Featured Image Credit: The Overlap/ Getty
Topics: Liverpool, Rafa Benitez, Steven Gerrard, Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid, Champions League, Football
Ben McCrum
Topics: Liverpool, Rafa Benitez, Steven Gerrard, Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid, Champions League, Football
Rafa Benitez was absolutely certain when naming one player as the best he has ever coached, and it wasn't Cristiano Ronaldo.
Throughout his impressive 38 year career as a manager, Benitez has coached some of the greatest teams in the world, including Liverpool, Real Madrid and Inter Milan.
During this time, the Spaniard has had the opportunity to manage players like Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard.
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And yet, Benitez didn't hesitate to snub all of these players when picking the greatest player he coached during his career.
While speaking on the It Was What It Was podcast, Benitez revealed that he believes Steven Gerrard to be the best player he has worked with.
He said: “He’s the best player that I have ever coached.
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“He was very good and at the beginning when we were knowing each other.”
Benitez was then asked: “You coached Ronaldo. You think Steven was a better player?”
To which the 64-year-old answered: “In terms of a complete player. Stevie has the power, he could score goals, good in the air, both feet, could shoot from distance, short, taking penalties, deliveries, corners, free-kicks.
“Defending, if it was necessary. He had energy, he trained well and was a good professional. The point with him is he was a box-to-box midfielder from the beginning and little by little he was understanding the game.
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“He had all the potential and he was getting better in terms of position and decisions later on. But he was great from the beginning.”
Gerrard worked under Benitez for six years at Liverpool, making 292 appearances for the manager and winning an FA Cup and Champions League together.
Despite this, the Liverpool legend admitted that he and Benitez haven't stayed in touch and don't maintain a strong relationship.
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Writing in his autobiography, Gerrard revealed: "I can pick up the phone and speak to all of my previous Liverpool managers, except for Rafa.
"It's a shame because we shared the biggest night of our careers - the 2005 Champions League victory, external in Istanbul - yet there is no bond between us."