Profile of Rafael Benitez on Famous Like Me

Rafael ("Rafa") Benítez Maudes, (born 16 April 1960 in Madrid, Spain), is a football manager, appointed on 16 June 2004 as the manager of Liverpool F.C. in England in succession to Gérard Houllier.

In 1982 he obtained a degree in Physical Education at the National Institute of Physical Education (INE) assigned to the Technical University of Madrid.

As a footballer, he played in the lower teams of Real Madrid from the 1973/74 season until the 1980/81 season. In 1981 he signed up for AD Parla, where he played in the 3rd and 2nd Division B of the Spanish League in the 1981/82, 1982/83, 1983/84 and 1984/85 seasons. He ended his playing career at Linares CF, playing in the 2nd Division B in the 1985/86 season.

As a manager, his achievements include:

• League Championship with Castilla "B", seasons 1986/87 and 1988/89.
• Preferente League Champion with Real Madrid CF Youth team, season 1989/90.
• Cup Champion with Real Madrid CF Under-19, season 1990/91
• League and Cup Champion with Real Madrid CF Under-19, season 1992/93.
• Promotion to 1st Division with Extremadura CF, season 1997/98.
• Promotion to 1st Division with CD Tenerife, season 2000/01.
• Spanish League Championships with Valencia C.F., seasons 2001/02 and 2003/04.
• UEFA Cup with Valencia C.F., season 2003/04.
• UEFA Champions League with Liverpool F.C., season 2004/05
• UEFA Super Cup with Liverpool F.C., season 2005/2006

Trivia

• Benítez became the third coach to win UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League in succession after the 2005 Champions League win with Liverpool, after Bob Paisley (1975/76, 1976/77, 1977/78) and José Mourinho in 2002/03 and 2003/04. He was the first to achieve the feat with two different clubs.

• Benítez has been noted for his cool character and humble attitude, often in counterpoint to the braggadocio of Chelsea manager Mourinho.

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