Rafa Benitez was unequivocal when choosing the best player he’s ever coached, and it wasn’t Cristiano Ronaldo.
Over his distinguished 38-year managerial career, Benitez has overseen some of the world’s top teams, including Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Inter Milan.
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Throughout this time, he has worked with footballing legends like Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba, and Frank Lampard. ..Continue Reading
Despite this, Benitez had no second thoughts about overlooking all of these stars when selecting the best player he’s managed.
In an interview on the It Was What It Was podcast, Benitez shared that he considers Steven Gerrard to be the finest player he’s ever worked with.
He said: “He’s the best player that I have ever coached. “He was very good and at the beginning when we were knowing each other.”
Benitez was then asked: “You coached Ronaldo. You think Steven was a better player?”
To which the 64-year-old answered: “In terms of a complete player. Stevie has the power, he could score goals, good in the air, both feet, could shoot from distance, short, taking penalties, deliveries, corners, free-kicks.
“Defending, if it was necessary. He had energy, he trained well and was a good professional. The point with him is he was a box-to-box midfielder from the beginning and little by little he was understanding the game.
“He had all the potential and he was getting better in terms of position and decisions later on. But he was great from the beginning.”
Gerrard spent six years playing under Benitez at Liverpool, making 292 appearances and winning both the Champions League and the FA Cup during their time together.
However, the former Liverpool captain has acknowledged that he and Benitez have not kept in contact and do not share a close relationship.
Writing in his autobiography, Gerrard revealed: “I can pick up the phone and speak to all of my previous Liverpool managers, except for Rafa.
“It’s a shame because we shared the biggest night of our careers – the 2005 Champions League victory, external in Istanbul – yet there is no bond between us.”
