[131] In his 2013 autobiography, Ferguson said that "Benitez bought badly and made the feud personal". If its the way I play or the way I am, fine. 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. Being told youre no longer wanted at Liverpool by Rafa that was a tough one, he told TalkSPORT. "But then as we went on he left me totally on my own and only judged me for the things I didnt do right instead of telling me how to solve or improve the things I had to improve. Former Liverpool Manager Rafa Benitez Reveals Two Transfers That Katie Smith, who is studying at Leeds University, was crowned as the 2017 winner of the David Welch Student Sportswriter of the Year at the Sports Journalists Association awards in London on Monday night. I should have known better by then. On 3 June 2015, Bentez was confirmed as the new Real Madrid manager, signing a three-year contract. [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. Rafa Benitez's Liverpool Machine - Holding Midfield 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. 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. Rafa Benitez. I would be against myself if I made such a decision. 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. To be completely honest, I genuinely considered punching Rafa in the face. This is a player who had spent time in prison and played in the Premier League wearing an electronic tag after all. Upon his arrival he had two very big personnel issues to tend to. 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. [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. A club-record 14m signing from Auxerre the same summer of Benitezs arrival, the only problem for Djibril Cisse was it was Houllier rather than the Spaniard who sanctioned the switch. Something went wrong, please try again later. Former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez becomes new Everton manager - ESPN.com The next couple of days were a couple of the hardest days of my life. "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. [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. Benitez famously led Liverpool to the 2004-05 Champions League crown, and has twice won the UEFA Cup (Valencia, Chelsea). Liverpool's worst run in 22 years[46] combined with an exit from the Champions League at the group stages led to the first major vocal criticism of Bentez by Liverpool fans. By Will Rooney. Liverpool won't get a penny. Milan Baros finished Benitez's first season at Liverpool as the club's top goalscorer. It was the same for me. 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. Former backroom stalwart who left Everton under Rafa Benitez seemingly In 1985, he signed for Segunda Divisin B club Linares and under Enrique Mateos, he served as a player/coach. [145], Bentez's father, Francisco, worked as a hotelier. John Barnes is more worried about Manchester United coming to Liverpool on Sunday than he has been in recent times. Fab was our best player that half, which is some sort of comfort. The thinking fan's Chelsea blog. Given Bellamys reputation, you can imagine these were not the only occasions when the duo failed to see eye to eye. So (journalists) put some words in my mouth saying that the person who was responsible for me not being included in the Spain squad was Rafa. Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez leaves by mutual consent This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. He also played a further three games for the Spain Universities XI. 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. 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. "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!. [62][63] On 23 December 2010, just five days after bringing Inter to the triumph, Bentez was dismissed by Inter. [3][4][5], In 1979, Bentez was selected to play for the Spain Youth U-19s at the World Student Games in Mexico City and he scored a penalty in the opening game, a 100 win against Cuba. "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. 134 appearances and 29 goals would seemingly demonstrate that. 'Rafa was a nightmare' - 13 players who left Liverpool after falling "I think I was right as well because I saw Pellegrino play for Liverpool and I thought, 'yes, I could have done the job he did for them, at the very least'. And after moving to Stamford Bridge, Benayoun would lay into his former Reds boss, insisting he was the only reason he had any interest in leaving Anfield. "Honestly, Rafa was a nightmare like that. Maybe I will never swallow it. 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. He spoke a lot to us to change the intensity." [88], In the Europa League final against Benfica on 15 May, Chelsea won 21. . A stalwart under Gerard Houllier, Murphy never really had a falling out with the Spaniard as such. Ultimately you have to trust the players once they cross the white line. [110], Newcastle ended the season with a six match unbeaten run, including a 51 final day win over third-place Tottenham Hotspur. "It is good for Liverpool that Benitez has gone, but it was too late for me. He won a third league title with Real Madrid Youth B in 1990. "Just before I left Liverpool last January was when they brought in Pellegrino," he told the Mail on Sunday. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Goals from Casemiro and a deflection from Marcus Rashford put the Red Devils 2-0 up at half-time . Another altercation between Bellamy and Benitez would take place in the Spaniards office after the Welshman was fined for taking a penalty against Birmingham City when Robbie Fowler had been the designated taker. Take it easy. rafa benitez heart attack liverpool - brainnovation.be Former Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has sent the Magpies a heart-warming message on Twitter after their defeat in the Carabao cup final. In the next game, a 00 draw against Canada, he was injured in a hard tackle. "With Rafa, it is all about himself. What if Pepe gets injured next week? [25] Bentez swiftly issued a statement through the club's website re-affirming his desire to remain with Liverpool for the long term. After leaving Liverpool in June 2010, Bentez was appointed manager of treble-winning side Inter Milan. Yes, I would have if I were not present at the delivery. [69][70][71] He appointed Boudewijn Zenden as his new assistant manager at Chelsea on the same day. But with Rafa, it was constant directions. Bentez played as a midfielder for both Real Madrid Aficionados in the Tercera Divisin and Castilla CF in the Segunda Divisin. Rafa Benitez News: Latest updates after Everton sacking - Mail Online Starting the following season strongly, his manager even called for him to be given an England call-up. [citation needed], Bentez has also had confrontations with Sam Allardyce when he was manager of Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers. LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 17: Abdoulaye Doucoure of Everton is challenged by Tomas Soucek of West Ham United during the Premier League match between Everton and West Ham United at Goodison Park on October 17, 2021 in Liverpool, England. He tried to destroy my confidence. In 1993, the team completed a double when they also won the national under-19 league. Mr Benitez relinquishes his position as team manager after six years and the Board of Directors would. "I was never given a chance and that hurts. Benitez was in charge at Anfield from 2004 to 2010, winning. [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. Benitez came to Liverpool from the Spanish side Valencia on 16 June 2004 after the sacking of Gerard Houllier. Rafa Benitez is my favourite coach in world football. The players and the people at the top of the club knew how I felt. By Will Rooney 17th Jan 2022, 2:32pm Former Everton medical chief Dan Donachie has appeared to have taken a swipe at Rafa Benitez after he was axed as manager. 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. Just tell me. [6], In 1986, at the age of 26, Bentez returned to Real Madrid to join the club's coaching staff. Rafael Benitez might have been sacked by Premier League club Everton, but the red half of Merseyside still remembers him fondly. Plenty predicted that Benitez's name would be sung at Anfield more than Goodison and so it proved. I understand what he was doing. Keep up to date with the latest breaking news, transfer gossip and everything LFC with thousands of Reds! "I have not said I am going to leave Liverpool. Liverpools hero in Istanbul for the 2005 Champions League final, Jerzy Dudeks reward was to be relegated to the clubs back-up goalkeeper just months later following the arrival of Pepe Reina.