Career in Pictures: Rafa Benitez’s spell as Liverpool manager

Keeping Gerrard

After upsetting the odds to win La Liga and the UEFA Cup in 2004 with his Valencia side, Benitez agreed to move to Liverpool and, in doing so, became the first Spaniard to manage in the Premier League.

The first, and maybe biggest thing he did while at the club, was to persuade captain Steven Gerrard to stay and not move to Chelsea.

Gerrard became the heartbeat of the side in Rafa’s years in charge and it’s doubtful the success the club achieved would’ve happened if their local hero had moved to West London.