If they come back today to buy you, they need to double their offer as this is the last day of the transfer window.. Ryan Babel was just 20 when he joined Liverpool from Ajax in an 11.5m deal in the summer of 2007. He left the club in June 2019 and the following month was appointed manager of Chinese Super League club Dalian Professional. The man management was down to his staff. Let us know in the comments section below Albert Rieras falling out with Benitez is pretty cut and dry. I was in touch with Meier regularly and he told me Benitez wouldnt speak to him, but was saying Klns offer was unacceptable. [147][146] Francisco died in December 2005 while Bentez was in Japan for the FIFA Club World Championship. It was just a case of his manager no longer wanting him in his squad, with the defender going on to sign for Roma in 4m deal. Bentez was appointed coach of Valencia and won La Liga in the 200102 season. The win secured a top-four Premiership finish and with it a place in the following season's Champions League. You already know the story, of course. [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. He spoke a lot to us to change the intensity." "I have to finally tell Rafa I'm leaving because maybe he's not aware of it, he said. In 2004, another La Liga league title and a UEFA Cup victory were added building on the foundation laid by Hctor Cper who had taken Valencia to two consecutive Champions League finals; in 2000 against Real Madrid, and in 2001 against Bayern Munich. When I look back I could have done things differently but at the same time I also think I could have got more guidance from the coaches.. [111] However, the team was relegated to the Championship due to rivals Sunderland claiming 12 points from their final six fixtures. Rafael Benitez is set to be appointed as Everton's new manager next week after the former Liverpool boss agreed key aspects of his contract with the club. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. I would be against myself if I made such a decision. [10], However, the following 200203 season was a disappointing one; the club failed to follow up on their title success, finishing 18 points behind champions Real Madrid, and missed out on the top four by a single point. [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. That's why we played better and won the title. 20th Sep 2022, 7:39am. My objective is to go to the World Cup and for this I have to play. [60] Despite criticism, Bentez guided Inter to win the FIFA Club World Cup in December 2010. "When I went there (Liverpool) I was told myself and Torres (would start) and Stevie would drop into the midfield but obviously as it went on I think Rafa liked Stevie playing that no.10. [7], During the 199293 season, Bentez also worked as an assistant coach to Mariano Garca Remn at Real Madrid B. Not quite fitting into the Reds favoured system, failing to forge a successful partnership with Fernando Torres and not being suited to lead the line when the Spaniard was injured all contributed to his premature departure. [64], On 21 November 2012, following the dismissal of Roberto Di Matteo, Chelsea appointed Bentez as interim first-team manager until the end of the 201213 season. German clubs are financially savvy Kln knew they couldnt afford to buy me if they werent in the top division but Rafa refused to let me go on loan. But perhaps because Benitez believes in an element of. Maybe I will never swallow it. 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. The 61-year-old also won La Liga with Valencia and has collected trophies at Inter Milan, Napoli, and Newcastle United. Other semi final Wolves V Southampton. "I scored 19 goals and I never played! "It was for the Champions League quarter-final squad against Inter," Alonso said. Bentez's tactics were credited as a key factor in Liverpool reaching, and winning, the final, despite a relatively unimpressive squad of players. After so many years, thats something wonderful that stays in your memory forever". He left the club by mutual consent in January 2021 before taking over as manager at Everton in June. But come the start of the season he didnt get a look in. Imagine the pressure Id be under if that happened, Why should I care? It was a normal Craig Bellamy picture in a newspaper! Also added was England defender Glen Johnson for a 17.5million fee. [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. [145], Bentez's father, Francisco, worked as a hotelier. Meanwhile in an interview with the Independent, he said: He (Benitez) promised me certain things at this time to help me develop which I thought was the same as Ajax but at a different pace. 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. Upon his arrival he had two very big personnel issues to tend to. "I'm not one of these players that likes to sit around on the bench and just pick my money up. When Mourinho exited Chelsea in 2007, Bentez said, "You know my relationship with him, it is better that I do not say anything", declining to comment as Ferguson and Arsenal manager Arsne Wenger had. ". And I remember thinking, oh my, this is going to be trouble, this is going to be difficult for me'. Bentez argued he needed to rotate his small squad to ensure key players were fit for the latter stages of these knockout competitions. Riera would later blame the media for the breakdown in his relationship with Benitez when speaking to Anfield HQ in 2016. 