Having successfully tied up his own deal, Benitez is now looking for members of his backroom staff to be rewarded with new contracts. He also wants the futures of players like Daniel Agger and Dirk Kuyt to be resolved at the earliest possible opportunity.
He has also set his sights on continuing the improvement of the club’s football operations over the duration of his new contract.
“My priority now is to do the deals for my staff and for the players who will be important for this club in the future,” added Benitez. “We want to improve in all departments – the squad, the mentality – everything that we possibly can.
“We want to be successful and to bring trophies to this club for the fans.”
Just over a week ago Benitez looked on with pride as his Liverpool team swept aside Real Madrid in one of the most impressive results and performances of this season’s Champions League. Four days later the Reds topped even that performance by coming away from Old Trafford with a magnificent 4-1 victory over reigning champions and league leaders Manchester United.
Thus, the signing of his new contract could not have come at a better time and Benitez readily acknowledges this.
“For me and for my family it has been a fantastic week.
“My idea is always to win trophies, not just games,” he said.
“But to beat Real Madrid and Manchester United and then sign the contract makes this a perfect week. But now we must look ahead, not back.”
Benitez added: “We must look to continue the work we have done and keep on trying to improve, because maybe then we can have even better weeks.
“My message to the fans is very clear – it is because of them that I am signing this contract.
“This is a fantastic club with fantastic fans – it is as simple as that.”
RAFAEL BENITEZ FACTFILE
1960: Born Madrid, April 4.
1974: Joins Real Madrid as a youngster, making slow progress through the ranks.
1981: Leaves Real Madrid without ever playing for the first team and joins Third Division Parla.
1983: Part of the Parla side which gains promotion to the Spanish Segunda B.
1985: Joins Segunda B side Linares. Spends almost the entire season injured and retires as a player in 1986.
1986: Appointed to Real Madrid’s coaching staff, starting off with their juniors and working up through to the under-19s.
1994: Leads Real Madrid’s B team to seventh in Spain’s Second Division and ends the season as assistant to first-team coach Vicente del Bosque.
1995: Appointed coach of Valladolid but sacked after 23 games with the team bottom of the Primera Liga table.
1996: Takes over at Osasuna in Second Division, but lasts just nine games after recording one win.
1997: Joins Second Division outfit Extremadura and leads them to promotion, finishing second in the table with 23 wins in 42 games.
1999: Extremadura relegated from top flight after a play-off defeat to Villarreal, earlier finishing the season 17th.
1999-2000: Quits Extremadura to take a year’s sabbatical to study coaching in Italy and England.
2000: Appointed boss of Second Division Tenerife and leads them promotion.
2001: Named as surprise choice to replace Hector Cuper at Valencia. Decision questioned by the fans but he leads Valencia to their first Primera Liga title in 31 years in first campaign in charge.
2003: Valencia fade away to finish fifth in the table, although they do reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
2004: Benitez leads Valencia to their first ever double, lifting both the Primera Liga and the UEFA Cup.
June 1 - Valencia announce that Benitez and club have agreed to part by mutual consent.
June 16 - Benitez confirmed as Liverpool manager on five-year contract.
2005: May - Wins Champions League in his first season as Liverpool come from 3-0 down to beat AC Milan on penalties in Istanbul.
2007: February – American duo Tom Hicks and George Gillett buy the club from David Moores, vowing to bring the Premier League title to Anfield.
May – Benitez’s side reach the Champions League final for the second time in three seasons, but lose to 2-1 to AC Milan in Athens.
2008: Relations between Benitez and the Anfield hierarchy sour suddenly with doubts over the Spaniard’s long-term future, largely due to differences of opinion over transfer policy.
2009: March 18 - Benitez finally signs a new five-year contract with the Reds after months of uncertainty, keeping him at Anfield until 2014.
He has also set his sights on continuing the improvement of the club’s football operations over the duration of his new contract.
“My priority now is to do the deals for my staff and for the players who will be important for this club in the future,” added Benitez. “We want to improve in all departments – the squad, the mentality – everything that we possibly can.
“We want to be successful and to bring trophies to this club for the fans.”
Just over a week ago Benitez looked on with pride as his Liverpool team swept aside Real Madrid in one of the most impressive results and performances of this season’s Champions League. Four days later the Reds topped even that performance by coming away from Old Trafford with a magnificent 4-1 victory over reigning champions and league leaders Manchester United.
Thus, the signing of his new contract could not have come at a better time and Benitez readily acknowledges this.
“For me and for my family it has been a fantastic week.
“My idea is always to win trophies, not just games,” he said.
“But to beat Real Madrid and Manchester United and then sign the contract makes this a perfect week. But now we must look ahead, not back.”
Benitez added: “We must look to continue the work we have done and keep on trying to improve, because maybe then we can have even better weeks.
“My message to the fans is very clear – it is because of them that I am signing this contract.
“This is a fantastic club with fantastic fans – it is as simple as that.”
RAFAEL BENITEZ FACTFILE
1960: Born Madrid, April 4.
1974: Joins Real Madrid as a youngster, making slow progress through the ranks.
1981: Leaves Real Madrid without ever playing for the first team and joins Third Division Parla.
1983: Part of the Parla side which gains promotion to the Spanish Segunda B.
1985: Joins Segunda B side Linares. Spends almost the entire season injured and retires as a player in 1986.
1986: Appointed to Real Madrid’s coaching staff, starting off with their juniors and working up through to the under-19s.
1994: Leads Real Madrid’s B team to seventh in Spain’s Second Division and ends the season as assistant to first-team coach Vicente del Bosque.
1995: Appointed coach of Valladolid but sacked after 23 games with the team bottom of the Primera Liga table.
1996: Takes over at Osasuna in Second Division, but lasts just nine games after recording one win.
1997: Joins Second Division outfit Extremadura and leads them to promotion, finishing second in the table with 23 wins in 42 games.
1999: Extremadura relegated from top flight after a play-off defeat to Villarreal, earlier finishing the season 17th.
1999-2000: Quits Extremadura to take a year’s sabbatical to study coaching in Italy and England.
2000: Appointed boss of Second Division Tenerife and leads them promotion.
2001: Named as surprise choice to replace Hector Cuper at Valencia. Decision questioned by the fans but he leads Valencia to their first Primera Liga title in 31 years in first campaign in charge.
2003: Valencia fade away to finish fifth in the table, although they do reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
2004: Benitez leads Valencia to their first ever double, lifting both the Primera Liga and the UEFA Cup.
June 1 - Valencia announce that Benitez and club have agreed to part by mutual consent.
June 16 - Benitez confirmed as Liverpool manager on five-year contract.
2005: May - Wins Champions League in his first season as Liverpool come from 3-0 down to beat AC Milan on penalties in Istanbul.
2007: February – American duo Tom Hicks and George Gillett buy the club from David Moores, vowing to bring the Premier League title to Anfield.
May – Benitez’s side reach the Champions League final for the second time in three seasons, but lose to 2-1 to AC Milan in Athens.
2008: Relations between Benitez and the Anfield hierarchy sour suddenly with doubts over the Spaniard’s long-term future, largely due to differences of opinion over transfer policy.
2009: March 18 - Benitez finally signs a new five-year contract with the Reds after months of uncertainty, keeping him at Anfield until 2014.
Comment