Liverpool has always been a club which subscribes to the cult of the football manager.

The Reds have had some ridiculously good coach’s down the years, and have loved them with an undying strength.

From the transformative years of Bill Shankly, to Liverpool’s re-emergence as a genuine force under Jurgen Klopp, the men who shaped the Reds will never be forgotten at Anfield.

One of those who can claim to be among the pantheon of genuinely great Liverpool managers is Rafael Benitez.

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Benitez coached arguably the greatest game in Liverpool history when the Reds came from behind to win an epic Champions League final against AC Milan in 2005.

Since leaving Liverpool in 2010, things have gone a little downhill for Benitez.

But having been out of the game since his sacking at Celta Vigo in March 2004, the Spaniard is reportedly on the verge of making a surprise return to the dugout.

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Benitez clearly cannot touch the legacy left by the likes of Shankly, Klopp and Bob Paisley.

But he is also remembered with a genuine reverence at Liverpool.

It has been a shame to see Rafa go from job to job, his considerable powers seemingly waning with every move he makes.

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According to The Daily Mail, though, Benitez is now on the verge of taking over another huge club.

They claim that the 64-year-old is in ‘advanced talks’ to become the new manager at South American champions Botafogo.

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Botafogo won a league and Copa Libertadores in 2024, but having lost manager Artur Jorge to Qatar, they have had to look for a new candidate.

Benitez is said to ‘impressed’ Botafogo owner John Textor and is reportedly down to the final two candidates for the position in what is described as being a potentially ‘shock’ return.

While Benitez has struggled to make his mark in Europe over the last decade or so, he would still be a bit of a coup for Botafogo.

The Rio based club are very much on the up under Textor and having won the Copa Libertadores for the first time ever in 2024, they followed it up with a first league title since 1995.

ClubPeriod At ClubGamesWin %Inter MilanJune 2010 – December 20102548.0Chelsea (interim)November 2012 – May 20134858.3NapoliMay 2014 – June 201511252.7Real MadridJune 2015 – January 20162568.0Newcastle UnitedMarch 2016 – June 201914642.5Dalian ProfessionalJuly 2019 – January 20213831.6EvertonJune 2021 – January 20222231.8Celta VigoJuly 2023 – March 20243327.3Rafa Benitez since leaving Liverpool

Playing in black and white stripes with the distinctive badge of a white star in a black background, they have had all-time greats such as Didi, Jairzinho and Garrincha turn out for them.

These days, their best players include striker Igor Jesus, while they also employ former Premier League stars such as Rafael da Silva, Alex Telles and Allan.
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