[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. [38], Nevertheless, on 18 March 2009, shortly after registering a 40 victory over Real Madrid and 41 victory over Manchester United, Bentez signed a new five-year deal with the club. Writing in his autobiography, he described the Spaniard as the "most difficult" manager he played for, criticising him over his lack of man-management skills, claiming he only ever had one proper conversation with him. "Everyone asks me why I left Liverpool," he told the News of the World.. "There is only one reason - Rafa Benitez. By Rafa Benitez May 24, 2020 Happy Istanbul Day! And thats prompted us to look back at Benitezs time across Stanley Park at Anfield, and recall some of the players Liverpool sold after disagreements with their manager. 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. Then he said: I think its time we go our separate ways, Riise recalled in his 2018 autobiography. Craig Bellamy joined Liverpool from Blackburn Rovers in a 6m deal in June 2006. "Just before I left Liverpool last January was when they brought in Pellegrino," he told the Mail on Sunday. [23], Bentez's signings helped the club's Premiership form improve considerably. [126] With his sacking, Benitez became the fifth Everton manager to lose his job in the previous six years. Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has issued an apology of behalf of Djibril Cisse following his controversial behaviour at Newcastle on Sunday. "When a player knows he is a slave, he'll never give his employer his heart.. Initially, he joined Parla on loan, but eventually signed for them permanently and helped them gain promotion to Segunda Divisin B. And I would like to play there constantly.". 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. This is a player who had spent time in prison and played in the Premier League wearing an electronic tag after all. Rafael Benitez: Police investigate reports of banner threatening ex You can't treat a player like this and expect him to be happy. Despite their best efforts, the Toon were beaten by six minutes worth of Manchester United attack. He also worked as a commentator/analyst for Eurosport, Marca, El Mundo and local Madrid TV. 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. [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. The Reds moved to six points adrift of fourth place after a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United. It was up and down but at the same time I had a great experience there. I remember the conversation and he was all right, to be fair. "He thinks he's in charge and everything else falls on deaf ears. Footballers love seeing a bit of confrontation on the training ground! Bentez is fluent in Spanish, English, French and Italian. Rafa Benitez has praised Liverpool teenager Stefan Bajcetic ahead of tonight's Champions League first leg clash with Real Madrid. Yes, I would have if I were not present at the delivery. They are just choosing to spend it more cautiously. [112] On 25 May 2016, it was confirmed that Bentez would remain as manager. The coach and myself were not compatible. Or when Bentez takes me off during a game even if I haven't used up all my energy on the pitch. I could not risk waiting to see if Benitez kept his job. "In my head it's as if I've already left. Kimberly goldson project runway | Models-art.ru Milan Baros finished Benitez's first season at Liverpool as the club's top goalscorer. [74][75] This was followed by a 00 draw at home to Fulham and a 31 loss to West Ham. Mike Leach 'had a heart attack and may have suffered brain damage' [81] Chelsea progressed to the League Cup semi-finals with a 51 win over Leeds United at Elland Road and then recorded an 80 win over Aston Villa, equalling their record top-flight victory. It was a really emotional moment for me. It's a little frustrating because you see that you can help. [22], Dudek's heroics in the final were not enough for him to stay as first-choice keeper, as newly signed Pepe Reina replaced him in from the start of the 200506 season. Report: Rafa Benitez "close" to taking over Everton - MLS on NBC 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. I had played for five years at Anfield and then never got a game when Benitez arrived, apart from three in the Carling Cup. 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. Xabi Alonsos relationship with Benitez is a curious one. [107][108] He suffered defeat in his first match in charge, losing 10 away to eventual champions Leicester City on 14 March. 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. "[122] Benitez is only the second person to manage both Liverpool and Everton, since William Edward Barclay in 1890s. [citation needed], In 200304 season, Valencia won La Liga with three games to spare and beat Marseille 20 in the UEFA Cup final. For the second consecutive season, he was named UEFA Manager of the Year. Bentez: "At Real Madrid, it was easier for them to blame me" His final match was a 42 defeat to Lazio, who took the final place in the Champions League at Napoli's expense.