then left Napoli and became coach of Real Madrid in June 2015 on an initial three-year contract. The title challenge, however, fizzled out early in the season, with Liverpool's poor form away from Anfield leading to speculation Bentez's tenure at Liverpool was short-lived, with his agent quoted as saying Bentez would consider offers to manage in Italy. [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. Xabi Alonso, Luis Garcia they won the Champions League that following season and he was justified.. It was no surprise that the Spaniard had quickly decided to move the striker on, and the Wales international would later reveal his problems with his manager started on day one. What is going on with my transfer?, I will be honest with you, I am not interested in loaning you. Former backroom stalwart who left Everton under Rafa Benitez seemingly They stopped me from being free. [123], Under Benitez Everton enjoyed a winning streak across the Premier League and EFL Cup in their first four games. Pennant simply wrote "GIRLS" in capital letters - and it was downhill for him from there. But his constant instructions really restricted me. Liverpool fans were seen singing his name during the side's. It was such a special, important moment that I took the decision that I needed to be there, Alonso explained. 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. Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has issued an apology of behalf of Djibril Cisse following his controversial behaviour at Newcastle on Sunday. Liverpool fans knew all along about Rafa Benitez and Everton as cruel Liverpool finished the calendar year top of the Premier League for the first time since 1996. [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. Being told youre no longer wanted at Liverpool by Rafa that was a tough one, he told TalkSPORT. That is something I can never forget. Benitez, 50, replaced Gerard Houllier as Liverpool manager in June 2004 and. He told me he needed pace up front. Starting the following season strongly, his manager even called for him to be given an England call-up.