Rafa Benitez Completes Move To Inter Milan

Those who were perplexed as to why a man with a £16 million buy-out would settle for £6 million had their questions answered today as Internazionale confirmed the hiring of Rafa Benitez as their new manager.

Last week, Benitez reached agreement with Liverpool to terminate his contract at Anfield. At the time, it was said Benitez was in line to replace José Mourinho at the European Champions. With today’s announcement, Benitez is set to take on his first managerial job in Italy, having previously coached at Valencia, Tenerife, Osasuna, Valladolid (amongst others) in addition to Liverpool.

After reports yesterday that Rafa Benitez had been fired pending agreement on a severance package, today comes word that Benitez and Liverpool have parted by mutual consent, opening-up one of the more prestigious couching positions in European football.

Benitez completed his sixth year at Anfield with a seventh place league finish, the worst of his tenure, with Liverpool missing Champions League football for the first time in his reign. It was a reign that started by winning the 2004-05 Champions League, which he followed-up with an FA Cup the following season. Liverpool has gone without a major trophy since, with the club being eliminated from this year’s Champions League at the group stage.

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has been fired, according to reports out of England.

Benitez is coming off his sixth season at Anfield, the team’s seventh place finish being the Reds’ worst season since the former Valencia boss took over ahead of the 2004-05 season. That year saw Benitez guide Liverpool to the UEFA Champions League title, defeating Milan on penalty kicks in the final. The next year Benitez guided Liverpool to the FA Cup, the last major piece of silverware he would win at Anfield.