IN the eleven days that have passed since Kenny’s departure we’ve seen a who’s who of managerial candidates linked with the position from Roberto Martinez & Didier Deschamps through to Andre Villas-Boas & Jurgen Klopp. But so far the only links between LFC and Rafa Benitez have been either via the press or by the massive wave of optimistic support from the fans themselves. Despite what we may or may not want, it really is beginning to seem as if Rafa is not going to be under consideration this time around and there can really only be one reason for this:
Something about him scares FSG.
The first and perhaps most obvious reason, would be that he’d been sacked from his last two jobs. Two very, very high-profile jobs. He was moved on from Liverpool after the clubs worst league season under him and Inter Milan sacked him after an average start to his first season. However, his final season with the Reds was still a better one than either of our last two and after Jose Mourinho won Inter the treble, he was always going to be under intense scrutiny from Massimo Moratti – a man renowned in Italy for his impatience with managers.
I feel that they would have much greater foresight than this though (they must have if Roberto Martinez is their main candidate for the job!) because even a cursory glance at his CV shows a man that is more than capable and easily qualifies for the job. 2 La Liga titles with what was (during his time there) one of the least fashionable and smallest clubs in the Spanish elite league, and a UEFA Cup. Then on to Liverpool and a Champions League in his first season, followed by the FA Cup and a number of other cups and minor trophies at Inter, Liverpool and Valencia. Perhaps most importantly for us, as Liverpool fans, he took us as close as we’ve ever come to the Premier League title in 2009 and that means a lot because we know he is one of the few that would know what it takes to get us back there.
So surely all of this would see him at least qualify for an interview? Well, you’d certainly think so but it would appear that the answer is no, as despite the conflicting reports between press, it seems that he still hasn’t been approached by FSG. Given his popularity amongst the fans though – and his exemplary CV – it really is hard to understand why. I mean sure, they’re supposedly looking at younger managers with potential but he isn’t exactly ancient, being in his early 50’s so there has to be something else.
A look over his previous period as manager shows that he earned himself a reputation for being something of a troublesome figure, so this would probably end up being a factor. While his relationship with Hicks and Gillett got off to a positive start it quickly deteriorated when the owners absenteeism became more and more prevalent, when transfer promises weren’t keep and when the transfer kitty began to dry up toward the end of his reign when Benitez felt like we were at a potential turning point, having finished 2nd. The following season did not go well and Rafa and his supporters still put that down to his identified transfer targets not being chased and promises made over policy, etc. not being kept.
Also, Benitez had a penchant for not being afraid to voice his concerns through the media, as he did several times during his term. The press would – often willingly – allow themselves to be used as a conduit through which he could pass messages to the fans about the situation at the club and speak about other issues that he was unhappy over, such as referees, opposition players and managers (one in particular springs to mind) and I think that this would provide a sore point in particular, given how much was made of the situation Kenny created around the Suarez affair during his press interviews and conferences at that time. Like Kenny, Rafa is not a man that is afraid to speak his mind and after the bad press the club received between December and February this year, they may well be looking to ‘more press friendly and affable’ as a pre-requisite for the new boss and Benitez does not fit that bill at all.
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Of course, whether he was press-friendly, board-friendly or owner-friendly matters little, as everything Benitez did was for the benefit of his club and team and all of his problems with the previous owners stems from one thing: he wants total control over the club, academy, staff, player recruitment and transfer policy to achieve these ends, and between 2004-2010 he gradually got his way. Depending on your POV regarding Benitez the club was either better or worse for it but the Spaniard does not like to work ‘under’ anybody and I think this would perhaps be the main sticking point, given that the owners have a Director of Football or Sporting Director position in mind, with a younger manager working under them. Benitez would neither want, nor be happy in this role and he would undoubtedly kick up a fuss at some point should he be shoehorned in to this situation. Many still remember his parting shot at the Valencia owners when he was quoted as saying ‘I wanted a sofa and they bought me a lamp’, which sums up his attitude to owners that try to interfere with the day-to-day working of a top European club side – he finds it irritating and completely unacceptable and a DoF advising him or ‘interfering’ when he was busy looking for new players would not sit well.
