Rafa Benitez was in tears on Wednesday as he fulfilled a lifetime’s ambition taking over Real Madrid.
The
Madrid-born former Liverpool manager gave one of the shortest opening
speeches of any coach taking over the club in the last 15 years.
‘It’s emotional to come home,’ he said. ‘I don’t know what to say. I want to make sure we win things and the team plays well.’
Rafa Benitez was visibly emotional upon being unveiled as the new Real Madrid manager on Wednesday
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Madrid president Florentino Perez (right) described Benitez as 'one of ours' and welcomed him back to the club
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Benitez gave a short speech upon facing the media before Perez read out the list of trophies he has won
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Zinedine Zidane (left), now the coach of Real Madrid's B team, greets new manager Benitez
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Benitez (right) was in charge of the Real Madrid B team from 1993-95 and now returns as first-team manager
RAFA BENITEZ
Born: April 16, 1960
PLAYING CAREER
Real Madrid Castilla (1974-1981),Parla (124 league appearances, 1981-1985), Linares (34 league appearances, 1985-1986).
MANAGERIAL CAREER
Real Madrid B (1993–1995), Valladolid (1995–1996), Osasuna (1996), Extremadura (1997–1999), Tenerife (2000–2001), Valencia (2001–2004), Liverpool (2004–2010), Inter Milan (2010-2011), Chelsea (2012–2013), Napoli (2013–2015), Real Madrid (2015–present)
HONOURS
VALENCIA
La Liga: 2001–02, 2003–04; UEFA Cup: 2003–04
LIVERPOOL
FA Cup: 2005–06; Champions League: 2004–05; Super Cup: 2005
INTER MILAN
Supercoppa Italiana: 2010; FIFA Club World Cup: 2010
CHELSEA
UEFA Europa League: 2012–13
NAPOLI
Coppa Italia: 2013–14; Supercoppa Italiana: 2014
The
55-year-old manager who returns to the club where he cut his coaching
teeth as a youth team managaer having reached C-team level as a player,
was flanked by wife Montse and presented to media and directors by
president Florentino Perez.
Perez
said: ‘We are convinced the arrival of Benitez will make us stronger.
We are bringing in a coach who has always wanted to be manager this
club. Someone who is known for his methods and for his professionalism.’
Perez
read out a list of Benitez’s list of trophies won including the
Champions League he won ten years ago with Liverpool and two ligas won
with Valencia.
He
added: ‘He knows this club. He is one of ours. He arrived here as a
13-year-old and I imagine it is very special for him to take over the
club as its manager today. Dear Rafa, welcome home.’
Benitez was presented as Madrid boss at a press conference on Wednesday after a tour of the club's Valdebebas training ground.
Benitez
was greeted at his new headquarters by Zinedine Zidane, who is the
current coach of Real Madrid's B side and was shown to his new office,
which he unlocked through fingerprint ID.
Benitez succeeds Carlo Ancelotti, who Madrid parted company with after a season without winning a major trophy.
The
Italian took Madrid to their 10th European triumph with Champions
League glory in 2014 but they have played second fiddle to rivals
Barcelona in Spain this season.
Benitez
started his coaching career at the Santiago Bernabeu as B-team manager
from 1993 until 1995 and returns after 20 years away.
Barca's
dominance in Spain and across Europe is what Benitez will have to
overturn, as well as getting the best form out of £86million
world-record signing Gareth Bale.
Benitez (left) poses with his wife, Montserrat (centre), and Madrid president Perez at the press conference
Benitez returns to Madrid, the club he started his coaching career at, after 20 years away
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Perez (right) hands Benitez a Madrid shirt with his name on at a press conference on Wednesday
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Benitez faced the media in his first official appearance as the manager of Madrid on Wednesday
Benitez is a two-time La Liga winner with Valencia, in 2002 and 2004, when he also lifted the UEFA Cup.
It
was this success, alongside a reputation for meticulous preparation for
games and detailed tactical knowledge, that caught the attention of
Liverpool, who brought him to Anfield in 2004 to replace Gerard
Houllier.
There, he won the Champions League in his first season and followed it up with the FA Cup the following year.
Liverpool
were also runners-up in the League Cup final in 2005 and the Champions
League final in 2007, where AC Milan avenged their defeat two years
earlier.
Benitez
has also won the Europa League with Chelsea, where he negotiated a
tumultuous tenure as interim manager for six months in the 2012-13
season.
Chelsea
supporters were dismayed that a man who was so closely aligned with
Liverpool and had barbed the Stamford Bridge faithful repeatedly before
leading the Reds into numerous duels between the two sides was now
guiding their team.
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Benitez is a two-time winner of La Liga with Valencia and will look to reclaim the trophy as Madrid boss
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The 55-year-old Spaniard Benitez went on a tour of Madrid's Valdebebas training ground on Wednesday
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Benitez, who arrives at Madrid after two years at Napoli, replaces Carlo Ancelotti as manager of the club
Benitez moved from London to Italy and won the Italian Cup with Napoli in his first season.
The
one blot on Benitez's managerial record came in 2010, where he replaced
Mourinho as Inter Milan boss. He lasted only six months, exiting in
December with the team 13 points behind league leaders and city rivals
AC.
He is Madrid's eighth coach in 10 years.
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