Liverpool FC Forum

[Leonmc0708]

If you are, like a few of my mates, in the dark about our new gaffer, here is something I have compiled on his life to date...

1960: Born on the 4th April in Sunny Madrid

1974: Joins Real Madrid as youngster, making slow progress through the ranks, playing for the youth teams and reserves but never quite cutting the mustard for a first team chance.

1981: Leaves Real without ever playing for the first team, although many more players have done the same thanks to Real's policy of buying big names. He joins Spanish Third Division Outfit Parla.

1983: Part of the Parla side which gains promotion to the Spanish Segunda B, acheiving their best points tally and taking the club to new heights.

1985: Joins Segunda B (Spanish second division) side Linares, where the unfortunate Rafael spends almost the entire season injured and retires as a player in 1986.

1986: Appointed to Real Madrid's coaching staff, starting off with their junior players, before working up through to the Under-19s team and nurturing some excellent young Spanish players. he is soon promoted to manager of Reals second team, playing in the Spanish second division.

1994: Leads Real Madrid's B team to seventh in the Spain's Second Division, and after another promotion, Rafael ends the season as assistant to first-team coach Vicente Del Bosque.

1995: Appointed coach of Valladolid but sacked after 23 games with the team bottom of the Primera Liga table.

1996: Takes over at Osasuna in Second Division, but lasts just nine games after recording only one win in that period.

1997: Joins Second Division outfit Extremadura and leads them to promotion, finishing second in the table with 23 wins in 42 games. A record finish, points tally and league position for the club.

1999: Rafael strugles in the top flight with limited resources, and eventually Extremadura relegated from top flight after a play-off defeat to Villarreal, earlier finishing the season 17th.

1999-2000: Quits Extremadura to takes a year's sabbatical to study coaching in Italy and England. Benitez spends time at both Manchester United and Arsenal, studying meticulously their training methods and structure of the clubs.

2000: Armed with his new found wealth of coaching knowledge, Rafael is appointed boss of Second Division Tenerife and leads them promotion in his first season.

2001: Named as surprise choice to replace Hector Cuper at Valencia. Decision questioned by the fans, and at first he is reviled in the town. He wins the fans over and he leads Valencia to their first Primera Liga title in 31 years in first campaign in charge at the Mestalla.

2003: Valencia fade away to finish fifth in the table, mainly due to injuries stratching a small squad to its limits, although they do reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

2004: Benitez leads Valencia to their first-ever double, lifting both the Primera Liga and the Uefa Cup. The Premira Liga is won in some style, scoring more goals than everyone except Real Madrid who languish in fourth.

2004: June 1st Valencia announce that Benitez and club have agreed to part by mutual consent.

2004: June 16th Liverpool announce that Rafael Benitez has signed a five year deal at Anfield.

[jimmyb]

i just read that on teletext

[Sean]

Whats his favourite breakfast cereal ?

[XSD]

Heh getting a few teams relegated is a bit shady, but it seems he must have improved after that year out to study coaching in England and Italy..also it shows he will have some knowledge of the English game