Tag Archives: Rafa

Rafa backs Dalglish for Reds job

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Kenny Dalglish is 15/8 to become the next manager of Liverpool and former Reds boss Rafa Benitez says the Scot is keen to take charge at Anfield once again.

Liverpool are on the look out for a new boss after parting company with Benitez and the Spaniard, who has quickly taken charge at Inter Milan, says that Dalglish is the man the Reds board should turn to.

Dalglish is a legend at Anfield and would no doubt be a very popular choice with the fans but it remains to be seen whether he could match the success he had during his previous spell in charge.

The Scot won three league titles and two FA Cups from 1985 to 1991, which included the double in his first year, beating Merseyside rivals Everton in the process.

Dalglish went on to manage Blackburn where he won another league title, Newcastle and Celtic but he has not been at the helm since leaving Parkhead back in 2000 and that is a long time to have been out of the game.

Management has moved on a lot over the last 10 years and there has to be a huge question mark over whether Dalglish is the man as many believe he may have lost touch with the game.

However Benitez is not concerned and believes Dalglish is definitely the man to get the fans back on board and bring the glory days back to the club.

“I think Liverpool should look at Kenny Dalglish,” the Spaniard revealed. “He is the man for the job. The owners should listen to the fans because they are unhappy.

“No one knows the club better than Dalglish and he would be perfect there. He wants the job and in my opinion he should get it.”

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson remains evens favourite to take charge but the Cottagers would want to be compensated heavily and the easy route for the Reds would be to hand Dalglish the job.

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Rafa closes in on Inter post

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Former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez appears to have wasted little time in moving on following his departure from Liverpool (10/1 2010/11 Premier League champions) last week by reportedly agreeing a deal to take over as the new manager of European champions Inter Milan.

Inter president Massimo Moratti has dropped a big hint that the Spanish coach will be installed as Jose Mourinho’s replacement at the San Siro and he is expected to be officially confirmed as their new boss in the next 48 hours.

Moratti told reporters in Italy: “The next few hours could be decisive. But we must ask (technical director Marco) Branca.”

Benitez will also reportedly take his Anfield assistant Mauricio Pellegrino, goalkeeping coach Xavi Valero and fitness coach Paco de Miguel with him to Italy, leaving Liverpool with plenty of holes to fill in their coaching staff when they do move to make an appointment.

It is believed Benitez has agreed a three-year deal with Inter, worth five million euros per season, as he looks to keep the Italian treble winners at the pinnacle of club and European football next season.

Benitez, who won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005 and the FA Cup in 2006 during his six-year tenure on Merseyside, was linked with a move to Serie A towards the end of last season but it was Juventus who were courting the former Valencia chief, but a deal failed to materialise and he has instead opted for Milan.

Meanwhile, Liverpool continue their search for a new boss with plenty of candidates said to be keen on taking the hot-seat despite the ongoing uncertainty over the club’s ownership.

American pair Tom Hicks and George Gillett continue to look for new investment but the lack of financial clout in the transfer market could affect who is eventually named new manager as there may not be much money to spend on new players.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson seems to be the top choice for the Reds and is totesport’s 6/4 favourite, but Kenny Dalglish (5/1), Martin O’Neill (3/1), Harry Redknapp (11/1) and Sven Goran Eriksson (10/1) are the other names in the frame at the minute.

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Rafa walks alone as search begins

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Liverpool have begun the search for a manager they hope will help them challenge for the Premier League title (10/1 to win) next season after confirming Rafa Benitez has left Anfield.

The Spaniard has finally paid the price for last season’s dismal campaign and after the two parties agreed a severance package earlier today, he was sent on his merry way.

Rumours over the future of Benitez have been rumbling on for the last few months but it only broke late on Wednesday night that he could be heading for the exit door.

The 50-year-old says it is with regret that he leaves Anfield after six years at the helm but he will have no problem getting fixed up elsewhere, with Inter Milan keen to land him.

“It is very sad for me to announce that I will no longer be manager of Liverpool FC,” Benitez revealed. “I would like to thank all of the staff and players for their efforts. 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.

“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.”

Benitez will always be remembered for winning a fifth European Cup but it is ultimately his failure to bring the Premier League title to Anfield that has cost him.

Last season’s seventh place finish, coupled with an early exit from the Champions League, did not help matters and with clubs abroad showing an interest, the two parties have come to a mutual agreement to end Benitez’s tenure.

The race is now on to find his successor with Kenny Dalglish (5/2f to be next Liverpool manager) and Martin O’Neill (5/2f) the early frontrunners, while Roy Hodgson (7/2) and Guus Hiddink (10/1) have also been mentioned.

It would have been interesting to see if Jose Mourinho would have fancied it but he has just taken over at Real Madrid and is out of the running.

Despite Liverpool’s struggles on and off the pitch over the last couple of seasons it is still arguably one of the biggest jobs in world football and there will be no shortage of top names declaring an interest.

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