- Homepage
- The Reporter
- Liverpool FC news
- Rafael Benitez leaves by mutual consent
Rafael Benitez leaves by mutual consent
Publish piece of newsRafael Benitez leaves by mutual consent PIECE OF NEWS
Back
By
Liverpool have announced manager Rafael Benitez has left the club by mutual consent after six years in charge. Benitez, 50, replaced Gerard Houllier as Liverpool manager in June 2004 and guided them to Champions League success the following season.But last season they made an early exit from the Champions League and finished only seventh in the Premier League.
Managing director Christian Purslow and former manager Kenny Dalglish are to begin the search for a replacement. The club said there is no timeframe for an appointment and they will make no further comment until a new manager has been installed.
Benitez, who was one year into a five-year contract, finalised his departure after agreeing a severance payment and said he was "extremely sad" to be leaving the club."I'll always keep in my heart the good times I've had here, the strong and loyal support of the fans in the tough times and the love from Liverpool," he told the club's website. "I have no words to thank you enough for all these years and I am very proud to say that I was your manager."Thank you so much once more and always remember: You'll never walk alone."
Newly appointed club chairman Martin Broughton thanked Benitez for his efforts, but said it was time for a new era. "Rafa will forever be part of Liverpool folklore after bringing home the Champions League following the epic final in Istanbul but after a disappointing season both parties felt a fresh start would be best for all concerned," he said.
Former Valencia coach Benitez had been linked with Real Madrid and Juventus in recent months, but with both those clubs now having new men in charge, he could be in the running to fill the vacant position at European champions Inter Milan following the departure of Jose Mourinho.
One thing that could delay the appointment of a permanent successor to Benitez at Anfield is the uncertainty over the club's future ownership. Liverpool are £351m in debt and were put up for sale by co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett earlier this year. The American pair's ownership of the Reds has been a long-running source of discontent for many fans, who are unhappy with the way the club is being run, and there have been regular protests and public disputes.
Rafael Benitez (we'll miss you)
Do you want to participate in this section?
If you already are a member, enter / log in
If you are not registered in liverpoolsite.com:
temjulie For certain, right to the end, Rafa had Liverpool's best interests at heart, he COULD have waited until they sacked him and made far more money than this derisory sum, but instead he put the interests of the club first - what a man ! We will miss him.
the 06-06-2010 at 14:58
johnwilso86 Rafa Benitez for all his faults, was one of the greatest managers this club has had as a manager "good luck in the future (Rafa La, you will always be a part of our folklore) The people in the red half of the city will always hold you dear to our HEARTS.....YNWA.
the 05-06-2010 at 21:53
suehaime That's just it, whoever comes in after Rafa won't have the money to spend unless you sell of Torres and Gerrard. That too there's no guarantee the bloody yanks will use the money to buy players and I'm sorry to say anyone who comes in won't be able to measure up to Gerrard's and Torres' ability and committment to the team! How much time do people need to realis that the main problem in the team is not Rafa but the main problems are the yanks!
the 05-06-2010 at 16:56
philltubman well i can only say thank god rafa has gone i wouldnt waste time trying to get hodgson or oniell i would get hiddink in and let him have the cash to spend, the only reason rafa had no cash was the fact he was always gooing to leave, well and if torres and gerrard wants to leave then so be it no one man is bigger than the club. so the time has come to rebuild the confidence in the dressing oom and get rid of rafas lack lustre signings and get this mighty club back where we belong on top
the 05-06-2010 at 8:58
flemo4 you can only use istanbul so many times he should thank god or the yanks that he lasted this long
the 03-06-2010 at 20:06
suehaime I'm saying it again that I feel just like Julius Caesar on the Ides of March!! Stabbed in the back by the yankee owners who brought in a Chelsea-loving Chairman to head Liverpool FC! The worse thing about this is that they sacked Rafa just after all the good managers have signed-up with other team! First they deny us money to buy players then they deny us from getting a reliable manager!. Next on my worry list now is whether Torres or Gerrard will be staying! This has come about after the revelation that Martin Broughton had whispered to a reporter that it would be better for Torres to go to Chelsea because he anticipated that the Liverpool problem can only be solved after 3 years!! Liverpool Fans Unite in this Time of Need! Close Ranks and Stand Tall because we will be Back!
the 03-06-2010 at 17:42
