Everton have decided to bring in Rafa Benitez to replace Carlo Ancelotti as the club’s new manager (Source – BBC Sport).

Now a quick look at Rafa’s CV will show you why The Toffees hierarchy have hired the Spaniard. He has won league titles, a Champions League and has been successful in the Premier League.

Yet there’s one glaring part on that CV that will always prove to be a stumbling block.

Everton fans can’t and will never forget Rafa Benitez the Liverpool manager.

While Rafa was very successful at Anfield and that will sting Toffee supporters, it’s the way Benitez treated Everton with disdain during that time that will never be forgiven by a fair amount of the faithful at Goodison.

He once called them ‘a small club‘ (Via The Mirror)

Rafa’s announcement was met with plenty of negative comments from the club’s support:

Not my club any more. Unfollowed

— John Hickey-Fry (@John_HF) June 30, 2021

Everton Football Club clearly knew that a backlash was coming. As soon as the announcement dropped they had a picture of him with club legend Duncan Ferguson.

Major shareholder Farhad Moshiri and Director of Football Marcel Brands followed it up with glowing references:

“He has one of the most impressive CVs in world football. He knows how to build winning football teams. Look at the job he did at Valencia, for example. At a time when Real Madrid and Barcelona were investing heavily in global superstars, against all odds he led Valencia to their first La Liga title in 31 years, and then added another La Liga title and a UEFA Cup for good measure. He has demonstrated at a number of clubs he can help them take the next step – and step up to the very highest level.”

Farhad Moshiri via Evertonfc.com

It is interesting that Farhad made the Valencia reference as a big reason for giving Rafa the job. That happened seventeen years ago!

He didn’t quite manage to do it at Napoli and Newcastle United, in terms of getting them to the next level. We shouldn’t forget that he also flopped at Chelsea and Inter Milan.

Even as a coach Benitez doesn’t seem to be a right fit.

As a manager he has a knack of rubbing players up the wrong way, the complete opposite from Ancelotti. That could prove to be disruptive at Goodison.

At Newcastle Utd he often decided to set his team up to play in a way that would avoid defeat rather than push for the win. That won’t wash with The Toffees, just ask Sam Allardyce!

There’s also huge pressure on him as his appointment could make or break the fans relationship with Moshiri.

People look at the Merseyside derby and play it down. Growing up in Glasgow I know all about football rivalries. Just cause the Merseyside one isn’t steeped in hate and isn’t as volatile, it’s still huge in it’s own way. The city stops leading up to the fixture and the fans love to have the bragging rights over the other.

If Rafa Benitez can’t succeed at Everton, then Liverpool fans will call him Agent Rafa.

As soon as a bad run hits, Everton supporters will turn on him (if they haven’t turn on him already) and I just don’t think they will ever fully support him. Maybe if he can bring a trophy or get the club into the top four. I just don’t see present day Rafa Benitez doing that!

Posted on July 1st, 2021 by scott
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