Rafael Benitez has never been the type to take easy options for a quiet life, so those who knew the 61-year-old were not surprised when the former Liverpool manager accepted the challenge of taking over Everton earlier this summer.
After describing Everton as a "small club" during his six-year reign as manager at Anfield between 2004–10, when he masterminded Liverpool's fifth Champions League victory in 2005, BenÃtez has always been the former. Liverpool had competed for dubious distinction with captain Steven Gerrard. Being Public Enemy No. 1 in the eyes of many Evertonians.
But the noise surrounding his appointment – and threatening banners near his home warning him against taking the job – did little to deter Benitez from trading red for blue in a football-crazed town. In the end, he did what he always does, refusing to be influenced by outside influences.
"One of Rafa's greatest strengths, and some would say his greatest weakness, is his integrity and his refusal to say or do anything other than his confidence," a longtime colleague of Benitez told ESPN.
"I remember an occasion when he was in charge at Real Madrid and was asked if Cristiano Ronaldo was the best player in the world. Nobody would have said except Rafa, 'Yeah, he's amazing, the best footballer I've ever seen .' Because that's the way things work if you coach Real and you're asked this question about their star player. But instead, he said Ronaldo was just 'the best I've coached' and you can imagine That's how it got!
"But that's Rafa: he won't go against his principles just to have an easier life, and that's why he has taken the job at Everton. He sees it as a great opportunity to re-manage an ambitious Premier League team." And his Liverpool past was never going to be a problem for Rafa."
Benitez's Liverpool past is still a problem for some in the blue part of the city. When it became clear that Everton boss Farhad Moshiri wanted BenÃtez to replace Carlo Ancelotti, who left Goodison Park in May for a second time as Real Madrid manager, social media erupted with anti-BenÃtez messages from some Everton fans. who had not forgotten their "little". Club" comments, which date back to a verbal dispute with former Everton manager David Moyes in 2007.
At the same time that Everton fans were furious, however, the #AgentRafa hash tag started trending on Twitter, prompting Liverpool supporters to lash out at their neighbours.
As for those banners, some were personally insulting Benitez and others were openly threatening - "We know where you live - don't sign." - also highlighted the ill-will towards Moshiri's first choice to succeed the popular Ancelotti.
"There were probably one or two people talking about the banner, you never know," Benitez said in his introductory news conference last month. "It's better to think positive and a lot of people are encouraging me to do well, and I'm happy with that. I'm not afraid: it's the opposite. I want to win, be competitive and ambitious. Me I'm sure we'll do it."
Those close to Benitez believe that the hostility towards the former Chelsea, Inter Milan, Napoli and Newcastle coach actually helped it win over some skeptical Evertonians, who were frightened by the hostility from a minority of the club's fans. Were.
"Those banners turned 75% of fans and gave them their support behind Rafa," Benitez's aide told ESPN. "They came out decently because they didn't want to be involved in that sort of thing, especially because of Rafa's connection to City, which is beyond Liverpool's management."
Dave Kelly, an Everton fan for 50 years, has been backing Benitez to succeed and he is urging the more pessimistic Evertonians to give him a chance.
"I want Rafa Benitez to be our manager for 10-15 years," he said. "If that happens, it would mean Everton has been successful and that's the only way I would judge him - what he does for us rather than what he did for Liverpool. I'm sick of hearing fans say this Done they have thrown them back the season ticket because we have hired Benitez. They will happily take Mo Salah from Liverpool, so the same should apply to the manager.
A central factor in Benitez's determination to take the job at Everton is his deep roots in the city.
Since leaving Valencia in 2004 to succeed Gerard Houlier, BenÃtez has maintained a house in nearby Caldi, with wife Montesse and their two daughters continuing to use it as a home base, while Rafa continues to use it as his home base. The coaching career continued after his departure away from Merseyside. Liverpool in 2010. During that time, Montesse established a foundation that raises funds for vulnerable and disadvantaged children to enjoy relief visits, and the couple has consistently contributed funds to local hospitals.