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. "I have not said I am going to leave Liverpool. 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. Mr Benitez relinquishes his position as team manager after six years and the Board of Directors would. ago. This is what hurts me. Re: Half time: Liverpool 0-0 Wolves. I felt he was waiting for me to make a mistake so he could use it against me. During the 199697 season, Bentez took charge at Osasuna in the Segunda Divisin, but after only nine games and one win, he was dismissed. Project Runway Season 9 Finalist, Fashion Designer: famous for my pants! Benitez did far more. 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.". But it was Liverpool Football Club. [146] Rosario is a big football fan and supported Real Madrid, while his father supported Atltico Madrid. ", "Sammy Lee back as Liverpool assistant coach", "Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez and chief exec Rick Parry call a truce", "Never Walk Alone? Xabi Alonsos relationship with Benitez is a curious one. I am not interested in making Rafa my enemy in the slightest, quite the opposite, but ultimately it is about playing, and if I am not, we have to talk about why not. Liverpool were hit with budget restrictions in 2006, and then-reds boss Benitez was only given 10 million to spend on a right-midfielder. 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. 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. The situation is said to be dire and Leach may have suffered seizures. Liverpool paid 20m when signing Robbie Keane from Tottenham Hotspur in July 2009. I can do the 100 metres in less than 11 seconds. The euphoria of lifting the European Cup 15 years ago today is a feeling Rafael Benitez will never forget. Its like telling (Lionel) Messi you need technique. But once Benitez had decided to sacrifice Alonso to bring in Barry, the writing was on the wall. Rafa Benitez promised me a certain development, but very quickly he took away that promise and it was a totally different situation. 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. . [62][63] On 23 December 2010, just five days after bringing Inter to the triumph, Bentez was dismissed by Inter. The 61-year-old collapsed at his Starkville home but did not receive medical attention for between ten to 15 minutes. 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. A 6.7m signing from Birmingham City in the summer of 2006, he impressed during his first season with the club and was a standout performer in their 2007 Champions League final defeat to AC Milan. You could benefit from new challenges and weve bought a new left-back that we intend to rely on Liverpool had purchased Andrea Dossena from Udinese for 7million, but that kind of thing had happened before. I knew I had to get away from Benitez. After his success with the U19s, Bentez then succeeded Garca Remn at the start of the 199394 season. Rafa Benitez spent six years at Liverpool before a shorter stint as Everton manager (PA) Rafa Benitez has admitted that he has split loyalties ahead of the Merseyside derby, refusing to. "There are many examples of him treating me badly. [13] On his arrival he stated: "It is like a dream to be here. However, Club Director Javier Subirats recognised the potential of Bentez and campaigned for his appointment. Subscribe to the CV Academy. Mauricio Pochettino 'SACKED by PSG after agreeing to terminate contract' just months after Ligue 1 triumph,MAURICIO POCHETTINO has reportedly been sacked by Paris Saint-Germain after he reached a severance agreement with the club. He never treated me with the respect I deserved. [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. 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. Liverpool fans were seen singing his name during the side's. 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. Something went wrong, please try again later. I had really to become an adult very quick and adapt. On 3 June 2015, Bentez was confirmed as the new Real Madrid manager, signing a three-year contract. 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. The. Former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has named the two players that influenced Steven Gerrard the most in his time at the club. However, the second leg was cancelled and Madrid were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player. Besides, people are treating me as if I don't exist any more. [93], On 27 May 2013, it was announced that Bentez had signed for Napoli, whose manager Walter Mazzarri had resigned. I raised my voice. You said youd help me. Benitez just shook his head Id got the sack, plain and simple. [119] On 23 January 2021, Bentez left the club by mutual consent, citing concerns over the health and wellbeing of his family due to the COVID-19 pandemic as a reason for his departure.