Rafa Benitez Leaves Liverpool

[Vermilion]

It's bloody hell, i see footage of Rafa along with headlines about Inter....and all i can think is..i wish we were getting a manager like him.

Then the next item is about LFC looking to maybe appoint Woy.

[Rich]

Cry havoc and let slip the cats of war.

[kingfunk]

Inter Milan have reached an agreement with Rafa Benitez to become their new manager, club president Massimo Moratti has revealed.

The Serie A giants have been looking for a replacement coach since Jose Mourinho opted to take on a fresh challenge at Spanish giants Real Madrid.

The Portuguese coach departed Giuseppe Meazza at the end of the 2009/10 campaign after guiding Inter to an unprecedented Treble, which saw them land the Serie A title, Coppa Italia and the UEFA Champions League.

Once it became apparent that Mourinho was looking to move on, rumours began circulating as to who his possible replacement might be.

Spanish coach Benitez was considered to be a leading candidate and his departure from Liverpool last week opened the door for a switch to Italy.

Inter quickly identified him as their number one choice for the role and have pressed ahead with formal negotiations.

Sky Sports.

[SERVO2]

Inter Milan have reached an agreement with Rafa Benitez to become their new manager, club president Massimo Moratti has revealed.

The Serie A giants have been looking for a replacement coach since Jose Mourinho opted to take on a fresh challenge at Spanish giants Real Madrid.

The Portuguese coach departed Giuseppe Meazza at the end of the 2009/10 campaign after guiding Inter to an unprecedented Treble, which saw them land the Serie A title, Coppa Italia and the UEFA Champions League.

Once it became apparent that Mourinho was looking to move on, rumours began circulating as to who his possible replacement might be.

Spanish coach Benitez was considered to be a leading candidate and his departure from Liverpool last week opened the door for a switch to Italy.

Inter quickly identified him as their number one choice for the role and have pressed ahead with formal negotiations.

Sky Sports.

IAFN (No but really it is!!)

[Shanks]

Tough act to follow.

Good Luck Rafa.

[SB]

He's on a hiding to nothing IMO

[Monty]

Still gutted but it will be interesting to see how he gets on. Finally he's with a team who will give him cash to spend (80M budget for players I read - not sure if that's true).

Massive boots to fill but Jose Mourinho has had cash, and lots of it, wherever he has managed (with the possible exception of Porto) so I always wonder how he'd perform in the Premiership with little funds like Rafa has had to do for the past few years. I think the Italian game will suit Rafa and good luck to him.

Isn't it ironic that the tw*ts get rid of our Manager and he goes on to manage.....yep.... the current Champions League and Italian treble winners! Someone obviously thinks highly of him!

[SimonNo7]

Still gutted but it will be interesting to see how he gets on. Finally he's with a team who will give him cash to spend (80M budget for players I read - not sure if that's true).

Massive boots to fill but Jose Mourinho has had cash, and lots of it, wherever he has managed (with the possible exception of Porto) so I always wonder how he'd perform in the Premiership with little funds like Rafa has had to do for the past few years. I think the Italian game will suit Rafa and good luck to him.

Isn't it ironic that the tw*ts get rid of our Manager and he goes on to manage.....yep.... the current Champions League and Italian treble winners! Someone obviously thinks highly of him!

Will he come in for any Liverpool players or as part of his deal has he agreed to stay away (for this forthcoming season at least)?

[Mattshark]

Still gutted but it will be interesting to see how he gets on. Finally he's with a team who will give him cash to spend (80M budget for players I read - not sure if that's true).

Massive boots to fill but Jose Mourinho has had cash, and lots of it, wherever he has managed (with the possible exception of Porto) so I always wonder how he'd perform in the Premiership with little funds like Rafa has had to do for the past few years. I think the Italian game will suit Rafa and good luck to him.

Isn't it ironic that the tw*ts get rid of our Manager and he goes on to manage.....yep.... the current Champions League and Italian treble winners! Someone obviously thinks highly of him!

Yep, pretty much everyone but the English press.

[paulg]

Sky Sports, this morning, have now started saying Rafa was Inter's 5th choice. They just can't bring themselves to give him any respect, can they?

[Reece]

This was by some guy commenting on SSN apparently (Simon Fear?)

"So the worst manager in world football is appointed manager of Inter Milan ? The biased, vindictive and plainly xenophobic harassment of Rafa Benitez was a disgrace. The mass media turned a blind eye to any mitigating factors which defended Rafa and simply perpetrated the tabloid lies and agenda to discredit him. No manager could have continued to over achieve year after year with the backdrop of ownership battles, massive debt, transfer spending stopped two years ago, repeated injuries to star players etc ........ Imagine Utd with no Rooney for much of last season (they were a one man team anyway) Before the normal red top brigade fire back 'he wasted £230m' he didn't. By all reasonable accounts his net spend was about £75m over 6 years, or £12.5m a year. Barely excessive in todays football world. Why sell Bellemy ? he had to fund Torres. Why sell Sissoko ? He had to fund Mascherano and so on. Last season he sold players in both transfer windows and despite purchases made over £8m profit. Finally, Aquilani cost £17m and made 20 + appearance. Rafa is slated and ridiculed. Hargreaves cost £18m, was known to have a ongoing record of chronic knee injuries and barely kicked a ball in 3 years. Mr Alex Ferguson is seen as unlucky and never criticised. Liverpool imploded the moment they sold their soul to the American $$$"

[elrichio86]

Sky Sports, this morning, have now started saying Rafa was Inter's 5th choice. They just can't bring themselves to give him any respect, can they?

It was some Italian journalist - who sounded half asleep and wasn't entirely successful with his words.

He seemed to be suggesting that Inter had looked at some other managers first, but went for Rafa only once he'd left us.

[-V-]

Gabrielle Marcotti. Chats ****e all the time. He has a following but I can't stand him

[spanky]

They just cant handle the fact that there has been no european cups in London. Chelski and Arsenal have tried and failed so many times it must do their heads in.

[paulg]

It was some Italian journalist - who sounded half asleep and wasn't entirely successful with his words.

He seemed to be suggesting that Inter had looked at some other managers first, but went for Rafa only once he'd left us.

Even before they rang him, they were saying Rafa wasn't even 1st choice. As if to say, see we told you he was ****.

****ing winds me up no end.