Rafa Benitez
Real Madrid brought Rafa Benitez home as its new coach yesterday, giving him a three-year contract as the replacement for the fired Carlo Ancelotti. Benitez, who began his coaching career in Madrid’s youth academy, will return to the Spanish league where he led Valencia to titles in 2002 and 2004 before joining Liverpool, where he won the 2005 Champions League.
In a statement, Madrid said Benitez was the right choice because he understood the values that underpin the club, and what it meant to be part of it. “He is a product of this house,” the club said, detailing how 55-year-old Benitez played as a defender in youth teams from age 13 to 20, and “began his coaching career here.” The new coach, who arrived two days ago from Napoli, was presented at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Ancelotti guided Madrid to its 10th European Cup in 2014, but was let go after the team failed to win a major trophy this season.
Benitez is Madrid’s eighth coach in 10 years. He will be tasked with ending Madrid’s dismal record of one Spanish title in seven seasons despite counting on Cristiano Ronaldo and record revenues.
Madrid finished two points behind Barcelona in the Spanish league, and lost to Juventus in the Champions League semifinals.
Benitez will need to grapple with three problems that dogged Ancelotti in his final season: Find a way to rise above Barcelona; win the Champions League; and get the best out Madrid’s star-studded squad.
Playing second fiddle to Barcelona has always grated with club president Florentino Perez and the board of directors. The club’s last Spanish league title came in 2012 under Jose Mourinho, while Barcelona has won five titles in seven seasons, the other one going to Atletico Madrid in 2014.
Apart from being considered a hard-working disciplinarian who believes in player rotation, Benitez was regarded as one of the game’s thinkers.
Madrid said Benitez was used to the pressure of leading large teams in Spain, Italy, and England.
“Benitez is a methodical strategist, a tireless worker, and student of the game,” Madrid said, calling him “one of the best coaches currently in the sport.”
Benitez left Naples early Monday, a day after coaching Napoli’s last game, a 4-2 home loss to Lazio. Had Napoli won, it would have finished third and secured a Champions League spot. Napoli finished fifth. Harold Heckle, Madrid, AP
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