[41] Alonso said that Bentez's attempts to sell him the previous summer were a deciding factor in his move. His reign at the club was a short one and he was dismissed midway through the 201011 season. I wasnt in the mood. . Liverpool fans were seen singing his name during the side's. [120], Bentez was appointed manager of Premier League club Everton on a three-year contract on 30 June 2021, replacing Carlo Ancelotti who left to join Real Madrid. Yet he would return to Spurs just seven months later, and at an 8m loss, having quickly fallen out of favour under Benitez. He also won the FA Cup in 2006 and reached the 2007 Champions League Final, but was unable to win the Premier League, with Liverpool's best league performance under Bentez a second-place finish in 200809. Loved the details Riise gave of the Bellamy fiasco; that when he showed up the day after (to basics fight Bellamy), Agger went with him and had his back. [53] On 15 June 2010, Bentez was presented to the Italian media for the first time after signing a two-year deal. He told me he needed pace up front. I felt he was waiting for me to make a mistake so he could use it against me. However, an 87th-minute goal by Steven Gerrard defeated Olympiacos 31 and saw the club progress to the last 16 on head-to-head difference. 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. 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. To be completely honest, I genuinely considered punching Rafa in the face. Keep up to date with the latest breaking news, transfer gossip and everything LFC with thousands of Reds! "I had to be with my partner. [145], Bentez's father, Francisco, worked as a hotelier. The Frenchman spent the 2006/07 on loan at Marseille, with Cisse joining the club permanently in a 6m deal in July 2007. [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. Bentez made a number of suggestions during Mourinho's tenure as manager that Roman Abramovich's money had bought Chelsea's success, and the pair refused to shake hands after some matches (although Mourinho declared the feud to be over after a league game in 2006). 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. Signed in an 8m from Espanyol in the summer of 2008, he featured regularly in his first season with the club as Liverpool fell narrowly short in the Premier League title-race. "I have not said I am going to leave Liverpool. Bentez's tactics were credited as a key factor in Liverpool reaching, and winning, the final, despite a relatively unimpressive squad of players. Extremadura only survived one season in La Liga, however, and were relegated in 1999 after finishing 17th and losing a play-off to Rayo Vallecano. "It was such a bad season for me. We discuss a first half that was below par, and the goals we conceded, as well as Bukayo Saka's brilliant equaliser. 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. There was an issue over whether it was a loan move first or a permanent transfer straight away. 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. An unused substitute for the 2007 Champions League final, he was informed by Benitez on the flight home that he had no future with the club. That exchange took place just days into his Liverpool career and involved Benitez asking him to write down his misdemeanours and faults. But, with Rafa, the training was so boring that youd come in and all youd want to do was slit your wrists! I felt so unhappy but, out of respect to the club, I never spoke out. I remember the conversation and he was all right, to be fair. 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. Liverpool host Real on Tuesday night in the first leg of their. 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.". Classy timing'.". [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. [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. "I just thought, 'am I so bad that they want me to leave and they want him?'. Im a flair player and do my own thing. 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. [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. [79], At the FIFA Club World Cup in December 2012, Chelsea defeated Monterrey 31 to reach the final,[80] where they were beaten 10 by Brazilian side Corinthians.
Rafa Benitez: Everybody remembers Istanbul but tactics against Juve Bentez: "At Real Madrid, it was easier for them to blame me" "There are many examples of him treating me badly. Bentez speaking in 2020 on winning the 2005 Champions League Final. "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.''. "Yet even now they are talking about signing another centre half.". His final match was a 42 defeat to Lazio, who took the final place in the Champions League at Napoli's expense.[101]. [82] They subsequently lost 10 at home to 20th-placed Queens Park Rangers[83] in the Premier League and were knocked out of the League Cup semi-finals by underdogs Swansea City 20 on aggregate. Just tell me. He was appointed manager of Real Valladolid for the 199596 season, but was dismissed after only two wins in 23 games with the club bottom of La Liga. As a right winger/midfielder, Steven Gerrard had the most productive seasons trophy-wise, claiming a Champions League title, and an FA Cup. But then for the first game of the new season I wasn't in the team again. Rafa Benitez promised me a certain development, but very quickly he took away that promise and it was a totally different situation. He guided Segunda Divisin club Extremadura back to La Liga in his first season in the 199798 season, but the team was relegated the following season. [ VIDEO: PST unfiltered - EURO 2020 impressions; Sancho to Man United? ] 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! Get all the latest Liverpool breaking news, team news, transfer rumours, injury updates plus analysis of what's next for the Reds. John Barnes is more worried about Manchester United coming to Liverpool on Sunday than he has been in recent times. Take it easy. "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.
