It’s one of modern football’s enduring romances.
In an cynical and cutthroat age which has less and less time for sentiment, Rafa Benitez and Liverpool supporters have remained steadfastly besotted with each other. Whilst most other ex-players and managers tend to move on or fall out with their previous surrogates, the Spaniard and his loyal army of scousers continue to hold each other in the upmost respect.
Now, despite a few fickle fans with knee-jerk opinions, the vast majority of Liverpool supporters are very happy with current Anfield incumbent Jurgen Klopp. Things aren’t quite perfect at the moment, but the football is thrilling (a little too thrilling at times) and strong progress is being made. That said, they’d love Rafa to return in a blaze of glory one day.
And the good news is that there’s clearly nothing that Benitez would love more. He clearly has unfinished business at Newcastle United, and a strong sense of loyalty to the Geordie nation, but he hardly disguises his ambition to once more sit proud in the Anfield dugout.
“I didn’t get too many chances to go back [to Liverpool]. But that is football, you never know,” admits Benitez. “It has to be the right time. When you have problems and are available, they might be doing well.” Just like now, for example.
“We won four trophies, semi finals too in that short period. If you see the money we spent, and the money they’ve spent in the past years, the fans appreciate that.”
“I wish Jurgen Klopp a lot of success. But what happens in the future you never know.”
