{"id":607791,"date":"2022-01-16T10:13:56","date_gmt":"2022-01-16T15:13:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/?p=607791"},"modified":"2026-03-15T13:52:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-15T17:52:13","slug":"rafael-benitez-sacked-by-everton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2022\/01\/16\/rafael-benitez-sacked-by-everton\/","title":{"rendered":"Rafael Benitez Sacked by Everton"},"content":{"rendered":"

It has been confirmed that Rafael Benitez has been sacked by Everton<\/a>. He was never a popular manager with fans due to his Liverpool career and with money spent and results still poor, the Everton board have decided to call time on Benitez\u2019s dalliance with the blue half of Merseyside. The new was confirmed in an official club statement.<\/a><\/p>\n

Rafael Benitez Sacked by Everton<\/h2>\n

A Marriage Made in Hell Between Rafael Benitez and Everton<\/h3>\n

When Everton announced that their new manager would be Rafa Benitez the tumbleweed was apparent before the deafening noise ensued with Everton fans expressing their dismay, disgust and disbelief that the former Liverpool<\/a> manager had become their new manager. When a manager of Liverpool, Benitez famously or rather infamously referred to David Moyes\u2019 Everton as \u2018a small club\u2019 and Evertonians have never forgotten or forgiven. The comments followed a 0-0 draw in a 2007 Merseyside Derby when he accused Everton of negative tactics.<\/p>\n

To make matters worse, it has been the perceived negative tactics of Benitez at Goodison Park that has ultimately contributed to his dismissal.<\/p>\n

Lucas Digne Fallout<\/h3>\n

Fan favourite Lucas Digne was pushed aside by Benitez and this led to the transfer of Digne to Steven Gerard\u2019s Liverpool and the pair exchange personal insults following the move. Digne was angry<\/a> at his treatment by the Spaniard and said in a parting message to fans;<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes it only takes one person from outside to destroy a beautiful love affair.\u201d<\/p>\n

Benitez hit back though accusing Digne of not pulling in the direction that he as manager wanted him to saying that:<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re in a boat and someone is not rowing with the strength that you are expecting then you have to make your decision.\u201d<\/p>\n

Relegation Must Be Avoided<\/h3>\n

For Everton they are slipping ever closer to the relegation zone and with little sign of form improving the time has come for Benitez to leave his post and remain forever a pariah around Goodison Park.<\/p>\n

Main Photo
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>