As Liverpool attempt to win their sixth European Cup, in Wednesdays final against AC Milan, manager Rafa Benitez will be looking to create his own piece of history. Victory will make Benitez only the third manager, of an English club, to lift the trophy on more than one occasion: joining fellow Anfield legend Bob Paisley, who guided Liverpool to the trophy three times, and Brian Clough who claimed the famous cup on two occasions with Nottingham Forest.
Early Years
Benitez has created an impressive coaching CV after injury cut short his playing career, but success did not come instantly. His early coaching years were spent as a junior coach at Real Madrid, before experiencing his first managerial spells at Real Vallodolid and CA Osasuna. Both were unsuccessful, with Benitez being sacked at both clubs. In the following years he guided CF Extremadura and CD Tenerife to promotions from the Spanish Segunda Division to La Liga, before being appointed manager of CF Valencia, in 2001.
Glory at Valencia
In three seasons, at CF Valencia, Benítez became the most successful manager in their history. In 2002 he led the club to their first La Liga title in thirty years, and in 2004 he took the club to a La Liga/UEFA Cup double. Despite this success, Benitez fell out with the club’s director of sport, after Valencia’s failure to strengthen the playing squad. This dispute forced Benitez to resign from the club and he was quickly snapped up and appointed as manager at Liverpool.
Anfield Success
Liverpool had being struggling for a number of years to re-establish themselves as a major force in English football, and Benitez inherited a squad that were once again under-performing in the Premiership. He quickly strengthened the squad, with a number of signings from La Liga, and although Liverpool were unable to challenge for the Premiership he guided them to their fifth European Cup title, beating AC Milan in an unforgettable final. Liverpool came from 3-0 down, at half-time, to level the score at 3-3 and eventually won the game on penalties. In the following season success continued for Benitez, with Liverpool claiming both the FA Cup and European Super Cup.
Doctor of Coaching
Benitez is known to be an avid student of the game and possesses a brilliant technical and tactical knowledge of football. In fact, before being claimed by football, he had completed the first year of a medicine degree and was training to become a doctor; something which Jonathan Northcroft, of The Sunday Times, claims has helped Benitez’s successful balance of studiousness and decisiveness.
One thing is certain, that as Liverpool prepare for the game against AC Milan, Benitez will have analyzed every aspect of the game possible to give his team the upper hand. Victory on Wednesday will further cement Benitez as one of the most sought after coaches in Europe.
