What Rafa Benitez must do to win over Everton fans - a Blues, Liverpool and Newcastle perspective

The Spaniard has his early detractors at Goodison Park due to his links across Stanley Park.
Rafa Benitez is Everton’s fifth permanent manager in five years, replacing Carlo Ancelotti who joined Real Madrid. Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty ImagesRafa Benitez is Everton’s fifth permanent manager in five years, replacing Carlo Ancelotti who joined Real Madrid. Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images
Rafa Benitez is Everton’s fifth permanent manager in five years, replacing Carlo Ancelotti who joined Real Madrid. Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images

It’s a divide that only a select few have bravely crossed.

A handful of players have made the short jaunt from Anfield to Goodison or vice versa. Peter Beardsley, Steve McMahon, David Johnson and Nick Barmby are among those who know what it’s like to represent both Everton and Liverpool.

But a manager doing that? It’s unheard of. Well, not since William Edward Barclay in the 19th century.

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And for someone who’s etched in Anfield folklore - with his face still adorning the Kop on matchdays - it was no surprise when sections of Evertonians initially scotched the idea of Rafa Benitez taking the helm at Goodison Park.

Benitez isn’t any old former Liverpool boss. He’s the one who called Everton “a small club” after a goalless Merseyside derby in February 2007. Things like that aren’t easily forgotten.

When Benitez was first linked with the post vacated by Carlo Ancelotti, several banners were hung up outside Goodison in protest, while there were threatening messages left near his Wirral home.

Carlo Ancelotti made a surprise exit from Everton in June. Picture: PETER BYRNE/POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesCarlo Ancelotti made a surprise exit from Everton in June. Picture: PETER BYRNE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Carlo Ancelotti made a surprise exit from Everton in June. Picture: PETER BYRNE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Nuno Espirito Santo, Christophe Galtier, Graham Potter and even a David Moyes return were all options explored during Everton’s managerial search.

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Yet it would be Benitez who impressed Toffees owner Farhad Moshiri the most to land the job.

‘Some people who don’t want him at the club’

The ex-Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Napoli supremo faces the challenging task of overhauling a squad that’s been put together under a relatively quick turnover of predecessors in Ancelotti, Marco Silva, Sam Allardyce and Ronald Koeman.

The Toffees finished a disappointing 10th last season and supporters continue to question the direction the club is heading.

At the same time, Benitez also has to win over his detractors, who can’t forgive his past.

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David Wycherley, chairman of supporter group County Road Bobblers, admits Benitez wouldn’t have been his pick for the Everton job - but is now fully behind him.

There are fears, however, that he won’t be given as much leniency as other managers, should Everton hit a indifferent run of results.

Wycherley says: “There are some people who don’t want him at the club. I’ve got friends who aren’t interested in him.

“He’s not going to get booed because the majority have come to accept he’s Everton manager and will support him.

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”I wanted Marcelo Gallardo (River Plate manager), someone a bit different. I wanted to see us go with someone a bit bold and go with someone that’s fiery and plays on the front foot but Rafa’s here now. I’ve got no malice towards him and will support whoever is Everton manager.

“Whoever took over, the hard part was always going to be that this squad isn’t where it should be.

“There are going to be a few dips and we’ll pick up a few defeats. The worry is that, if it happens, will he get the same level of support as Carlo Ancelotti when he went through a rough patch? Probably not.

“But, at the end of the day, we need continuity. We have shown that chopping and changing managers every 18 months doesn’t work.

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“We know it’s not going to be easy and he showed at Chelsea and Newcastle United that he has thick skin. He’s strong-minded and has the mentality.”

Anfield reputation

The reaction from the opposite side of Merseyside regarding Benitez’s arrival at Goodison has been rather placid, however.

There have been no fuming Liverpool fans, no supporters demanding he’s removed from flags and written out of history.

After all, Benitez is an adopted son of the city. He and his wife, Montse, have supported several local charities, made donations to family members who lost loved ones during the Hillsborough disaster and are long-standing residents of the Wirral village of Caldy.

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Not only that, but he was the mastermind behind Liverpool’s miraculous comeback in Istanbul in 2005.

From being 3-0 down at half-time, the Reds miraculously fought back to claim a first European Cup in 31 years - one of the club’s greatest ever nights - before adding the FA Cup to the trophy cabinet the following season.

But how do Kopites want one of their favourite former managers to fare across the Park?

“I can’t say I want him to be a success,” admits John Pearman, editor of fan magazine Red All Over the Land.

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“That would be going over the top but if he is, we can say: ‘Look he was our manager first’.

“Everton fans were hostile towards him when he was Liverpool’s manager, even more so than they have been to Jurgen Klopp.

Rafa Benitez, right, lifts the Champions League with Steven Gerrard after Liverpool’s triumph over AC Milan in 2005. Picture: MUSTAFA OZER/AFP via Getty ImagesRafa Benitez, right, lifts the Champions League with Steven Gerrard after Liverpool’s triumph over AC Milan in 2005. Picture: MUSTAFA OZER/AFP via Getty Images
Rafa Benitez, right, lifts the Champions League with Steven Gerrard after Liverpool’s triumph over AC Milan in 2005. Picture: MUSTAFA OZER/AFP via Getty Images

“On the other hand, I don’t want him to fail because of who he is.

“What he did at Liverpool can’t be forgotten and he’s always been supportive towards the city in many ways and helped Hillsborough causes.

“I can’t dislike the man because he has gone to Everton.

