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This is what Rafa Benitez said when leaving Liverpool – What will he say after Newcastle contract ends?

5 years ago
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It is nine years ago this month since Rafa Benitez left Liverpool.

The Champions League winning manager eventually leaving after an ongoing battle with the owners who Liverpool fans were desperate to see sell the club.

It was described as being by mutual consent but Rafa Benitez was paid millions, telling you that it was Hicks and Gillett who were the driving force, as Benitez had constantly challenged them over the running of the club.

However, on exiting Anfield, Rafa was determined to accentuate the positives of his time at the club and especially his relationship with the fans, saying: ‘I have no words to thank you enough for all these years and I am very proud to say that I was your manager. Thank you so much once more and always remember: You’ll never walk alone.’

Moving forward nine years ago and on Monday we heard from Mike Ashley via a statement put out by NUFC.

Rafa Benitez given no advanced warning that Ashley was going to put out any statement, with Rafa’s people telling the media that they had been prepared to have more talks to try and come to some agreement on signing a contract extension.

Laughably, the Mike Ashley/NUFC statement claimed there was ‘disappointment’ and that they had ‘worked hard to extend Rafa’s contract’, safe to say not many/any Newcastle fans were buying that.

Mike Ashley and his people even had the nerve to sign the brief statement off by thanking Rafa Benitez for his contribution ‘to what has been collectively achieved’, as though Ashley and his minions had made a positive contribution as well!

Sunday sees Rafa’s three year Newcastle contract finally end and supporters have been speculating as to what will be said then.

The assumption being that whilst he is still formally employed by the club/Ashley, he may not have the freedom to say whatever he wants to.

So once free from that, surely we will hear something from Rafa Benitez.

Whether that is a simple similar message to Newcastle fans as he did with Liverpool supporters, remains to be seen, everybody wondering of course whether we will be hearing from the soon to be ex-manager, as to exactly what has happened and his side of the story…

Rafa Benitez message for Liverpool fans when he left – 4 June 2010:

“It is very sad for me to announce that I will no longer be manager of Liverpool FC.

“I would like to thank all of the staff and players for their efforts.

“I’ll always keep in my heart the good times I’ve had here, the strong and loyal support of the fans in the tough times and the love from Liverpool.

“I have no words to thank you enough for all these years and I am very proud to say that I was your manager.

“Thank you so much once more and always remember: You’ll never walk alone.”

That official Newcastle United Statement – 24 June 2019:

‘It is with disappointment that we announce manager Rafael Benítez will leave Newcastle United upon the expiry of his contract on 30th June 2019.

We have worked hard to extend Rafa’s contract over a significant period of time, however it has not been – and will not be – possible to reach an agreement with Rafa and his representatives.

Rafa’s coaching staff, Paco de Míguel Moreno, Antonio Gómez Pérez and Mikel Antia, will also leave the club on 30th June.

We would like to thank Rafa and his coaching team for their efforts over the last three years and their significant contribution to what has been collectively achieved.’

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