Benitez leaves Liverpool "by mutual consent."

[Captain Hilts]

The Guardian:

http://honfest.net/index.html

Benítez joined the club from Valencia in 2004 and guided the side to the Champions League title in his first season in charge. The FA Cup followed in 2006, but he was unable to transform his side's cup form into Premier League success.

Despite regular top-four finishes, the closest Liverpool came to the title during his reign was in 2008-09, when they were runners-up to Manchester United. Last season Benítez's side missed out on the Champions League qualifying spots, finishing the season in seventh.

Despite those shortcomings in the league, Benítez is admired by the Internazionale president, Massimo Moratti, who is searching for a replacement for José Mourinho at San Siro.

...

The tabloid The Sun:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/2998746/Liverpool-confirm-Rafa-Benitez-will-leave-the-club.html

LIVERPOOL have confirmed Rafa Benitez is leaving the club by mutual consent.
Managing director Christian Purslow and club ambassador Kenny Dalglish have been tasked with finding a replacement for the Spaniard, who relinquished his position as boss after six years in charge at Anfield.

Benitez leaves Merseyside following a disastrous season, with the Reds finishing a lowly seventh in the Premier League and suffering early exits in both the Carling Cup and FA Cup.

...

The Beeb:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/8719210.stm

[MrCoffee]

1. I think it was time for Rafa to move on...and for Hicks/Gillett to sell

I know I've been mighty critical of him, and I think it's painfully clear that he lost the confidence of the players at the end of the season.


Seems like what this really means is that there won't be transfer money this summer, and if Gerrard/Torres/Benayoun/Riera/Mascherano leave...7th place in the EPL was nice while it lasted.

[Captain Hilts]

2. I'm hoping this increases the chances that Gerrard, Torres, etc. stay. nt

[MrCoffee]

3. If the transfer money isn't there, they're gone...mark my words

All last week and this week the news was that mgmt promised Rafa he'd have 15M in transfer money, plus whatever they got for Aurelio and Mascherano.

Now they're saying that Liverpool couldn't guarantee the transfer pot. Tom Hicks is talking out the side of his ass all over the place. One minute LFC's finances are in great shape and there will be "significant" transfer funds, the next minute they can't promise the manager anything and are buying him out.


Benitez and his boring football are gone. Now the owners have to quit fucking about and sell to someone who may actually know something about running a football club.