{"id":15518,"date":"2026-03-06T11:27:51","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T11:27:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/?p=15518"},"modified":"2026-03-06T12:14:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T12:14:19","slug":"rafael-benitez-and-liverpool-the-story-of-the-manager-who-gave-the-club-the-miracle-of-istanbul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/eternal-15518-rafael-benitez-and-liverpool-the-story-of-the-manager-who-gave-the-club-the-miracle-of-istanbul","title":{"rendered":"Rafael Ben\u00edtez and Liverpool: The Story of the Manager Who Gave the Club the Miracle of Istanbul"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rafael Ben\u00edtez and Liverpool is the story of a union between a manager and a club that gave supporters one of the most spectacular episodes in 21st-century European football. The website <a href=\"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\">iliverpool.info<\/a> looks back at the most important facts and analyses the Spanish manager&#8217;s role in the club&#8217;s history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ben\u00edtez took charge of Liverpool in 2004 and infused the team&#8217;s style with his trademark traits: detailed tactical preparation, cold calculation, and bold decision-making. Under Ben\u00edtez&#8217;s management, Liverpool won the legendary Champions League final in Istanbul, claimed several other trophies, and once again began to regularly challenge the strongest teams in England and Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a8e63275ff34\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a8e63275ff34\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/eternal-15518-rafael-benitez-and-liverpool-the-story-of-the-manager-who-gave-the-club-the-miracle-of-istanbul\/#Rafael_Benitezs_Path_to_Liverpool\" >Rafael Ben\u00edtez&#8217;s Path to Liverpool<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/eternal-15518-rafael-benitez-and-liverpool-the-story-of-the-manager-who-gave-the-club-the-miracle-of-istanbul\/#Working_in_Spain_and_Managerial_Development\" >Working in Spain and Managerial Development<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/eternal-15518-rafael-benitez-and-liverpool-the-story-of-the-manager-who-gave-the-club-the-miracle-of-istanbul\/#Success_with_Valencia_and_Stepping_onto_the_European_Stage\" >Success with Valencia and Stepping onto the European Stage<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/eternal-15518-rafael-benitez-and-liverpool-the-story-of-the-manager-who-gave-the-club-the-miracle-of-istanbul\/#The_Beginning_of_the_Benitez_Era_at_Liverpool\" >The Beginning of the Ben\u00edtez Era at Liverpool<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/eternal-15518-rafael-benitez-and-liverpool-the-story-of-the-manager-who-gave-the-club-the-miracle-of-istanbul\/#Rebuilding_the_Squad_in_His_Debut_Season\" >Rebuilding the Squad in His Debut Season<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/eternal-15518-rafael-benitez-and-liverpool-the-story-of-the-manager-who-gave-the-club-the-miracle-of-istanbul\/#The_Legendary_2005_Champions_League_Final\" >The Legendary 2005 Champions League Final<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/eternal-15518-rafael-benitez-and-liverpool-the-story-of-the-manager-who-gave-the-club-the-miracle-of-istanbul\/#Benitezs_Team_Tactics_and_Key_Players\" >Ben\u00edtez&#8217;s Team: Tactics and Key Players<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/eternal-15518-rafael-benitez-and-liverpool-the-story-of-the-manager-who-gave-the-club-the-miracle-of-istanbul\/#The_Managers_Tactical_Philosophy\" >The Manager&#8217;s Tactical Philosophy<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/eternal-15518-rafael-benitez-and-liverpool-the-story-of-the-manager-who-gave-the-club-the-miracle-of-istanbul\/#The_Players_Who_Defined_Liverpools_Game\" >The Players Who Defined Liverpool&#8217;s Game<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/eternal-15518-rafael-benitez-and-liverpool-the-story-of-the-manager-who-gave-the-club-the-miracle-of-istanbul\/#The_Title_Race_and_Departure_from_the_Club\" >The Title Race and Departure from the Club<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/eternal-15518-rafael-benitez-and-liverpool-the-story-of-the-manager-who-gave-the-club-the-miracle-of-istanbul\/#The_200809_Season_The_Strongest_in_the_Premier_League\" >The 2008\/09 Season: The Strongest in the Premier League<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/eternal-15518-rafael-benitez-and-liverpool-the-story-of-the-manager-who-gave-the-club-the-miracle-of-istanbul\/#Off-field_Issues_and_Resignation_in_2010\" >Off-field Issues and Resignation in 2010<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rafael_Benitezs_Path_to_Liverpool\"><\/span>Rafael Ben\u00edtez&#8217;s Path to Liverpool<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before arriving at <a href=\"https:\/\/liverpool-future.com\/en\/eternal-4739-anfield-stadium-the-history-of-the-arena-where-liverpool-fc-plays\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Anfield<\/a>, Rafael Ben\u00edtez already had a reputation as a manager who thought systemically, almost like an engineer. He did not belong to the circle of former football superstars; his authority was built through analytics, tactical discipline, and a long managerial journey across various clubs in Spain. This path eventually led him to one of the biggest clubs in England.