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“In terms of Liverpool managers, he can’t be compared to Bob Paisley or Bill Shankly. But Rafa is up there with the likes of Kenny Dalglish, Gerard Houllier and Klopp. He’s in that mould.

“He came to Liverpool when we needed something and gave us something we will never forget in Istanbul.

“I’m not surprised he’s gone there because Everton needed someone with a higher profile than some of the managers they were linked with and that were available.

“Rafa wasn’t just available but he lives in the area. I wasn’t surprised he took the job, nor at some Everton fans’ immediate reaction.

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“No Liverpool fan has contacted me saying they have anything against him, though.

“I can’t want Rafa to turn Everton into a successful football club in terms of winning trophies. But I don’t want him to tarnish his reputation.

“I don’t honestly know if Evertonians will accept him. Ones I’ve heard from say they hope he does OK and they’ve got some decent home games against Southampton and Burnley to start with.”

A workaholic and a football aficionado

One place where Benitez’s reputation is assured is Newcastle.

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He remains a highly popular figure among the Toon Army, having spent just over three years as the manager at St James’ Park.

Benitez was brought in on a short-term basis in March 2016 and tasked with keeping the Magpies in the Premier League with nine matches remaining.

The drop couldn’t be avoided despite Newcastle going unbeaten in their final six matches - yet Benitez didn’t walk away like many big name bosses would have.

Instead, he guided the Magpies back to the top flight by securing the Championship title before delivering respectable 10th and 13th-place finishes.

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He departed after his contract expired at the end of the 2018-19 season, citing a lack of trust with much maligned owner Mike Ashley.

Steve Wraith, managing director of Newcastle Legends, acted as a conduit between Benitez and Newcastle fans in a bid to rebuild previously broken relationships caused during Ashley’s tenure.

After years of growing apathetic and disillusioned with the likes of Alan Pardew and Steve McClaren in charge, Benitez provided something every supporter wanted - hope.

Wraith says: “To go up to the Premier League at the first time of asking was great.

Rafa Benitez celebrates with the silverware after guidng Newcastle to the Championship title in 2017. Picture: Stu Forster/Getty ImagesRafa Benitez celebrates with the silverware after guidng Newcastle to the Championship title in 2017. Picture: Stu Forster/Getty Images
Rafa Benitez celebrates with the silverware after guidng Newcastle to the Championship title in 2017. Picture: Stu Forster/Getty Images
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“Going into the Premier League, expectations were high and we’d all hoped Mike Ashley would see we had the right man in charge and loosen the purse strings to give Benitez some money to spend.

“This has been the biggest issue of Ashley’s 14-year reign. He tends to release money at the wrong time instead of backing managers he should have faith in.

“Instead of backing Rafa, Alan Shearer and Kevin Keegan, he’s backed Alan Pardew, Steve Bruce and Joe Kinnear.

“It was a project when Rafa came in and he wanted to tap into the club as a whole. It had a great feeling about it.

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“Ultimately, there was hope. He gave Newcastle fans hope that there were going to be better days ahead.

“There was nothing better than the way he represented the fan base and the club in the media, while the players wanted to play for him.

“He knows what he is talking about and is a workaholic. He’s a football aficionado and has contacts all over the world. Who wouldn’t be happy having Rafa managing their club?

“I do feel he will do well at Everton if he’s given the funds and opportunity. He will always make the best of a bad situation, though, like he did at Newcastle.

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“Rafa can play the political game if he needs to, but as long as he’s given a chance to keep those players and given some money to invest, he’ll always do quite well with any team.

“I wouldn’t be surprised to see Everton competing for a trophy and get to a final and certainly competing for a European spot.

“There’s also a manager in the waiting in Duncan Ferguson, who had a bit of history with Newcastle, and I was really impressed with him as caretaker manager.

“It’s nice to see him remain a part of Rafa’s backroom staff and I don’t think Everton fans have anything to worry about.

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“Anyone considering getting on his back because he managed Liverpool needs to put the rivalry aside and let him do what we know he’s capable of.”

What will be measured as a success?

The size of Benitez’s task at Everton hasn’t gone unmentioned.

Time is ultimately what he needs to assess his squad before recruiting the players suited to his footballing philosophy.

However, that’s not something his predecessors were afforded.

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Benitez is the club’s fifth permanent manager in as many seasons, with Koeman, Silva and Allardyce all being shown the exit door less than two years into the job, while Ancelotti resigned in June.

Rafa Benitez in the technical area during Everton’s pre-season defeat to Manchester United. Picture: LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty ImagesRafa Benitez in the technical area during Everton’s pre-season defeat to Manchester United. Picture: LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images
Rafa Benitez in the technical area during Everton’s pre-season defeat to Manchester United. Picture: LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images

Wycherley, of Everton supporter group County Road Bobblers, believes it’s imperative Benitez doesn’t meet the same fate.

He says: “I said it at the time when we were looking for a new manager and I’ll stick to this, whoever is the next manager, we need to give him three years. We have to with Rafa.

“The owners have got to show some steel, they have given him the job so let him turn around the squad and get it a bit more balanced.”

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And what about measuring success for Benitez in his maiden campaign?

“What I say every season - we have got to win a trophy,” adds Wycherley.

“I know I’ve got to be realistic but we’re a club that should be aiming for silverware every season.

“Whether that will be achieved, who knows but you’ve seen sides like Wigan and Portsmouth win the FA Cup.

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“In the league, we need to keep knocking on the door. There are other sides like Tottenham who are in transition so between sixth and 10th is where we should be aiming.

“I’d like to think we’ll be closer to sixth place come May.”