Product Description

When Rafael Benitez was appointed manager of under-achieving Liverpool at the start of the 2004-2005 season, the reaction of many fans was 'Who the **** is Rafael Benitez?'. The Liverpool fans had grown used to French manager Gerard Houllier but he had been a fan of the club himself since his days as a teacher on Merseyside. A Spaniard with admittedly a wonderful record at Valencia was going to take over management of Liverpool's famous Boot Room and try and win over a disillusioned Kop. But in one season, Benitez's importation of Spanish players, coaching methods and diet has led to a revolution, even usurping Jose Mourinho's Chelsea, whereby the team has ended the season winning the ultimate trophy for any European club - the European Champions League. No fan will ever forget the comeback from a 3-0 deficit to a 3-3 scoreline, then dramatic success in the penalty shoot-out. This is the story of Rafa's remarkable success.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #104776 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-19
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

DUBLIN EVENING HERALD
'Fascinating, stirring stuff'

Review
'Fascinating, stirring stuff' (DUBLIN EVENING HERALD )

'an enthralling, revelatory account of a game that will be remembered forever.' (FOUR FOUR TWO )

About the Author
Guillem Balague is Sky Sport's resident Spanish football expert, and spent many years living in Liverpool.

Customer Reviews

Relive the memories
A superb insight into an incredible season. Takes you behind the scenes and shows what Benitez and his team were doing/thinking/saying at each step along the way. There's some particularly good info on Gerrards two aborted departures to Chavski. This book, along with Fowlers autobiography (welcome back God!), also put Houlliers time in charge in a new light.

In short, for any Liverpool fan, this is a must read. For anyone else, I would say that this is not only the best book about football I have ever read, but the best book about sport I have ever read.

A must buy...
As a Liverpool fan ive always wondered what goes on behind the scenes at Anfield and this book takes you through the whole of Rafa's first season at Anfield with great detail and also has the added bonus of telling you the truth behind the two big stories of his first season:
1. The Gerrard saga(s)
2. What did he do at half time
And on top of those theres a great insight into the semi-final between Lfc and Chelsea with a very interesting bit about Mourinhos preditction. The only reason ive given this 4 stars and not 5 is because Guillem has a blatent dislike for Houllier and a love for Rafa as he blames all of Liverpools problems on the French man but that shouldnt stop you buying this fantastic story. YNWA

a season on the brink
This must be the most interesting book i have ever read, it comes with a completley different point of veiw , its not about anything but the truth, how it obviously happened and how it must have felt, wish i had been there, although now ive read the book, i believe i have!
Well done senor balague, its a must for anyone, not just a football fan.