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Working_in_Spain_and_Managerial_Development\"><\/span>Working in Spain and Managerial Development<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ben\u00edtez&#8217;s managerial story began within the structure of Real Madrid. He worked with the youth teams at the club and quickly gained a reputation as a specialist who paid close attention to details\u2014from player positioning on the pitch to opposition analysis. However, his route to top-flight football was not immediate. After working with the youth, he managed several Spanish clubs\u2014Valladolid, Osasuna, Extremadura\u2014where he simply gained experience without setting the world alight. It was during this period that Ben\u00edtez&#8217;s style was formed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Success_with_Valencia_and_Stepping_onto_the_European_Stage\"><\/span>Success with Valencia and Stepping onto the European Stage<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The real breakthrough in Ben\u00edtez&#8217;s career happened at Valencia. When he took over the club in 2001, the team was already strong but inconsistent. The Spanish manager quickly brought order to their game\u2014he focused on discipline, a clear structure, and rapid transitions from defence to attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Valencia won the Spanish championship in the 2001\/02 season and repeated this success two years later. Furthermore, in 2004, the team won the UEFA Cup, which firmly cemented Ben\u00edtez&#8217;s reputation as one of the most exciting managers in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"687\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.iliverpool.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/63\/2026\/03\/image-37.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15519\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.iliverpool.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/63\/2026\/03\/image-37.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.iliverpool.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/63\/2026\/03\/image-37-300x201.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.iliverpool.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/63\/2026\/03\/image-37-768x515.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.iliverpool.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/63\/2026\/03\/image-37-696x467.png 696w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Following this season, the Spanish specialist received an offer from England. Liverpool were looking for a new manager after the departure of G\u00e9rard Houllier, and Ben\u00edtez&#8217;s candidacy seemed perfectly logical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Beginning_of_the_Benitez_Era_at_Liverpool\"><\/span>The Beginning of the Ben\u00edtez Era at Liverpool<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Rafael Ben\u00edtez took the helm at Liverpool in 2004, the team was in a state of cautious transition. G\u00e9rard Houllier&#8217;s tenure had brought several trophies, but the club lacked the consistency needed to compete with the giants of English football. The new manager inherited a squad containing a mix of experienced veterans and players still trying to find their feet. Ben\u00edtez set to work, rebuilding the team according to his vision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rebuilding_the_Squad_in_His_Debut_Season\"><\/span>Rebuilding the Squad in His Debut Season<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In his debut season, several key players joined the club, notably Xabi Alonso and Luis Garc\u00eda. Ben\u00edtez aimed to create a collective that would work with discipline out of possession and transition swiftly into attack after winning the ball back. Such a model required time, and the results in the league were not always convincing. Liverpool finished the season in the middle of the top half of the table, occasionally displaying brilliant football, whilst at other times dropping points in matches where they were the clear favourites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ben\u00edtez worked extensively on tactics, prepared meticulously for every game, and was not afraid to rotate his starting line-up depending on the opposition. At the time, this sparked considerable debate, as squad rotation was not yet as widespread in the Premier League. However, <strong>it was exactly this approach that helped Liverpool compete successfully on multiple fronts<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Legendary_2005_Champions_League_Final\"><\/span>The Legendary 2005 Champions League Final<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1366\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.iliverpool.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/63\/2026\/03\/image-38.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15522\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.iliverpool.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/63\/2026\/03\/image-38.png 2048w, https:\/\/cdn.iliverpool.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/63\/2026\/03\/image-38-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.iliverpool.