[101]. In 1985, he signed for Segunda Divisin B club Linares and under Enrique Mateos, he served as a player/coach. A controversial early goal in the second leg from Luis Garca saw Liverpool win 10 on aggregate and reach the final against Milan. Rafa Benitez has given his verdict on Liverpool's chances of finishing in the Premier League's top four. Rafael Benitez | Liverpool FC Wiki | Fandom Connect with Liverpool fans from around the world in our official supporters group. Bentez, however, did reach his first English domestic cup final, losing the League Cup final against Chelsea at the Millennium Stadium 32 after extra time.[17]. 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. I would go when everything was fine, catch a plane and show up there. Bentez still appeared to be at odds with Liverpool's owners, publicly turning down a contract extension and demanding more control over transfers. [ VIDEO: PST unfiltered - EURO 2020 impressions; Sancho to Man United? ] [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. If you want to stay, theres not much point, I know you like playing and youre better off going. I certainly had no complaints about that. 20th Sep 2022, 7:39am. And when the fans wanted me to play, Benitez told me he couldn't understand why. 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. What is going on with my transfer?, I will be honest with you, I am not interested in loaning you. 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. An act of treason to some fans but what Rafa Benitez gave Liverpool [133], Bentez has developed a reputation in English football as a hard man to please, with former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard admitting he longed for a "well done" from Bentez after good performances. In November 2012, he was appointed interim manager of Chelsea for the remainder of the season and he won the 2013 Europa League. [37] This off-field turmoil was in contrast to Liverpool's impressive start to the 200809 season in the Premier League, including Bentez' first ever league win against Manchester United at Anfield on 13 September and ending Chelsea's 86 match unbeaten run in the league at Stamford Bridge. Liverpool FC today confirmed that Rafael Benitez is to leave the club by mutual consent. You promised you would help me but now I have a concrete offer youve not kept your word., I cannot risk it. "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. Pako: I never betrayed Rafa Benitez at Liverpool FC YOU would have got good odds on someone called Fofana saving Graham Potter from more death threats. 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. Would he let me go? [citation needed], However, Liverpool's poor results in the New Year led to a sharper focus on Bentez, who had missed Liverpool's draw at Arsenal in December due to an operation to remove kidney stones. His dialogue with the players is practically nil. This is what hurts me. Still remember seeing him pull what appeared to be a tooth out of his mouth after colliding with a goalpost. "When you have so many instructions, it makes it so difficult. [117] However, in an interview with The Athletic in December 2020, Bentez stated he was left no choice but to leave the role due to disagreements with Ashley, describing him as "a businessman who I don't believe really cares about his team. I say by myself on the plane back to England the next day. Bentez, however, later explained this gesture: he said he had previously told Xabi Alonso to take a short free-kick. 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. Steven Gerrard: I was never close to Benitez and his 'facts' speech 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. Bentez also gave new life to existing Liverpool players, transforming Jamie Carragher from a utility player to one of Europe's top centre backs alongside Sami Hyypi. It was suggested that Bentez's position was now under serious threat. Olivia Shears and Katie Whyatt were highly commended in an historic one-two-three: it was the first time in the competition's history [] 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. Bentez said that he had jokingly signalled to Alonso to ignore his instructions and not that he thought the game was effectively over. But to this day I still think I should have stayed. 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. [139] Bentez often plays key players in unorthodox positions to suit a formation notably converting both Steven Gerrard (in the 200506 season) and Dirk Kuyt into right-wingers. Further injury problems saw him miss almost the entire 198586 season and he subsequently retired as a player. I've got two or three possibilities already and things are starting to move behind the scenes.". The. You already know the story, of course. "But if I am not playing I have no chance of going to the World Cup, so I am trying to solve the problem so I at least have a small chance.''. Admittedly I never really asked the manager, but he never said anything either, never said I wasn't good enough. However, as the labour dragged on, the Reds boss had a decision to make as he went ahead without the midfielder and ultimately snubbed Alonsos offer to fly out on the day of the game. That was why, when Pako Ayestarn (his assistant) went, they had a parting of the ways and things started to go downhill a bit.". 