From what we know of Fenway, they’re a group of businessmen – fronted by John Henry – that like to have a tight grip on their ‘franchises’. Sure, they’ll pretty much let the club run itself for the most part but, as we saw on Wednesday 16th, they will take the action that they feel needs to be taken to protect their investments. Allowing a volatile, outspoken, borderline obsessive man like Rafa full control of the club would be a couple of sidesteps outside of their comfort zone.
Not to mention the man himself but any appointment of Benitez to the club would present another problem to the owners, one which they have been made all too aware of already in their short time at the club: fan power. The Spanish coach is very highly thought of amongst fans and is known to have very close ties with fan-groups in the area. Indeed, he still lives in the area himself, with his family and home being just on the Wirral. With the pressure the fans exerted on the previous owners, it wouldn’t take too much of an imagination stretch to foresee any potential flashpoints down the line, should all promises not be met or his preferred transfer targets be missed out on.
Ironically, fan-power may well end up working against us in this case though as despite being the clear fan-favourite, Benitez’s popularity with the fans – and his past – appears to have ruled him out. At least as far as we can see. Of course, as far as we’re aware only Roberto Martinez has been approached by the clubs’ owners, despite what the press might’ve said about all of the potential candidates. One thing is certain though and that is that, of all the men that are possibly in the running, Rafa Benitez would present the owners with the most headaches and this may well give them cause to fear him and, unfortunately for us, will ultimately rule him out altogether.
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It’s true everyone has to start somewhere. Martinez may well do the business but we need to climb back up the league next season and it’s a big step up for him. So in my opinion thus is a risk. Rafa is the best manager we can currently attract. His affiliation to lfc is huge and he had the cv and tactical knowledge to do well next season and beyond. I’ll support whoever we get as I always do. I’m very interested to see who gets into the new structure if it happens- I.e sporting director etc
NO other Manager would have gotten that Liverpool team to two Champions League finals let alone win one. two la liga’s the EUFA cup the FA cup, the Champions League can’t contend with keeping Wigan up.
before rafa won something, he won NOTHING!! somebody took a chance with his inexperience and he went on to win what you listed! why can’t you give a very clever young man with bags of potential the chance to revive our great club?
Before Rafa was given a chance He won nothing, I think you have cracked it there, it cant be coincidence this fits every Manager who ever won anything hmm ?.
i think i was right to call you stupid if you couldn’t see what i was saying there ya muppet! and that’s exactly right cretin, EVERY manager needs to be given the chance but he’ll not get it from the likes of you because you think we have a divine right to ‘allow’ the likes of guardiola the privilege of managing Lfc! come into the 21st century and stop blethering on about how you watched ian st john! big bloody deal!
Yea I’m hearing u but that’s not what we need right no…….sad to say but this is an important time for our club and if we don’t perform well this season its going to affect the pull we have on good players and managers for seasons to come
same website was probly calling for his head 2 years ago
Steve Macauley
One – dont call me stupid unless to my face – two – they lied “the Manager will keep His job whatever happens in the cup final” Tom Werner. Three – As for Martinez My inner knowledge is nothing more than common sense a commodity you sadly lack.
They have interviwed one man only the one who’s name came from nowhere the week before Daglish was sacked, the one who will be named manager on Tuesday, As for Hodgson, thats the only thing you got right – As for My being a fan, do you remember the boy’s pen or travelling to watch the reds in Div 2, were you there when ST John scored a hatrick on his Debut, DID YOU EVER SWAY IN THE KOP IN THE SIXTIES, did you see Liddle play. no then shut up.
don’t say i’ve no common sense, unless to my face! my dad’s bigger than your dad, clown, grow up! and i never questioned your support but you obviously have to have been around in the sixties to have an opinion! what kind of argument is that for crying out loud? ps what did the late greats shanks & paisley win before liverpool recognised their obvious potential?
