مدرب ويلز تكلم عن رافا وفضليته على مدربي البريمرليغ وهذا حديثه بالكامل ومافيني شده اترجمه صراحه لكن اللي يقرا الموضوع يقول ان جون توشاك متيم ببينتز
Toshack: Rafa's a bit special
Jose Mourinho thinks he is the 'Special One', but John Toshack believes that title should be attributed to Liverpool boss Rafael
Benitez
Toshack said: "When I first met Rafa there was definitely something about him. I remember when I was at Madrid the second time around and we were in Switzerland pre-season.
"He was over watching the training and was making notes. He was always a very studious type. I think his Valencia side that played Liverpool a couple of times was very impressive.
"I saw the game at Anfield and they never gave Liverpool any options at all. That sort of approach, which is common on the continent, maybe prompted Liverpool to go for him and he certainly hasn't let them down since he's been here."
Toshack also revealed his first meeting with Benitez, and the impression the Spaniard made on him.
He added: "When I first went to Madrid in 1990, Rafa was working with the youth team. He has worked his way up and did tremendously well to come through some difficult times at Valladolid and Osasuna.
"He then got Tenerife promoted but was still a bit of a surprise choice when he first went to Valencia. At the Mestalla he certainly pushed on and was very successful.
"He established a very methodical side and once they went 1-0 in front it was very difficult to get anything back from them. He won the UEFA Cup with Valencia as well as La Liga and his record since taking charge of Liverpool speaks for itself.
"To come back the way they did in two major cup finals shows a lot of resilience and character. In the European Cup, Milan hadn't conceded three goals in something like 18 months and here you had three in 18 minutes.
"Then in the FA Cup final, West Ham went 2-0 up but you always knew that Liverpool still had a chance because a team managed by Rafa is never beaten until the final whistle."
Toshack also recalled his input into the early career of Xabi Alonso, and believes a performance the midfielder turned in against Benitez's Valencia was the point when the now Liverpool chief first decided to buy him.
He added: "Xabi's father managed Real Sociedad before I did and Xabi had been farmed out to a Second Division club. I brought him straight back and gave him his debut.
"Initially he was a little off the pace but his speed of thought was faster than anybody else and his range of passing was perfect. You could see he was quality and he just needed games at First Division level.
"I remember one particular game we beat Rafa's Valencia 2-0. Xabi played against Ruben Baraja and David Albelda and was outstanding. It was one of the few matches Valencia lost that season and I think that was when Rafa first made a note of him."
![رابطة عُـشّـاق الـــريدز .. ][ ليفربـــــول ][ .. 2006 - 2007](iconimages/t316600_rtl.gif)
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