Friday 11 March 2016 14:58, UK
With Rafa Benitez named Newcastle manager, we chart the highs and lows of his career.
Benitez, who was sacked by Real Madrid in January, has 10 games to rescue the Magpies from relegation.
The Spaniard has won 12 trophies, including two La Liga titles with Valencia, and the Champions League with Liverpool during a distinguished career.
However, it hasn’t always been plain sailing for the 55-year-old. Here we chart the ups and downs of his time in management…
Real Valladolid – 1995-1996
Benitez kicked-off life in management at Real Valladolid – but he didn’t exactly get off to a flying start. After two wins in 23 games, Real Valladolid were bottom of La Liga and Benitez – who had been appointed at the start of the 1995/96 season – was out of a job by the end of January.
Osasuna – 1996
After his first foray into management failed, Benitez returned in Spain’s second division with Osasuna the following summer – and this time lasted just nine games. Just one win in that time was not enough to convince the club’s owners to stand by their man.
Extremadura – 1997-1999
At the third attempt, Benitez finally struck success, leading Extremadura to a second-place finish in the Segunda Divison and promotion to La Liga. The club’s stay in Spain’s top flight was short-lived, though. They were relegated the following season after finishing 17th and losing a play-off with Villarreal. Benitez resigned and opted to take a year off to study in England and Italy and consider his next move.
Tenerife – 2000-2001
Benitez returned to football in 2000, with Segunda Division side Tenerife and steered them to promotion, behind Sevilla and Real Betis. A young Luis Garcia was in his team that season; the midfielder would later help Benitez’s Liverpool win the Champions League.
Valencia – 2001-2004
Despite his good work with Tenerife, Benitez was somewhat of a surprise appointment for Valencia in 2001. Los Che had reached back-to-back Champions League finals, while Benitez had just one La Liga season under his belt as a manager. Remarkably, he led Valencia to the title, finishing seven points ahead of Deportivo. A less successful second season followed but Valencia and Benitez bounced back in 2003/04, winning La Liga once again and clinching the UEFA Cup with a 2-0 win over Marseille.
However, Benitez left the club after falling out with the owners over transfers. “I was hoping for a sofa and they bought me a lamp,” he said, when a midfielder arrived instead of his desired defender.
Liverpool – 2004-2010
Benitez’s next stop was the Premier League and a six-year spell with Liverpool. Defeat to Chelsea in the League Cup final and a fifth-placed finish in the league was of little consequence to most Liverpool fans come the end of the season, when Benitez’s men won the most remarkable Champions League final of all time against AC Milan.
“All credit to Benítez, he wouldn't let us put our heads down. He told us the game wasn't over and we knew if we got an early goal, we were back in it,” said captain Steven Gerrard after their stunning fightback from 3-0 down at half-time to win on penalties.
The following season brought more cup final heroics, as Liverpool denied West Ham in the FA Cup final with the help of a Gerrard wonder strike, while a third-place finish in the league – one point off second – highlighted the team's development.
Another Champions League final followed in 2006/07 – although this time AC Milan got their revenge – before semi-final heartbreak at the hands of Chelsea saw Liverpool miss out on a third final 12 months later.
A runners-up spot in the Premier Legaue and big wins over Manchester United and Real Madrid came in 2008/09, and Benitez – who had earlier in the season launched a tirade against rival Sir Alex Ferguson with his ‘facts' – signed a five-year contract. However, a poor run, early Champions League exit and seventh-place finish the following season saw Benitez leave Anfield.
Inter Milan 2010-2011
Days after leaving Liverpool Benitez joined Inter Milan, taking over Jose Mourinho’s treble winners. He got off to a winning start, lifting the Italian Super Cup, but lost to Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup. Despite poor league and Champions League results, Benitez won the Club World Cup. However, when he demanded backing from the board in the January transfer window there was little support forthcoming and he was sacked on December 23.
Chelsea 2012-2013
“I would never take that job, in respect for my former team at Liverpool, no matter what.” Benitez – who had a number of run-ins with Chelsea during his time in charge of the Reds – had his words used as ammunition against him when he went back on his promise and signed up to replace Roberto Di Matteo at Stamford Bridge.
The Spaniard was jeered by Chelsea supporters in his first game in charge and fought an ongoing battle with the fans throughout his short reign. A Champions League group stage exit, Club World Cup final defeat and semi-final losses in the League Cup and FA Cup hardly helped his cause.
However, Benitez – who had already revealed he would be leaving at the end of the season after hitting out at the owners over his ‘interim manager’ title and the fans for jeering him instead of supporting the team – added another trophy to his cabinet with Europa League final glory against Benfica.
Napoli 2013-2015
Benitez added even more weight to his reputation as a cup specialist by winning the Coppa Italia in his first season in charge in Naples, before reaching the semi-finals of the Italian Cup competition in 2014/15 and the final four of the Europa League.
Serie A results were not as positive, with Napoli slipping from second in the season before Benitez’s arrival to third in 2013/14 before missing out on Champions League qualification.
Real Madrid 2015-2016
Despite his history at Real Madrid - born in the capital, he played for Real Madrid Castilla and managed the B team in his younger days - Benitez's appointment was met with raised eyebrows by the Los Blancos support. That response turned to boos during a pre-season friendly with Galatasaray and an opening day 0-0 draw with Sporting Gijon was far from the ideal start.
Ten wins during a 13-game unbeaten streak in all competitions should have boosted the manager's reputation but, after losing 3-2 at Sevilla in November, a 4-0 humbling at the hands of arch rivals Barcelona sparked talk of Benitez being dismissed before Christmas.
In the end, he lasted until January 4, with a 2-2 draw at Gary Neville's Valencia Benitez's final game in charge. A failure to get the most out of Cristiano Ronaldo and deliver the relentless attacking football craved by the Madrid support were key factors in his exit.
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