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Rafa Benitez says he coached a player at Liverpool who was better than Cristiano Ronaldo

Charles Jones

Fri 22 November 2024 10:45, UK

Rafa Benitez has coached some of the very best players of all-time during his storied managerial career.

From Cristiano Ronaldo to Samuel Eto’o, Benitez has worked with the best of the best in the beautiful game.

However, according to Benitez, the best player he ever managed was one of his Liverpool stars.

Benitez had his crowning moment at Liverpool when he won the Champions League in Istanbul in 2005, and the man of the moment during that run was Steven Gerrard.

Speaking on It Was What It Was, Benitez has named Gerrard as the best player he has ever coached, claiming that the Liverpool legend was even more complete as a player than Cristiano Ronaldo.

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Steven Gerrard is the best player Rafa Benitez ever managed

Benitez spoke about working with Gerrard.

The Spaniard says that Stevie G was the best player he’s ever coached, even better than Cristiano Ronaldo.

“He was great, he was great obviously. I’ve said it before, he’s the best player I have ever coached. He was very good and at the beginning when we were knowing each other,” Benitez said.

“I was going to pull you up on that, you coached Ronaldo, you think Steven was a better player than Cristiano?” Benitez was asked.

“In terms of a complete player. Stevie has the power, he could score goals, good in the air, both feet, he could shoot from distance, short, deliveries, defending, he has energy, he trained well, a good professional. He was great from the beginning,” Benitez said

Cristiano Ronaldo record under Rafa Benitez

Cristiano Ronaldo is undoubtedly one of the best players of all-time, but you can understand why Benitez is more fond of Gerrard.

Indeed, Benitez’s time at Real Madrid didn’t exactly go to plan, and he didn’t manage to see the best of Ronaldo in the biggest moments.

Meanwhile, Gerrard was Benitez’s most trusted lieutenant in his most successful team, and he almost single-handedly handed Benitez two of the biggest trophies of his career.

Ronaldo’s record under Benitez was, inevitably, incredible, but he didn’t win anything during this time, and they only worked together for a short period.

Benitez didn’t get along with everyone at Liverpool, but he had a special bond with Gerrard, and these two certainly brought the best out of each other.

Benitez nearly ended up at Tottenham instead of Liverpool, but, he came to Anfield instead and became a true Liverpool legend.