Sky Sports takes a look back at the career of Rafa Benitez after his incendiary outburst against the Chelsea board and fans
Wednesday 27 February 2013 23:54, UK
Sky Sports takes a look back at the career of Rafa Benitez after his fiery Chelsea outburst.
From the moment he succeeded Roberto Di Matteo, Rafa Benitez has met with criticism from Chelsea fans and his patience snapped after Wednesday's FA Cup victory at Middlesbrough. The former Liverpool boss hit out at the Chelsea board for making him 'interim' manager and turned on fans following their regular condemnation. Here, Sky Sports looks at the highs and lows to date in Benitez's career. 1960: Born Madrid, April 4. 1981: Leaves Real Madrid after seven years without ever playing for the first team and joins third division Parla. 1983: Part of the Parla side which gains promotion to Segunda B. 1986: After retiring as a player, appointed to Real Madrid's coaching staff, starting off with the juniors and working up to the Under-19s. 1994: Leads Real Madrid's B team to seventh in Spain's Segunda Division and ends the season as assistant to first-team coach Vicente del Bosque. 1995: Appointed coach of Valladolid but sacked after 23 games with the team bottom of the Primera Division. 1996: Takes over at Osasuna in second division but lasts just nine games after recording one win. 1997: Joins Segunda Division outfit Extremadura and leads them to promotion. 1999: Extremadura relegated from top flight after play-off defeat by Villarreal. 1999/2000: Quits Extremadura to take a year's sabbatical to study coaching in Italy and England. 2000: Appointed boss of Segunda Division Tenerife and leads them to promotion. 2001: Replaces Hector Cuper at Valencia and leads the club to their first Spanish league title in 31 years. 2004: Leads Valencia to their first ever Double, lifting the league title and the UEFA Cup. June 1 - Valencia announce Benitez and the club have agreed to part by mutual consent. June 16 - Confirmed as Liverpool manager on a five-year contract. 2005: May - Wins UEFA Champions League in his first season as Liverpool come from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 before beating AC Milan on penalties in Istanbul. 2007: February - American duo Tom Hicks and George Gillett buy the club from David Moores. May - Benitez's side reach the Champions League final for the second time in three seasons but lose to AC Milan in Athens. 2008: Relations between Benitez and the Anfield hierarchy sour suddenly, with doubts over the Spaniard's long-term future. 2009: March 18 - Benitez signs a new contract after months of uncertainty, keeping him at Anfield until 2014. Liverpool finish second to Manchester United in the Premier League. 2010: April 29 - After previous early exits from the Champions League and FA Cup, Liverpool are knocked out of the Europa League at the semi-final stage by Atletico Madrid. May 9 - A goalless draw on the final day at relegated Hull City confirms Liverpool finish the Premier League season in seventh - their worst position since 1999. June 3 - Benitez leaves his job as Liverpool manager by mutual consent. June 8 - Inter Milan confirm an agreement has been reached for Benitez to become their new head coach. June 10 - Benitez is confirmed as head coach of Inter on a two-year deal, succeeding Jose Mourinho. August 21 - Leads Inter to Italian Supercoppa triumph with 3-1 win over Roma. August 27 - Inter beaten 2-0 by Atletico Madrid in European Super Cup final in Monaco. December 18 - Leads Inter to FIFA Club World Cup glory with 3-0 win over Congolese side Mazembe in Abu Dhabi final. Immediately calls on club to back him or sack him. December 23 - Inter announce Benitez's dismissal after agreeing the financial terms of his departure. 2012: November 21 - Benitez appointed Chelsea's interim first-team manager until the end of the season, replacing Di Matteo. 2013: February 27 - Confirms after the FA Cup win at Middlesbrough he will leave at the end of the season, saying: "A group of fans, they are not doing any favours for the team when they are singing and wasting time preparing banners. It is because someone made a mistake. They put my title (as) 'interim manager', and I will leave at the end of the season, so they do not need to waste time with me."