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Pennant simply wrote "GIRLS" in capital letters - and it was downhill for him from there. The man management was down to his staff. The Spaniard is expected to sign his. But, with Rafa, the training was so boring that youd come in and all youd want to do was slit your wrists! All of a sudden youre confused. We played attacking football. Shortly after his departure from Anfield, Bentez made a 96,000 donation to the Hillsborough Family Support Group. Even Ali looks a shadow of himself. [109] Bentez would have to wait until 16 April for his first win in charge of The Magpies, recording a convincing 30 victory over Swansea City in the Premier League. Former Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has sent the Magpies a heart-warming message on Twitter after their defeat in the Carabao cup final. He was being honest and he said to me: Look, I want to bring in some of my own players, youre not going to be part of the XI and its unlikely youre going to get back in the team. [52], On 10 June 2010, and only a few days after leaving Liverpool, Bentez agreed a deal to become the new head coach of Serie A and reigning Champions League title-holders Inter Milan, a post that was left vacant by the departure of Jos Mourinho, who left to manage Real Madrid. Liverpool fans knew that 'Agent Rafa' would not be there more than a season, and so it has proven. Rafa Benitez nearly signed Dani Alves for Liverpool The striker would join West Ham United in a 7.5m deal, as Benitez went on to replace him with Fernando Torres, before later returning to Liverpool in August 2011 and enjoying a more successful stint with his boyhood club under Kenny Dalglish. Bentez also quickly sold Josemi and Antonio Nez, two of his first signings in English football, after they failed to establish themselves, with the likes of Peter Crouch, Mohamed Sissoko, Daniel Agger as well as former Liverpool player Robbie Fowler being brought in to strengthen the side. Murphy would sign for Charlton Atheltic in a 2.5m deal in August 2004. After everything the coach has put me through, I'm not going to give him that parting gift (of a fee). 'You own the f****** club' - Istanbul story captures humility of 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 was with the national side, before the World Cup, he recalled to the Times. However, the second leg was cancelled and Madrid were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player. EXCLUSIVE! Rafa Benitez admits Everton job was difficult because of 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. 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. 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. "Youve got two sets of instructions in your mind and youre left wondering what to do. Bentez played as a midfielder for both Real Madrid Aficionados in the Tercera Divisin and Castilla CF in the Segunda Divisin. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Then the focus is on a remarkable last . [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. When Allardyce was manager of Newcastle, he suggested Bentez would have been dismissed had Liverpool's European form been as bad as their league form. [111] However, the team was relegated to the Championship due to rivals Sunderland claiming 12 points from their final six fixtures. Yet, the Spaniard is not a monster. I miss all that a little.". Other semi final Wolves V Southampton. He left the club, and coached Tenerife in 2000, winning promotion in his only season. But dont tell me you need pace. West Ham board's five options to replace David Moyes after Brighton Project Runway Season 9 Finalist, Fashion Designer: famous for my pants! The amount of time in training that wed do shape, tactics and nothing else! On two occasions early last season, against Fulham and Lyon, the fans booed when I was subbed. The Frenchman spent the 2006/07 on loan at Marseille, with Cisse joining the club permanently in a 6m deal in July 2007. Who are you going to buy with pace? The manager ignored me when I wanted to know why. Luis Diaz in, Iwobi out; What would Everton look like if Brands found Enjoy it. 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. 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. The 50-year-old, who only took charge 18 months ago, finished 15 points c By Will Rooney. "[91], On 19 May, in his final competitive game as Chelsea manager, Bentez managed the team to a 21 home win over Everton, ensuring a third-place finish in the Premier League and a direct spot in the following season's Champions League group stage. https://bit.ly/3Im9yA30:09 - Intro 0:16 - 4-2-3-1, how it transitions and roles out of possession 5:03 - In possession: Number. increasingly disappointed. [93], On 27 May 2013, it was announced that Bentez had signed for Napoli, whose manager Walter Mazzarri had resigned. You didnt mean it., I cannot let you go on loan. Kylian Mbappe and good friend Achraf Hakimi prepare to do battle Benitez, 50, replaced Gerard Houllier as Liverpool manager in June 2004 and. The lads could see I was fuming so all hung around to see what would happen. . Rafa Benitez. A horrific broken leg derailed the Frenchmans first season with the club, though he would return to help them win the Champions League in 2005. He (Benitez) said it would be a good move for me, adding: Well definitely help you, well do whatever it takes to make a deal, Dudek recalled. Rafa Benitez promised me a certain development, but very quickly he took away that promise and it was a totally different situation. "Honestly, Rafa was a nightmare like that. Also added was England defender Glen Johnson for a 17.5million fee. Rafa Benitez: Everybody remembers Istanbul but tactics against Juve