Ok, on this one point I will side with Steve. Werner was aked about the manager’s job a few days before the cup final, what was he meant to say? Yes he will get fired unless he wins it. To be honest I think they had already made up their mind. And because you’re older Stan it doesn’t make you more of a fan. Not having a go, just kind of getting annoyed at the “I’m more of a fan than you” arguments.
I despair at the anti Rafa brigade, it’s they who are clueless and attempt to rewrite history. Facts show that Rafa was our best manager since Kenny 1st time around. People harp on about the 7th place finish and Alonso well very few know for sure the absolute truth about Alonso, there were multiple reasons, and I bet these Alonso worshipers didn’t have a clue who he was when Rafa signed him. The 7th place was in the dying days of the 2 muppets reign, sure Lee will say it’s a smokescreen, such a smokescreen that we had 5 consective windows were we got more money in than we spent, and we were 2 days away from administration. As for the £20 million flop as Lee put it, yeah I mean an Italian international who the might of Juve and AC Milan have taken on loan. a player who has impressed when he has played for us yet he’s been treated like crap by woy and yes Kenny, Charlie fxxxing Adam couldn’t lace his boots but some people attack him because he wasn’t Alonso. The fact remains that of all the available managers out there Rafa Benitez has the best CV and i include Pep Guardiola in that (he inherited a great team) and if the anti Rafaites think that Roberto Martinez isn’t a huge gamble then they need to face reality. I like Martinez his style, his personality but for God’s sake Steve fathead Bruce has a better record at Wigan.
and yet you have a go at charlie adam because he isn’t aquilani! pots & kettles there Andy!
the 7th place was in the dying days of the 2 muppets reign? what’s your point? did dumb & dumber pick the team etc?
oh and the might of AC want him but don’t want to pay for him! just thought i’d throw that in there!
Steve you are a coward and a know nothing. i have forgotton a thousand times more about football in general and liverpool fc in particular than you will ever. doh
coward! how’s that then? ya silly old bollocks! the reason you’ve forgot more is because you’re probably suffering from altzeimers ya old duffer! love to meet up with you some day and put manners on ya!
Andrew your right, and unfortunately I think we still have to go through some pain before things get better or until those with the power realise.
Sadly amongst us there are some know it all football thiko’s. They have in their support for the sacking of Rafa played a part in putting our club on its knee’s. The sad thing is they’re too thick to know it.
At the time I wrote on these pages, be careful what you wish for, but they wouldn’t understand what they were party to even if it was written in crayon.
Haha, this is so true!
dj for manager!!! he knows it all.
steve mcauley
TELL US THAT ONE AGAIN NO MANAGER EVER WON ANYTHING BEFORE HE WAS GIVEN THE CHANCE.
JOSE MOURINHO WOULD NOT DO FOR YOU THEN.
YOU ARE AN UNMITTIGATED DIVVY.
I think someone needs to grow up in this post
please enlighten me the selling of alonso and buying 20 mil worth of dead fish that too when we all knew he wasnt gonna have another fund and that was all he would get, yet he bought mr Aquaman. and please note team was almost at the top and his follow transfer killed LFC. And if you could also enlighten me how the hell was ngog better player than babel and how was he the only replacement for torres and while you’re on it why not explain me why rafa’s men were content with a point against relegation battlers(I’ll give you a hint: he was playing with one lone striker whose’s best assist came from his golie). Please explain these to me and I’ll be rafa for ever
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – why do Liverpool fans hate each other so much? Presumably it’s frustration and fear of what might happen in a year or two – but who knows really?
