So after six years of ups and downs, Rafa Benitez is leaving Liverpool. I felt it was right to pay tribute to the man who did his absolute best for the club while working under extremely poor conditions.
I’m not going to come up with excuses for Rafa, he made some mistakes while other mistakes were made by people higher up the Anfield hierarchy. All that matters at the moment is that he’s now left his post as manager and deserves a good send off.
During last season, ex-players and pundits queued up to criticize Rafa, claiming that he had the team in an even worse state than it was in Gerard Houllier’s days. I’m hoping my memory isn’t deteriorating or anything but did we win the Champions League under Houllier? Did we finish with our highest ever points tally in the premiership under Houllier?
People in the media especially don’t realize it but during his reign, Rafa took us to levels that we could never have imagined being on during the Houllier days. His last major trophy for us may have been all the way back in 2006 but people have overlooked how much the quality of our squad has improved under Rafa’s guidance. At the beginning of 2009, Liverpool were the number one club in the UEFA team coefficient rankings (yes, even above Barcelona). Not much of a big deal was made over it at the time but seeing the predicament we’re in now really does put it in perspective how strong Rafa made us at one point.
I’ll never forget seeing Liverpool destroy the supposed Galacticos 4-0, and then getting our best ever victory at Old Trafford in the premiership just a few days later. Along with those moments I will also never forget our journey from the Champions League Qualifiers in 2004 all the way to that day in May 2005 when we all witnessed one of the most incredible comebacks in European Cup history.
These will always be remembered as Rafa moments and they are also how I will always remember his time here. I will also remember how much he genuinely cared for the fans. The pain in his face during interviews for most of last season was hard to watch at times. He seemed a broken man. But I really do wish him all the best with his future endeavors. I hope he gets to achieve his dreams of eventually managing both Real Madrid and the Spain national team, he deserves it. I have no doubt in my mind whatsoever that at his next club he’ll prove all of his critics wrong and restore his reputation as one of the best managers in the world.
I hate to end this with a cliché but on this occasion I feel it’s appropriate to say thanks for the memories Rafa, You’ll Never Walk Alone.
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Great article – Rafa certainly had his flaws but he did a stirling job under difficult conditions. Sadly I have a feeling that in a few years time we’ll all be looking back to Beitez’s tenure as a golden period… best of luck in the future Rafa, and thanks for all the trinkets. YNWA.
Well said.
He loved the club, the fans and served it all very well. He didn’t want to leave, neither did the players – it was down to our idiot owners, again.
Rafa will be remembered for his European triumphs more than anything else but his progress in the domestic competitions was plagued only by his admittedly poor buys in the £5-10M bracket & this season by many injuries to key players coupled with a lack of form.
He only had one bad season – how long has it been since another premiership manager won ANYTHING in a certain London club…?
I don’t believe the scare mongers who say we are heading for the abyss HOWEVER if our idiot owners have not got a quality manager already lined up NOW then we will be……
I am hoping for a Guus Hiddink or the like to come in for a season or two whilst the club gets the sale through & the new stadium built/started. We should be looking beyond the next year or two and trying to nail down a long term replacement for Rafa to bring the club back to where it belongs – TOP OF THE PERCH.
re: Kid Bamboo
I feel the same, we’ll likely be remembering Rafa in the near future wishing he wasn’t ushered out, wishing we could return to the glory days of Istanbul ang regularly beating the very best in Europe….
he was truly an awes0me man…i am s0 sad t0 c him g0 🙁
You never know what you had till it’s gone. Thanks for some extraordinary memories Rafa. I would like to wish you the very best. Our loss will be Inter’s gain. As always You’ll Never Walk Alone.
It’s a sad day to see him depart our club. What should have been a great partnership between a fantastic club and a fantastic manager has been spoiled by our incompetent owners. IRWT YNWA.
Rafa, ”you’l never walk alone” I got a little teary eyed reading that bit. Another fantastic article. Thanks.
thanks again hicks and nob head you done it again rafa was a wicked manager and he was forced out and made to look 2nd rate he loved lfc and stud up to u . u took our club and kicked it in the balls as hard as u could . now we r on our knees and looking up at every team improving while we stand still. u tight selfish don’t know nothing nobs if you gave him money we would have had class players and we would not be in the position we r in now . you will always walk alone and rafa i will miss u good luck . well it can only get better for you but we are still in deep
LFC seem to have completely lost their identity since Statler and Waldorf took over.To be honest I think Rafa was a decent fella with a passion both for the club and challenge.His tactics in Europe were pretty impressive to say the least.It seems that his biggest problem was in over-complication domestically.He seemed to apply the same tactics as he did in Europe,which is always going to be problematic due to the difference in pace/skill/climate etc.There were incredible times when he pulled off miracles and also frequent times of late when he seemed to pull off our only goal threat,often glaringly, to the sheer disbelief of anyone who has even a slight knowledge of the game.
Sadly much like Monsieur Houllier he is a very likeable chap who no doubt deserves to be remembered for his successes rather than his failures.However, I have a niggling feeling that won’t seem to go away.It goes something like: ‘Having been idolised by true fans despite some bad results, transfer deals and boot/boardroom mayhem and being accutely aware of the clubs financial plight,did he need to recieve a reported 6 Million pound pay-off rather than command a possible eight-figure transfer fee that would provide the club with a life-line in the transfer market?
Something doesn’t add up.Remember that this was the same man that was out drinking with the fans in Istambul,who fought tooth and nail to get us great signings such as Torres,Xabi,Mascherano,Reina and Yossi.
I assume that the figure is probably made up by the shameless media vultures who have been flying overhead since the Spurs game at the start of the season.
Anyhow,Thanks for the memories Rafa (and staff),good luck for the future and know that you’ll be sorely missed and you have made your own deserved piece of history and brought back some of the glory of yesteryear to this great club
YNWA
Rafa did a great job during his stay @ anfield nd i say he deserves a great send off. LFC is a great team wit greater achievements its only normal 2 have dis flops som tyms nd rafa’s nt supposed 2 b d1 2 carry all blames 4 me he did great nd i respect him so much