- Title: SOCCER-SPAIN/REAL-BENITEZ Rafa Benitez is unveiled at Real Madrid
- Date: 3rd June 2015
- Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (JUNE 3, 2015) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** NEW REAL MADRID COACH RAFA BENITEZ RECEIVING REAL MADRID JERSEY FROM PRESIDENT FLORENTINO PEREZ CLOSE OF BENITEZ HOLDING JERSEY NEXT TO PEREZ BENITEZ POSING WITH MEMBERS OF THE DIRECTOR BOARD BENITEZ POSING REAL MADRID BADGE / PRESENTATION IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID COACH RA
- Embargoed: 18th June 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Spain
- Country: Spain
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAE2X9YEYAOXO9N5E7SYNSQ665Z
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Rafa Benitez was appointed Real Madrid coach on Wednesday (June 3), the much-travelled 55-year-old taking on one of the most demanding jobs in club football in which he will be expected to deliver major trophies in short order.
Spaniard Benitez quit Serie A side Napoli last week and returns to his boyhood club to succeed Italian Carlo Ancelotti, sacked after Real failed to either defend their Champions League crown or win the domestic league or Cup.
A former Valencia, Liverpool, Inter Milan and Chelsea manager, Benitez began coaching in Real's youth academy in 1986 after injury ended his hopes of becoming a professional player.
He is the 10th coach to be appointed by president Florentino Perez during the construction magnate's two six-year stints at the helm of the world's richest club by income and appeared close to tears when he was presented to the media at the Bernabeu stadium.
"I hope that we win titles and the team plays well. I want to respond with my work the confidence put on me. Thanks," he said visibly moved.
Benitez, who has signed a three-year contract, told a later news conference he was aware he would not be given time to bed in and that, given the quality of the squad, which he called the best he had managed, the team would have to be competitive from the start.
"When I arrived at Liverpool there was a three-year project to begin to be competitive. I remember the executive director telling me "you have three years to compete and starting to win things". Fortunately we won the Champions (League). Here is different. You have got a team and you have to compete from the very beginning and win and be at a top level," he said.
Media have often described Benitez's sides as defensive, but the Spanish manager wanted to remember pointed out that that under his helm Napoli scored 104 goals this season.
"Many people say that I'm defensive. We have scored again 104 goals, Napoli's record, two times in a row. I think that a team with quality has to be offensive," he said.
Benitez said Real Madrid will be monitoring the transfer market to see if there was room to strengthen the team but refused to speak about names when asked about Liverpool's Raheem Sterling who has been linked with a move to Real.
"Obviously we know Raheem, that is not a secret, but he does not play in our team so I shouldn't speak about him. I respect that and even more in this case because I'm at Real Madrid presentation," he said.
After leaving Real in 1995, Benitez graduated to several modest teams in Spain as he developed his coaching philosophy.
He made his name with Valencia, whom he led to two La Liga titles and the UEFA Cup before leaving for Liverpool, where he won the FA Cup and the Champions League.
He moved on to Inter Milan but was sacked three months into the 2010-11 season and had mixed fortunes during his last job with Napoli.
They won the Coppa Italia last term and finished third in Serie A but lost to Lazio in Benitez's last match in charge to finish fifth, missing Champions League qualification. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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