Rafa’s record speaks for itself. Who can believe that Heart in Mouth was a Champions League Winner. The Special One could not get past Rafa not once but twice. That speaks for itself Rich owner or poor owner he stands for his principles
The hypocrisy o some liverpool fans is interesting. Just before tom and jelly sacked rafa,we were boing his squad. And criticizing his dealings in the market place. Remember the alonso- aquilani issue,not to mention robbie keane. Rafa lost the dressing room in his last days and some fans were calling for his head. Now we want him back. We screamed for KD until FSG signed him. They even gave him more than 115 million to demonstrate their trust in him and their commitment to the club. Nobody said nothin then. Now because they have sacked KD, all of a sudden you are writing trash about them. Now would it be asking for too much to give the club owners to choose what they see fit for their investment. Let’s cut the hypocrisy and embrace the change. We cannot keep on collecting past treasure to fix our present troubles
FSG don’t have the balls to employee Rafa. They don’t want to understand our pride and passion, business is business. Money talks in sport, they will stick with media friendly moron, Hodgson mistakes being repeated again, oh joy!
Vote yes or no…. To bring him back…. My vote is yes
David Tyrer, with all the resources at your disposable, find out more about this structure being built around the club management. Are fans aware that the manager can no longer sign players, will he have to explain his line up and tactics to the director of football (possibly van gaal). Take a closer look at the boston red socks and you might find the answers
I don’t want Benitez back. EVER!!!
Hi guys imo I feel if our owners wantd 2take a chance on an unproven managr they should have rathr let dalglish hav 1more season or atleast til next jan.benitez by far best choice,ppl forget benitez had 2 sell before he could buy any1.we got good money 4 alonso.benitez controlld the whole club transfers and youth teams.even kenny said we mus thank him 4 our youth setup. Rodolfo borell and pep seguro were brougth in by him and are doing a great job. Let’s pray 4 benitez
Lee ,what an ignorant moron ..so annoyed at the utter rubbish you have come out with .Rafa’s first 6 years and fergies ..compare .He would have got it right for sure and over time we would have played more expansive football the way we did against madrid ,utd and villa .We beat the very best under benitez ,we scored over 100 goals in a season .We WERE FEARED by all . Utter nonse to knock him .Lee ya sky sports sun reading idiot ..go study 2004 _2010 .Dont be stubborn ,learn!
well said mate!
People who bash rafa do not understand a thing about football…they say s**t like he won CL with houliers team….my question is why didnt houlier win it ??…and where are his star players like Biscan, Baros, finnan, diao diouf all useless …and where are players that rafa bought…Alonso RM, Masch Barca, sissoko Juve, Torres Chelsea…can anyone note the difference….And the stats dont lie…The % Games won under Rafa over 6 years was better than most of our managers ( and this was not done two decades ago)….Whoever FSG select as manager, I will support him, but it is ridiculous that they are not even considering the man who made liverpool ‘1’ club in europe (FACT!!)
I miss every magic’s night on UCL from him. “MAKE US DREAM” is still in mind.
If they appoint a media yes man it will not last they never do, only person who gets that seat is a manager who fights for the fans and understands them,that’s a FACT!
I don’t think the sacking of KD was quite as sinister or nasty as is being made out. I would imagine his chief KPI was a top four finish and he was quite clear on the consequence of not doing that. It was probably agreed that he would be ‘sacked’ so it couldn’t be said he quit, like last time. These days what goes on at Anfield is pretty much behind closed doors so let’s just wait and see. Everything going on at the moment is just paper talk because NO journos have an inside track
FSG need someone who knows how to run the team. There is no other man out there than Rafa. He can take care of managing the team, transfers and academy. This will leave FSG with a simple thing to do –> sign the cheques for new recruits and watch the team get back to winning trophies. Additionally, Rafa has worked with most players who currently in the squad. So picking up the team should be a very simple task. Without a doubt he will also get the best of the players he didnt work with before. Just look at how he managed to utilize both Biscan and Traole on the way to winning the champions league. Wake up FSG and make the smart decision!!
Spot on man,Rafa can help us hit the ground running in the league but defo in Europa,THEN there will be money to rebuild the squad and get the title in Stevie G`s time at the club.
G
I vote for rafa,big time!