Everton will appoint Rafa Benitez as their new head coach next week, according to Sky Sports.
Benitez will replace Carlo Ancelotti, who left the club in June to re-join Real Madrid. Ancelotti’s departure caused panic at Goodison Park, but they now have a solid replacement for the Italian.
The announcement has come as quite the surprise. Benitez is highly regarded by Liverpool, Everton’s bitterest of rivals, after his successful period there.
There has been some pushback from Everton fans, given their distaste of their club appointing a Liverpool icon. However, Benitez could yet prove to be a great signing for the Blues.
He’s proven on several occasions that he is a highly skilled manager when given adequate resources. As Everton have a plethora of talented players, along with plenty of money, Benitez could potentially have a very strong spell with the Toffees.
Rafa Benitez Set for Everton Appointment
Benitez’s Beginnings in English Football
Benitez first joined the Premier League when he was appointed by Liverpool in 2004. This followed a spell at Valencia which saw him guide them to a La Liga title, their first in 31 years.
Liverpool’s first season under Benitez is the stuff of legend. He endured a rocky start, losing Michael Owen to Real Madrid. Despite this, he answered back by signing Xabi Alonso, one of Liverpool’s most celebrated midfielders in their history.
Their league season was somewhat of a disappointment, as Liverpool finished fifth. It was their Champions League campaign that brought Benitez his plaudits (and the ire of Everton supporters).
Liverpool beat the likes of Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen and Chelsea en route to the final. There, in Istanbul, they faced Ancelotti’s AC Milan. From 3-0 down at half time, they battled back to 3-3, taking the Italians to penalties. Liverpool triumphed in the shootout, securing a truly legendary victory.
The following season, Benitez would take Liverpool to an FA Cup victory, courtesy of a thunderbolt from Steven Gerrard. They won the subsequent Community Shield, too.
Eventually, following a breakdown in his relationship with Liverpool’s new owners, Benitez left his position at Anfield. He left quite a legacy, despite some questionable transfers towards the end of his tenure.
Benitez at Chelsea and Newcastle United
After a couple of year at Inter Milan, he then joined Chelsea for a brief spell in 2012. He was not well received by the Stamford Bridge faithful, given his strong ties to Liverpool. Regardless, he helped them win a Europa League, only their second major European trophy in their history at the time.
He left Chelsea at the end of the season, showing no desire to continue there. Three years later, Benitez began his third stint at an English club – this time, Newcastle.
He was brought in towards the end of the 2015/16 season, with the hopes that he could save them from relegation. However, the situation was simply too dire – Benitez could do nothing to keep them up.
This shouldn’t be held against Benitez too much. The damage had already been done at Newcastle – it would’ve taken a miracle to keep them afloat. Regardless, Benitez stayed on as head coach and took Newcastle back up the first time of asking, winning the Championship.
Despite limited funding thanks to Newcastle’s notoriously frugal owner, Mike Ashley, the Toon looked like a solid outfit under Benitez. He successfully kept Newcastle in topflight football, with relegation rarely looking like a threat. The same cannot be said for Newcastle these days.
At the end of the 2018/19 season, Benitez’s contract expired and he decided not to renew it. This marked his last day in English football – until now.
What Will Rafa Benitez Bring to Everton?
Throughout Benitez’s career, he’s been known for playing expansive, attacking football, chiefly via a 4-2-3-1 formation.
He is a strong believer in his systems, which will bring a clear focus to Everton’s play. Tactical cohesion is becoming more and more important in the modern game – football is now seldom a game of individuals.
Benitez likes to pair a creative playmaker in the midfield two with a strong ball-winner. Abdoulaye Doucoure and Allan would be a perfect fit, given Allan’s tireless running and Doucoure’s ability on the ball.
He likes his teams to give their opposition little time on the ball, making his teams difficult to break down. However, his teams are also known for getting forward in numbers, showing he has a strong understanding of both attacking and defending.
Likewise, if Benitez does opt to use a 4-2-3-1 system, it will benefit the talented attacking midfielders that Everton have. James Rodriguez, Gylfi Sigurdsson and potentially Richarlison will all thrive in this role.
Furthermore, Rafa Benitez often demands that his fullbacks maraud up the pitch on a regular basis. As Seamus Coleman and Luca Digne are attacking fullbacks by trade, this will again be a strong fit for them both.
Benitez may be an initially unpopular appointment, but Everton fans should be patient with him. He’s proven many times that he’s a good manager. With the correct resources, he could bring that elusive first trophy since 1995 back to Goodison Park.
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