Rafael Benítez
Spanish association football player and manager (born 1960)
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Key Takeaways
- Rafael Benítez Maudes (born 16 April 1960) is a Spanish professional football manager and former player.
- Benítez joined Real Madrid's coaching staff at the age of 26, going on to work as the under-19 and reserve team coach, and assistant manager for the senior team.
- He guided Segunda División club Extremadura back to La Liga in his first season in the 1997–98 season, but the team was relegated the following season.
- Benítez was appointed coach of Valencia and won La Liga in the 2001–02 and 2003–04 seasons, with the UEFA Cup alongside the latter.
- For the second consecutive season, he was named UEFA Manager of the Year.
Rafael Benítez Maudes (born 16 April 1960) is a Spanish professional football manager and former player. He is currently the head coach of Super League Greece club Panathinaikos.
Benítez joined Real Madrid's coaching staff at the age of 26, going on to work as the under-19 and reserve team coach, and assistant manager for the senior team. He moved away from Real Madrid in 1995, but management spells at Real Valladolid and Osasuna were short-lived and unsuccessful. He guided Segunda División club Extremadura back to La Liga in his first season in the 1997–98 season, but the team was relegated the following season. He left the club, and coached Tenerife in 2000, winning promotion in his only season.
Benítez was appointed coach of Valencia and won La Liga in the 2001–02 and 2003–04 seasons, with the UEFA Cup alongside the latter. After leaving Valencia, Benitez moved to English club Liverpool of the Premier League, guiding the club to victory in the UEFA Champions League in 2005. For the second consecutive season, he was named UEFA Manager of the Year. He also won the FA Cup in 2006 and reached the 2007 Champions League final, but was unable to win the Premier League, with Liverpool's best league performance under Benítez a second-place finish in 2008–09.
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