It is also well reported that Benitez donated £96,000 to a charity representing the families of 96 Liverpool supporters who lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster in 1989. Less well known is that Benitez also donated to Rhys' family. Jones, an 11-year-old Everton supporter, was killed in August 2007 with a gunshot wound on his way home from football practice.
"Rafa didn't do this for publicity or headlines," his aide told ESPN. "He was upset by what happened and was shaken by the family's grief. He asked a friend to find the boy's parents and give them his donation, and it ended when a check was given to Rhys' mother. When she was working in a local supermarket."
Benitez has also contributed to local charities during his time in Naples and Newcastle, helping a food bank charity while in charge at St James's Park, while his efforts to help those in need of help on Merseyside have been supported by both sides. Recognized by fans. Football Division.
"When Rafa was in charge of Liverpool, I looked at him with envy," Kelly, who is the chairman of fan supporting FoodBanks, told ESPN. "Not because of what he did for Liverpool on the pitch, but because of the way he worked, and for the community. I know he was also involved with charity in Newcastle, so in my opinion that's a good thing." He is now in charge of my team.
"Liverpool's Walton area is unique in England as it is home to two Premier League teams – Everton and Liverpool. They are two prestigious clubs, businesses with huge financial assets, yet Walton's 68 wards (areas) are among them in the country. The most underprivileged and food insecurity are on every street corner. That's why I look forward to joining Rafa Benitez with Everton and continuing the work she's done in the city over the years."
But while Benitez has earned the respect of most of Liverpool City, regardless of football affiliation, the Benitez manager still has to prove he could be the right pick for Everton.
His last Premier League job was three years at Newcastle between 2016-2019, when he had to manage a huge club with few resources while also managing supporter anger towards owner Mike Ashley. Benitez retained Newcastle in the Premier League, but his days of competing at the highest level in Europe were behind him and a subsequent two-year spell in China, managing Dalian Professional, took him even further away from the heart of the action.
His desire to work in the Premier League made him hungry for an Everton job again, and Gerrard, his former captain at Liverpool, told ESPN he was not surprised by his old manager's readiness to cross the division.
"Rafa wasn't born in the city, he's not a red through-and-through, and he never played against Everton for 20 years and competed against them," he said. “He is his own man and will make his own professional decisions, so it is no surprise that he wanted to return to the Premier League at a bigger club and have the opportunity to compete against all the top teams in the league. I was ' Very shocked and shocked to be honest.
While Benitez is the first manager to take charge of Liverpool and Everton, several players have made the same changes over the years, and only a small number faced hostile backlash from supporters of his previous club.
Don Hutchison spent two years at Everton with Liverpool four years earlier in his career, and enjoyed some of the best times of his playing days in a blue shirt. But with knowledge of the demands and feelings of the Evertonians, Hutchison admits he is struggling to see Benitez's move to Goodison end in a happy ending.
"I really hope to be proven wrong because I'm still very much in love with Everton, but if Rafa gets on as manager before Christmas, he will have done well," Hutchison told ESPN. "His appointment reminds me of Jose Mourinho's move to Tottenham: it doesn't feel right and I'm worried it will all end in tears.
"If you look at Everton's opening matches this season [they won their opening game 3-1 at home in Southampton], they are very soft and it gives Rafa a chance to start winning, but that gives them a problem. If they don't start well, he will be on the back foot from off and it will be very difficult to turn it. And if he starts well, he will build optimism and hope to the point where it will make it It will be difficult to keep up and then you have to deal with the negativity that will come along with you."
The first Merseyside derby of the season is scheduled for November 30, when Liverpool visit Goodison Park, and it will be crucial for Benitez to see Everton impress in that game.
With some Evertonians still waiting to be reassured of his commitment to the cause, what he says or does before the Derby will be interesting to the man who has always made his relationship with fans his No. 1 priority. Have given.