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/63\/2026\/03\/image-38-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.iliverpool.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/63\/2026\/03\/image-38-1536x1025.png 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.iliverpool.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/63\/2026\/03\/image-38-696x464.png 696w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The European campaign of the 2004\/05 season became one of the most remarkable stories in the history of the tournament. Liverpool navigated a gruelling path, from tense group-stage matches to dramatic knockout ties. The semi-final against Chelsea was particularly memorable, with Ben\u00edtez&#8217;s team securing their ticket to the final through an incredibly cautious tactical battle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The final in Istanbul against AC Milan started disastrously for the English club. By half-time, the score was 3-0 in favour of the Italians. However, in the second half, Liverpool staged an unbelievable comeback, with goals from <a href=\"https:\/\/liverpoolski.com\/en\/eternal-2964-the-story-of-the-famous-liverpool-footballer-steven-gerrard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Steven Gerrard<\/a>, Vladim\u00edr \u0160micer, and Xabi Alonso. The match went to a penalty shootout, where goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek played the decisive role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Benitezs_Team_Tactics_and_Key_Players\"><\/span>Ben\u00edtez&#8217;s Team: Tactics and Key Players<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After winning the Champions League, Ben\u00edtez continued to rebuild the squad. The triumph in Istanbul did not mean the team was flawless; on the contrary, the manager was well aware that several positions needed strengthening to mount a consistent challenge in the Premier League.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Liverpool&#8217;s style was forged over several years: <strong>organised defence, control of the midfield, and rapid attacks via the flanks or vertical passes<\/strong>. It may have occasionally lacked entertainment value, but the tactical preparation was phenomenal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Managers_Tactical_Philosophy\"><\/span>The Manager&#8217;s Tactical Philosophy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of Ben\u00edtez&#8217;s defining traits was his exhaustive preparation for every opponent. He carefully analysed the opposition&#8217;s strengths and weaknesses and frequently altered his players&#8217; positioning to adapt. Most often, Liverpool played a 4-2-3-1 formation: two holding midfielders, three attacking midfielders, and a lone striker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1152\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.iliverpool.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/63\/2026\/03\/image-39.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15525\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.iliverpool.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/63\/2026\/03\/image-39.png 2048w, https:\/\/cdn.iliverpool.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/63\/2026\/03\/image-39-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.iliverpool.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/63\/2026\/03\/image-39-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.iliverpool.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/63\/2026\/03\/image-39-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.iliverpool.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/63\/2026\/03\/image-39-696x392.png 696w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A crucial component of this model was Steven Gerrard. The club captain was given significant freedom on the pitch\u2014he could push higher up into the attack, support the flanks, or arrive late to shoot from distance. Ben\u00edtez demanded strict discipline from the rest of the players, deeply valuing the balance between defence and attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Players_Who_Defined_Liverpools_Game\"><\/span>The Players Who Defined Liverpool&#8217;s Game<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Liverpool squad featured footballers who were perfectly suited to Ben\u00edtez&#8217;s system. Pepe Reina, one of the best in the Premier League at the time, was a stalwart in goal. In the centre of the park, Xabi Alonso played a vital role; his pinpoint passing accuracy allowed the team to counter-attack rapidly. Alongside him was often Javier Mascherano, a player responsible for adding steel and winning the ball back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In attack, Fernando Torres can be considered the main focal point. The Spanish forward was lightning fast, moved brilliantly without the ball, and was utterly ruthless in front of the opposition&#8217;s goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Title_Race_and_Departure_from_the_Club\"><\/span>The Title Race and Departure from the Club<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"1072\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.iliverpool.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/63\/2026\/03\/image-40.