Rafael Benítez

Decision Points

Rafael "Rafa" Benítez Maudes was born 16 April 1960. Benitez is a football manager, and former player. He is currently unemployed, after leaving as manager of Internazionale in December 2010.

Born in Madrid, Benítez played football throughout his youth and joined the Real Madrid academy. He mixed his university studies with his football career at lower division Spanish teams. He 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. Benítez moved away from Real Madrid but management spells at Real Valladolid and Osasuna were short-lived and unsuccessful.

Benítez guided Segunda División side Extremadura back to the Primera División in his first season in 1997, but the team was relegated the following season. He left the club, taking a brief break from football before returning to coach Tenerife in 2000. Benítez was appointed coach of Valencia and he proved himself to be amongst the top Spanish managers by winning La Liga in the 2001–02 season—Don Balón and El País named him Manager of the Year. In 2004, another league title and a UEFA Cup victory were added. However, a disagreement between Benítez and the club director over team investment caused the Spaniard to switch to English Premier League club Liverpool.

Benítez was a high-achiever in his first season as he guided Liverpool to victory in the UEFA Champions League, the highest honour in European club football. In the following three seasons he won the FA Cup, amongst other honours, and reached the 2007 Champions League Final, but remained unable to win the Premier League, with Liverpool's best performance under Benítez a second place finish in 2008–09.

Fans were hopeful with Benítez's long-term future sorted Liverpool could push on to the next level in the 2009-2010 season and win their first League title in 20 years. Yet the season that followed resulted in Liverpool finishing in 7th position and Benítez's contract being terminated by mutual consent.

Prior to Benítez's final season, Xabi Alonso, one of the key members of Benítez's squad, was sold to Real Madrid following a lengthy pursuit in a deal reportedly worth £30 million. Alonso admitted that Benítez's attempts to sell him the previous summer were a deciding factor in his move. Alonso was immediately replaced in the squad by £17m Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani, signed from Roma, who was recovering from a long-term injury. Also added was England defender Glen Johnson for £17.5m. A "sell to buy" policy enforced by the ownership due to increasing debt, combined with Alonso's departure, prompted discontent amongst considerable sections of the club's fanbase who believed Benítez was not being backed sufficiently in the transfer market. Benítez's decision to sell Alonso and replace him in the side with Brazilian Lucas, with Aquilani having arrived at the club injured, was called into question as Liverpool's title campaign ended before it began with two defeats in the first three games Benítez defended his decisions, arguing Liverpool's slow start was due to key players such as Gerrard being below par, a move that alienated Benítez from key members of his squad.

Liverpool's worst run in 22 years combined with an exit from the Champions League at the group stages led to the first major vocal criticism of Benítez by Liverpool fans. It was suggested that this Liverpool team was missing Benítez's characteristic defensive rigidness despite the fact that only Manchester United and Chelsea conceded fewer goals than Liverpool, and lacked the necessary depth to cope with injuries to key players such as Gerrard and Torres while Benítez's decision making was called into question. The club subsequently exited the Europa League at the hands of former Manchester United player Diego Forlan and his Atletico Madrid side, eliminating any hope of the consolation of a trophy.

Benítez was sacked by the club on 3 June 2010; the media speculating that this was because the team had finished seventh in the Premier League missing out on the Champions League, and poor results such as the defeat by Wigan Athletic. Shortly after his departure from Anfield, Benítez made a £96,000 donation to the Hillsborough Family Support Group. However, Benitez settled for a £6m pay off from Liverpool according to the media.