Former backroom stalwart who left Everton under Rafa Benitez seemingly "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. But dont tell me you need pace. They wanted to take me on loan for six months, for which Liverpool would get 800,000, then complete a permanent 3m transfer in the summer if they avoided relegation. [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. But with Rafa, it was constant directions. Milan Baros finished Benitez's first season at Liverpool as the club's top goalscorer. If I played well, I never felt he gave me credit. [88], In the Europa League final against Benfica on 15 May, Chelsea won 21. "It is not true that I had or have had disputes with Bentez, but I am annoyed that when I'm fit I only warm the bench, Baros said on the eve of Istanbul. Project Runway Season 9 Finalist, Fashion Designer: famous for my pants! They are just choosing to spend it more cautiously. I dont think I ever really played more than three games in a row. In 1985, he signed for Segunda Divisin B club Linares and under Enrique Mateos, he served as a player/coach. [12], On 16 June 2004, Bentez was appointed manager of Liverpool, replacing Grard Houllier, becoming the first Spaniard to manage in the Premier League. What if Pepe gets injured next week? Therefore, I'm happy to give you some advice for emulating his Liverpool 4-2-3-1 tactic. On 21 August 2010, Bentez won his first trophy as manager, the Italian Super Cup, after they defeated Roma 31. The players and the people at the top of the club knew how I felt. "[122] Benitez is only the second person to manage both Liverpool and Everton, since William Edward Barclay in 1890s. I dont know how, but I managed to stop myself. Join our group for FREE by clicking here! May 25, 2005 is a date that will forever have its place in Liverpool FC folklore thanks to events at Istanbul's Ataturk Stadium. By the way, we won 0-1 with a goal from Torres.. 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. It was a normal Craig Bellamy picture in a newspaper!
Carl Lewis? 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.
Rafa Benitez Leaves Liverpool FC - Bleacher Report Then, when we played Birmingham after I hadn't started a game for a month, he didn't tell me I was starting until two hours before the game. Also added was England defender Glen Johnson for a 17.5million fee. 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. Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has issued an apology of behalf of Djibril Cisse following his controversial behaviour at Newcastle on Sunday. 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. 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. We were sitting in his office, just about to sign, and he showed me a picture of me shouting at a player! The. The French hit-man was booked for pulling his shirt over .
Alternate Liverpool history: Dani Alves would have joined Reds in 2006 ". The young Dutchman enjoyed an impressive first season at Anfield under Benitez, but would later find himself often out of favour under the Spaniard as his starting opportunities in the following years. The man management was down to his staff. [6], In 1986, at the age of 26, Bentez returned to Real Madrid to join the club's coaching staff. The. It says plenty about the dysfunction at the club that days later, Benitez has gone. Ill have Scott and a kid from the Academy. In the next game, a 00 draw against Canada, he was injured in a hard tackle. [21] In doing so, Bentez became only the third manager in history (after Bob Paisley and Jos Mourinho) to win the UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League in successive seasons, and the second Liverpool manager (after Joe Fagan) ever to win the UEFA Champions League/European Cup in his first season in charge. However, the second leg was cancelled and Madrid were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player. He was highly regarded for his tactical acumen[136][137] particularly in European ties, setting his team up to exploit opposition weaknesses. 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. 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. Benitez defence a stern test for Liverpool's attack. The Spaniard is expected to sign his. Let us know in the comments section below Albert Rieras falling out with Benitez is pretty cut and dry. 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. 134 appearances and 29 goals would seemingly demonstrate that.