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15528\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.iliverpool.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/63\/2026\/03\/image-40.png 1440w, https:\/\/cdn.iliverpool.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/63\/2026\/03\/image-40-300x223.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.iliverpool.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/63\/2026\/03\/image-40-768x572.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.iliverpool.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/63\/2026\/03\/image-40-696x518.png 696w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the second half of the 2000s, <strong>Ben\u00edtez&#8217;s Liverpool approached the level of the teams consistently fighting for the English championship<\/strong>. He might not have reached the heights of <a href=\"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/eternal-15469-the-story-of-manager-bob-paisley-the-quiet-genius-of-liverpools-golden-era\">Bob Paisley<\/a>, but he still oversaw some resounding successes. The brightest example of this progression was the 2008\/09 season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_200809_Season_The_Strongest_in_the_Premier_League\"><\/span>The 2008\/09 Season: The Strongest in the Premier League<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 2008\/09 campaign is often remembered as Liverpool&#8217;s strongest season under Ben\u00edtez. The team played mature, balanced football that combined a solid defence with highly dangerous attacks. The partnership between Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres was particularly devastating\u2014the captain actively supported the striker, and the Spaniard consistently found the back of the net.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That season, Liverpool amassed 86 points and lost only a handful of matches. The team secured massive victories over direct rivals, including a famous win against Manchester United at Old Trafford. The title race went down to the final weeks, but ultimately, the Manchester club took the crown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Off-field_Issues_and_Resignation_in_2010\"><\/span>Off-field Issues and Resignation in 2010<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Following this peak season, the situation surrounding the club became increasingly complicated, particularly regarding the relationship with the team&#8217;s owners. They interfered with the transfer policy and the general atmosphere around Liverpool. Ben\u00edtez spoke openly about the need to strengthen the squad, but his pleas often fell on deaf ears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Results deteriorated. The team began dropping points in matches where they previously looked assured, and the fight for a spot near the top of the table became much harder. In 2010, the collaboration between the club and the manager came to an end. However, over his 6 years at the club, <strong>Rafael Ben\u00edtez wrote one of the most brilliant chapters in Liverpool&#8217;s modern history<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rafael Ben\u00edtez and Liverpool is the story of a union between a manager and a club that gave supporters one of the most spectacular episodes in 21st-century European football. The website iliverpool.info looks back at the most important facts and analyses the Spanish manager&#8217;s role in the club&#8217;s history. Ben\u00edtez took charge of Liverpool in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":369,"featured_media":15485,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4820],"tags":[7615,7603,7614,7606,7604,7613,7608,7607,7618,7616,7602,7611,7609,7617,7610,7605,7612],"moimportance":[35],"motype":[4825],"moformat":[83],"class_list":["post-15518","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sporty","tag-benitez-champions-league-win","tag-benitez-liverpool-manager","tag-benitez-tactics-liverpool","tag-benitez-valencia-manager","tag-champions-league-2005-final","tag-istanbul-comeback-liverpool","tag-jerzy-dudek-penalties","tag-liverpool-2005-champions-league","tag-liverpool-football-history","tag-liverpool-history-benitez","tag-liverpool-istanbul-2005","tag-liverpool-managers-history","tag-liverpool-milan-2005","tag-liverpool-season-2008-2009","tag-liverpool-squad-benitez","tag-rafael-benitez-liverpool","tag-steven-gerrard-istanbul","moimportance-retranslyacziya-v-agregatory","motype-eternal","moformat-longread-short"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15518","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/369"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15518"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15518\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15534,"href":"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15518\/revisions\/15534"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15485"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15518"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15518"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15518"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=15518"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=15518"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=15518"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}