Liverpool fans react as Rafael Benitez touted to be next Everton manager
According to The Mirror (h/t Liverpool Echo), Everton owner Farhad Moshiri will hold another round of talks with former Liverpool manager, Rafael Benitez, ahead of a potential appointment.
The news comes as a shock to fans of both clubs around the world, considering how rare it is for footballing personnel to cross the divide that separates Red from Blue in Merseyside.
The Toffees are without a manager after Carlo Ancelotti abandoned the club to join Real Madrid instead. And Benitez has now emerged as a strong candidate for the job.
Benitez’s potential appointment as Everton’s new manager is understandably infuriating for some Toffees fans especially after he called them a “small club” after a Merseyside Derby in 2007. (h/t The Guardian)
Benitez back to Merseyside?
Benitez managed Liverpool for 6 years from 2004 until 2010, winning the UEFA Champions League in his first season in Merseyside. The Spaniard continues to be a fan favourite amongst the Liverpool faithful.
And that comes as no surprise considering what he has done for the city of Liverpool, especially regarding Hillsborough. Since his Liverpool job, Benitez has managed a ton of clubs in several countries.
He managed Chelsea and Newcastle United in England, Inter Milan and Napoli in Italy, Real Madrid in Spain, and most recently, Dalian Professional in China.
For Everton, a club that hasn’t won a trophy in ages, the appointment of someone like Benitez should be met with optimism – yet their hate for their city rivals can cloud their judgement of the Spaniard.
More Liverpool News:
- Transfer News: Newcastle set to sign Liverpool youngster Remi Savage
- Liverpool youngster Leighton Clarkson a loan target for Blackburn Rovers
- Leicester City step up pursuit of Liverpool target Patson Daka
Liverpool fans, on the other hand, were largely supportive of ‘Rafa’ on social media after the news of his links with Everton broke. Here are some of the best reactions as found on Twitter:
