Latest news with #RafaelBenitez
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Where are Liverpool's 2005 Champions League final heroes now?
It has now been over 20 years since Liverpool pulled off what might be the greatest comeback in the history of major sports finals, defeating AC Milan after being 3-0 down at half-time. Steven Gerrard's goal had begun an incredible storm for the Reds, with the momentum will and truly shifting as the Reds scored three goals in seven minutes to bring the game level. The two teams went to penalties, before Jerzy Dudek made two remarkable saves to pull off the win. The Reds had been huge underdogs coming in to the game, with many considering the roster to be one of Liverpool's worst from the last two decades. AC Milan's midfield alone had consisted of Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso, Clarence Seedorf and Kaka, with Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta in defense. READ MORE: Liverpool 'opens talks with Rodrygo's agents' over Real Madrid transfer exit READ MORE: Who is Charlie Cresswell? Liverpool 'considering shock move for Toulouse defender' Liverpool leaned on Gerrard, who put together a dominant performance while playing in multiple positions at a high level, leading the team to its first UCL trophy in 21 years. has taken a look back at the team that Rafael Benitez deployed in the game, and what the 14 players are doing now - 20 years on. Jerzy Dudek (GK) The man some will argue is Liverpool's true hero from the game, Jerzy Dudek's performance was nothing short of sensational - making heroic saves in extra-time - including a point-blank reaction stop to deny Andriy Shevchenko. Dudek went on to save two penalties to see the Reds lift the trophy. He spent six years with the Reds, losing his spot to Pepe Reina in his final two before joining Real Madrid as a back-up to Iker Casillas. After retiring from football in 2011, Dudek went on to compete in several motor racing events, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He now lives in Krakow, Poland. Steve Finnan (RB) Finnan joined the Reds from Fulham in 2003, making the right-back position his own after beating out Markus Babbel while becoming a reliable player for Benitez. He was the man to be sacrificed at half-time, with the Reds moving to three at the back and going for it while being 3-0 down. Finnan spent five years at Anfield before leaving for Espanyol in a confusing move, before coming back to the Premier League with Portsmouth before retiring in 2010. Finnan moved to London after finishing his career, and is now involved in property development. Jamie Carragher (CB) A Liverpool legend, Carragher's performance in the final is somewhat overlooked due to their first-half struggles and Gerrard's masterclass. The centre-back adjusted and put in an incredible showing against both Hernan Crespo and Shevchenko from half-time onwards. Since retiring, Carragher has found huge success as an analyst and commentator, working with Sky Sports in the UK and CBS in the United States. Sami Hyypia (CB) A Liverpool legend, Hyypia spent 10 years with the Reds while being a dominant aerial presence and building a strong partnership alongside Carragher. Hyypia left the Reds in 2009 to join Bayer Leverkusen, who he eventually coached for two years before spells with Brighton & Hove Albion and Zurich. He now lives in Pulheim, Germany, while being back with the Reds as a club ambassador. Djimi Traore (LB) A cult hero, Traore's inclusion in the starting line-up was the biggest surprise that Benitez had made - looking to use his athleticism down the left flank. He was with Liverpool for seven years before joining Charlton Athletic, with spells in both France and a stint in the US with the Seattle Sounders. He spent six years in Seattle with the Sounders as an assistant coach, before moving back to Africa to coach the 'Right to Dream Academy' in Ghana. Xabi Alonso (DM) This had been Alonso's first season with the Reds, stepping in and immediately being one of their best players despite his young age. He stepped up to score the third goal of the game, following up a missed penalty to bring the scoreline level. He spent five years with the Reds before joining Real Madrid, seeing out his career at Bayern Munich. Alonso is now head coach at Real Madrid, having had an incredible 2023/24 season with Bayer Leverkusen - going undefeated and beating Bayern Munich to the Bundesliga title. It was widely reported that Alonso turned Liverpool down, having the opportunity to take over from Jurgen Klopp, instead staying in Germany and waiting for the Madrid job. Luis Garcia (RM) Another cult hero at Anfield, Garcia is perhaps best remembered for the 'ghost goal' that he scored against Chelsea to send Liverpool to the 2005 final... We can all be honest and admit that this probably didn't go in. Garcia remained with the Reds for three seasons before signing for Atletico Madrid. He saw out his career playing in Greece, Mexico, India and then Australia. Garcia is currently working as a TV pundit for beIN Sports. Steven Gerrard (CM) Quite simply one of the best central midfielders in the history of soccer, Gerrard's performance against AC Milan was one of his best. He played in multiple positions, starting in central midfield before moving to the number 10 role, and seeing out the final moments at right-back. He also scored the first goal of the second-half to begin the comeback. He spent 17 years with the Reds, going down as arguably the club's greatest player ever before retiring after a year with the LA Galaxy. He moved into management after retiring, winning the league and going undefeated with Rangers. He then moved to Aston Villa, starting strongly but then struggling in his second season in the Premier League, being fired and moving to Saudi Arabia with Al Ettifaq. He left Saudi after spending two years with the club, now currently living back in the Merseyside area while waiting for another coaching opportunity. John Arne Riise (LM) The man with the strongest left foot in soccer, Riise is one of Liverpool's best ever left-backs while being with the club for seven years - scoring some incredible goals. He played at left wing in the game, with Benitez looking to neutrualize Milan's incredible midfield - a move that didn't work so well in the first-half. Riise spent three years each with Roma and Fulham after leaving Anfield, before retiring in 2017. He has been in the backroom staff at multiple clubs in Norway, while even having a stint as a manager in the countries third division. Harry Kewell (CAM) A player who Benitez believed had the most talent in the team, Kewell's time with Liverpool was hampered by injuries - playing in 139 games in five years with the club. He played just behind the striker in an unfamiliar role, with the Spaniard wanting the Reds to play through the middle with Gerrard, Alonso and Kewell. The Australian picked up an injury in the 23rd minute, and was replaced by Vladimir Smicer. Kewell went on to play for Galatasaray before returning to Australia for the final two years of his career. He later moved into management, with multiple teams in England and moving to Japan to coach Yokohama F. Marinos. Milan Baros (ST) The Czech Republic star was preferred in the number nine role to Djibril Cisse, but struggled to make much of an impact in the game before being replaced in the second-half. Baros scored 19 Premier League goals with the Reds in four years before leaving for Aston Villa. He would play for 15 years after leaving Anfield, spending most of the time back in Czech Republic - retiring in 2020, scoring 177 goals. Substitutes Didi Hamann (DM) Hamann being left out of the starting eleven had been a surprise, with Kewell being selected over him in an attacking move that did not work out as intended. The German was with Liverpool for seven years, also spending time with Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Newcastle, while having 59 caps for Germany. He has been a broadcaster since retiring, regularly working with Sky Sports Germany and RTE Sport. Vladimir Smicer (CAM) Smicer spent six years with Liverpool with the Champions League final being the last game with the Reds - scoring the second goal of the game. He won five trophies with the Reds. The Czech Republican moved to Bordeaux before spending the final years of his career back in his home country with Slavia Prague. He is now involved in politics, running for Parliamentary election back in 2014. Djibril Cisse (ST) An electric striker who had been raw during his time with Liverpool, Cisse showed promise at Anfield but not enough to earn the trust of Benitez to be a regular starter. He was instead used as a spark-plug option off the bench, a role he impressed in. He scored a penalty in the shootout. Cisse spent three years with the Reds before leaving in 2007, having spells back in England with Sunderland and QPR while playing in France, Italy and Greece. He retired in 2021, now being a youth coach at Marseille.
Daily Mail
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
PLAY TEAMSHEET: Can YOU name the Liverpool side that thrashed Aston Villa 5-0 in 2009? Or pick YOUR team and guess their starting XI
Welcome back to Teamsheet... Mail Sport's original football memory game with a twist that gives you the chance to test your football knowledge against your mates. Today, we are heading back to 2009 when Liverpool hosted Aston Villa in Premier League action. Unfortunately for the Villans, the Reds thrashed them 5-0 as they cut the deficit to Manchester United to one point at the top of the table. Unfortunately for Liverpool fans, they would fall short in the title race, but we want to know if you can name the starting XI that Rafael Benitez picked to start the win over Villa. It's just for fun, so see how you fare and share your Teamsheet score... full instructions on how to play are at the bottom of the article and in the game itself. And you can also pick any team you like and guess their starting XI. Best of luck! HOW TO PLAY The aim of the game is to score as few points as possible! If you guess a player at the first attempt you score one point - so the lowest score for guessing every player at the first attempt is 11. Guess a correct letter in the right position, and it'll turn green. Guess a correct letter but in the wrong position, and it'll turn yellow. You have six guesses for each player - and if you fail, we'll reveal their identity for 11 points! You can also ask for a free letter, but it costs you a point. So play on to see if you'll score the best possible total of 11 - or fail on every player and score 121.
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
PLAY TEAMSHEET: Can YOU name the Chelsea team who beat Aston Villa 2-1 back in 2013? Or pick YOUR team and guess their starting XI
Welcome back to Teamsheet... Mail Sport's original football memory game with a twist that gives you the chance to test your football knowledge against your mates. Today, we are taking you back to Chelsea earning a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa back in May 2013. The Blues, under Rafael Benitez, effectively secured qualification to the Champions League with the triumph. The match, however, is best remembered for one Chelsea star netting a brace to become the club's all-time record goalscorer. We want to see if you can name the Chelsea line-up fielded at Villa Park. It's just for fun, so see how you fare and share your Teamsheet score... full instructions on how to play are at the bottom of the article and in the game itself. And you can also pick any team you like and guess their starting XI. Best of luck! HOW TO PLAY The aim of the game is to score as few points as possible! If you guess a player at the first attempt you score one point - so the lowest score for guessing every player at the first attempt is 11. Guess a correct letter in the right position, and it'll turn green. Guess a correct letter but in the wrong position, and it'll turn yellow. You have six guesses for each player - and if you fail, we'll reveal their identity for 11 points! You can also ask for a free letter, but it costs you a point. So play on to see if you'll score the best possible total of 11 - or fail on every player and score 121.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'I couldn't believe it then and I still can't now!' - Carragher on Istanbul 20 years later
"I couldn't believe it then and I still can't believe it now!" Jamie Carragher laughs as he recalls Liverpool winning the 2005 Champions League final against AC Milan in Istanbul. Reflecting on a final for the ages, Carragher told BBC Radio Merseyside what it was like to be part of the team that came back from three goals down to beat the Italian giants on penalties. "We were a defensively strong team but after conceding a goal in the first minute the game plan goes out of the window," he said. "I don't think the team Rafael Benitez selected helped with that because we were far too open. He tried to put more offensive players on the pitch but that blew up in our face. "Coming off at half-time, I remember thinking 'I don't want this to be five or six nil. I had no thought in my head that we could come back from it and lift the trophy. I don't think anyone in the dressing room did. "What we wanted to do was stop it from being embarrassing and remembering this final for all of the wrong reasons. "Most of us were shocked by what happened in the first-half and I don't remember us screaming or shouting at each other. I think we just knew what we were up against and that they had been too good for us. "After Steven Gerrard scored we thought 'well the score line doesn't look too bad now,' but when it went to 3-2 you could sense the feeling was changing. AC Milan fans were getting more nervous and I felt like we could get the third goal because the momentum was with us. "You could feel the energy in the crowd to go forward again and then Xabi Alonso scored. "We hung on in extra-time. I had cramp and we were all getting tired, but we knew what was at stake and penalties would be a lottery. "I can picture the lads' faces when we won and we were running from the line. I couldn't believe it then and I still can't believe it now! "Everyone was just in sheer disbelief. I was very lucky to be part of it." Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'I couldn't believe it then and I still can't now!' - Carragher on Istanbul 20 years later
"I couldn't believe it then and I still can't believe it now!"Jamie Carragher laughs as he recalls Liverpool winning the 2005 Champions League final against AC Milan in on a final for the ages, Carragher told BBC Radio Merseyside what it was like to be part of the team that came back from three goals down to beat the Italian giants on penalties."We were a defensively strong team but after conceding a goal in the first minute the game plan goes out of the window," he said. "I don't think the team Rafael Benitez selected helped with that because we were far too open. He tried to put more offensive players on the pitch but that blew up in our face."Coming off at half-time, I remember thinking 'I don't want this to be five or six nil. I had no thought in my head that we could come back from it and lift the trophy. I don't think anyone in the dressing room did."What we wanted to do was stop it from being embarrassing and remembering this final for all of the wrong reasons."Most of us were shocked by what happened in the first-half and I don't remember us screaming or shouting at each other. I think we just knew what we were up against and that they had been too good for us."After Steven Gerrard scored we thought 'well the score line doesn't look too bad now,' but when it went to 3-2 you could sense the feeling was changing. AC Milan fans were getting more nervous and I felt like we could get the third goal because the momentum was with us."You could feel the energy in the crowd to go forward again and then Xabi Alonso scored."We hung on in extra-time. I had cramp and we were all getting tired, but we knew what was at stake and penalties would be a lottery."I can picture the lads' faces when we won and we were running from the line. I couldn't believe it then and I still can't believe it now!"Everyone was just in sheer disbelief. I was very lucky to be part of it."Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds
