Rafael Benítez

Spanish association football manager and former player

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Spain rank#231
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Born 1960 · age 66Spain

Spain FootballersFootball / Soccer Player

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Wikipedia
53 languages
Cross-language footprint
Rank in Spain
#231
Footballers
Age
66
Born 1960
Known for
Yo soy... Don Rafa

Summary

Updated 2026-06-21

He won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005 after starting at Real Madrid as a teenage coach, then cycled through a dozen clubs across four countries without ever quite settling — a manager whose silverware came in bursts but whose tenures rarely lasted.

Biography

About

Rafael Benítez Maudes was born 16 April 1960 and joined Real Madrid's coaching staff at 26, working his way up from under-19s to assistant manager before leaving in 1995. Short stints at Valladolid and Osasuna went nowhere, but he pulled Extremadura back to La Liga in 1997–98 and won promotion with Tenerife in 2000. At Valencia he hit his stride: La Liga titles in 2001–02 and 2003–04, the UEFA Cup alongside the second, and back-to-back UEFA Manager of the Year honors. Liverpool came next in 2005 with the Champions League and FA Cup in 2006, plus a run to the 2007 final, though the Premier Leag…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Rafael Benítez

Rafael Benítez

said2012

We don't need to give away flags for our fans to wave - our supporters are always there with their hearts, and that is all we need.

— We don't need to give away flags for our fans to wave (2012)

Rafael Benítez

said2012

The key to them is Abramovich. The only difference I see between Mourinho and [Avram] Grant is in their press conferences!

— We don't need to give away flags for our fans to wave (2012)

Rafael Benítez

said2012

I'm sure Chelsea do not like playing Liverpool. When they are talking and talking and talking before the game it means they are worried. Maybe they're afraid?

— We don't need to give away flags for our fans to wave (2012)

Rafael Benítez

said2012