Benitez leaves Liverpool by mutual consent

Failure to build on the club's Champions League triumph in 2005 cost Rafa Benitez his job (pics © Trinity Mirror)

Rafa Benitez has left his role as Liverpool manager by mutual consent after agreeing a severance package with the club, leaving the Reds on the hunt for a new boss.

A poor start to the 2009/10 season turned into a terrible run of defeats which left Benitez under extreme pressure. A seventh-place finish and failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League was deemed unacceptable by Liverpool’s board.

The Spaniard had been in charge for more than six years after taking over from Gerard Houllier in 2004.

Benitez said: "It is very sad for me to announce that I will no longer be manager of Liverpool FC. I would like to thank all of the staff and players for their efforts.

"I'll always keep in my heart the good times I've had here, the strong and loyal support of the fans in the tough times and the love from Liverpool. I have no words to thank you enough for all these years and I am very proud to say that I was your manager.”

Benitez was one of the most successful managers in Liverpool’s
history, winning one European Cup, an FA Cup and a European
Super Cup, as well as guiding the team to second place in the
Premier League in 2008/09.

The Champions League final in 2005 against AC Milan will go
down in history and immediately endeared Benitez to the fans’
hearts. He also led the club to another final in 2007, losing 2-1
to the same opponents on that occasion.

He brought the best out of Steven Gerrard and inspired Jamie
Carragher to become a top class centre-back. Although never
having a huge amount to spend, Benitez spent shrewdly, most of
all the £20m he invested in Fernando Torres in 2007, who is now
arguably the best striker in world football.

Chairman Martin Broughton said: "Rafa will forever be part of
Liverpool folklore after bringing home the Champions League
following the epic final in Istanbul but after a disappointing season both parties felt a fresh start would be best for all concerned.''

American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett considered replacing Benitez once before, lining up German Jurgen Klinsmann to take over. There have also been persistent rumours that Benitez would resign due to various frustrations with how the club is run. Real Madrid have made regular enquiries about the availability of Benitez, a manager they have coveted for a long time.

Despite the club’s underwhelming season, Liverpool fans have fiercely supported Benitez and a protest was held at Anfield in the hours after his departure was announced.

The search now begins for a new manager, just the 18th in Liverpool’s history, with former manager Kenny Dalglish expected to aid Managing Director Christian Purslow in the search for a replacement.

Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill and Fulham boss Roy Hodgson are the favourites to succeed Benitez, who has now joined Italian club Inter Milan on a two-year deal.

Fans pay tribute at Anfield (© Trinity Mirror)