Rafael Benitez was born on April 16, 1960. Now this famous coach is 55 years old, and over such a period of time he managed to achieve impressive achievements. Well, it’s worth briefly telling about his playing and, of course, coaching career.
Early activity of young years
Rafael Benitez has been fond of football since childhood. As a young boy, he played in many school teams. By the way, among his comrades was Ricardo Gallego, who in the future became a very famous football player. Young Rafael very early demonstrated his potential as a coach and leader. At the age of 13, he took control of the children's football team under his keen control.
At age 12 he was accepted into the youth team of Real Madrid. Rafael Benitez showed himself well as a defender. He played stably well, due to which he managed to get into “Castilla”, which was the farm club of “Real”. In addition to his football lessons, Rafael Benitez also entered the sports department of the Polytechnic University of Madrid. And he graduated successfully. In 1982, he received a diploma, becoming a specialist in physical education.
Coaching career: start
Until 1986, Rafael Benitez was a field player. He changed four clubs. First he played for Castilla, then at Guardamar, then at Parla and finally at FC Linares. But at 26, he returned to Real Madrid and became part of the coaching staff of the team. In 1986-1987 he became the coach of FC Castilla. With this club, he twice won first place in the national championship - in 1987, as well as in 1989.
In 1990, Rafael Benitez, taking control of the youthful composition of “Real”, led the team to victory. Then he began to lead her until the age of 19, as Jose Antonio Camacho left the post of coach. With this coach, the team managed to win the youth Cup of the country twice. And both times the guys beat their principal opponents in the final, that is, the guys from Barcelona.
For the period of work with boys and youths, Rafael Benitez received an independent coaching license. That was in 1989. And in the next, 1990, he was trained at a football training camp, which was located in Davis (at the University of California).
Years of success
You can tell a lot about such a coach as Rafael Benitez. The biography of this person is replete with vivid facts and details regarding his activities as a leader and teacher. The coach changed the mass of clubs - “Castille”, “Valladolid”, “Osasuna”, “Extremadura”, “Tenerife” ... He coached all these teams. But in 2001, Benitez led the “Valencia”. Immediately in the first season, he led the team to victory in the championship. This was their first achievement in 31 years.
In 2005, the coach headed “Liverpool”. It was under his leadership that the dramatic match against “Milan” took place, when the Englishmen in the second half of the Champions League final, losing to “Rossoneri” 3-0, scored a draw and won on a penalty shootout.
In 2010, Benitez became the head of Milan's Inter. On December 18 of the same year, the club under the leadership of the Spaniard won the club world championship. True, with the leadership of Inter, Rafael did not find a common language and prematurely left his post. But he was immediately invited to his Chelsea. This team thanks to the work of Benitez won the Europa League, defeating “Benfica”.
In 2013, the Spaniard led the “Napoli”. Benitez led the Italian team to victory in the Italian Cup. And in 2015, on June 3, the coach moved back to his club. From that moment on, Rafael Benitez “Real” is the head - the team with which he began that playing career, that coaching.
Achievements
Given all of the above, you can guess that on the account of Benitez is simply an unthinkable number of awards, achievements and titles. And indeed it is. But if at least something was said about the command, then nothing about the personal. Well, and it's worth discussing. Rafael Benitez is the winner of the Don Balon Award, a two-time coach of the year according to UEFA, as well as a five-time coach of the month in the Premier League. In general, this person has 22 honorary titles - along with game awards, coaching and personal. And this, I must say, is a worthy indicator. It is not surprising that under the guidance of this talented coach, all teams reached heights.