We profile Newcastle United manager and ex-Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez’s top five managerial moments to date.
Making history: La Liga Champions with Valencia
After a relatively disappointing start to his managerial career – which included being sacked by both Real Valladolid in 1995/96 and Osasuna in 1996/97 – Benitez took the reigns at Valencia in 2001.
The Spaniard rose to prominence in 2002 whilst guiding a team of talents such as Pablo Aimar, Mista, Ruben Baraja, Kily Gonzalez and Roberto Ayala to Valencia’s first title in 31 years. Benitez was to replicate this feat in 2003/04 – but it is his first title at Valencia that makes our top five Benitez managerial moments.
First taste of European success: UEFA Cup winners
In addition to securing the 2003/04 league title with Valencia, Benitez also emerged victorious on the European stage by defeating Marseille in the 2004 UEFA Cup Final. Goals from Vicente and Mista provided Benitez with a 2-0 win over a Didier Drogba led Marseille, in what would turn out to be Benitez’s final game in charge of the club.
Shortly after the final, Drogba would depart the south of France in a move to Chelsea and Benitez would also follow the goal-getter to the Premier League by taking over at Liverpool.
First season at Liverpool: Champions League glory
Benitez’s first season at Liverpool may not be remembered for anything other than the famous Champions League victory of 2005 – in which Rafa’s reds found themselves 3-0 down at half-time only to force extra-time and an eventual penalty shoot-out triumph over a star-studded AC Milan side featuring Clarence Seedorf, Alessandro Nesta, Hernan Crespo, Cafu, Andrea Pirlo, Andriy Shevchenko, Paulo Maldini and Kaka.
Upon winning the trophy, Benitez became only the third manager in history (following Bob Paisley and Jose Mourinho) to win the UEFA Cup and the Champions League in successive seasons.
The Gerrard Final: Benitez wins the FA Cup
Benitez was able to add to his ever-growing trophy successes with the 2006 FA Cup – largely thanks (yet again) to an archetypal inspired performance from his captain Steven Gerrard.
Dubbed ‘The Gerrard Final’ – due to the aforementioned midfielder’s two equalisers, including a fantastic late strike to force extra-time – Benitez oversaw his side come back from 2-0 to eventually win the penalty shoot-out, where goalkeeper Pepe Reina saved spot-kicks from Bobby Zamora, Paul Konchesky and Anton Ferdinand.
Departing gift to Chelsea: Europa League victors
Benitez was handed the title of Chelsea’s ‘interim manager’ by owner Roman Abramovich after he replaced the dismissed Roberto Di Matteo in November 2012.
The appointment was not particularly welcomed by many supporters of the Stamford Bridge club – based upon the tense clashes between Chelsea and Liverpool during their Mourinho-Benitez eras – and the remainder of the campaign was not a smooth ride for Benitez.
However, in what had become characteristically Benitez form, despite poor domestic returns the current Newcastle boss managed to secure the Europa League title in his last game in charge of the Blues – following a 2-1 defeat of Benfica in the final. The achievement, under difficult circumstances, meant that Benitez became only the second manager (after Giovanni Trapattoni) to win the UEFA Cup/Europa League with two different clubs.
Waking a sleeping giant: Newcastle’s promotion to the Premier League
In March 2016, shortly after departing Real Madrid, Benitez took up the managerial hot-seat at St. James’ Park. Although Benitez was unable to stave off a Newcastle relegation at the culmination of the 2016/17 season, the former Tenerife, Inter Milan and Napoli boss remained in charge of the Magpies and has recently guided the club back to the promised land of England’s top flight – proving that his managerial abilities are up to the contrasting challenges of facing Burton Albion and Rotherham in addition to Barcelona and Real Madrid.
How does Newcastle’s 2016/17 promotion campaign compare to Benitez’s other managerial moments? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
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