We Are Liverpool Podcast S01, E05 Rafa Benitez | Untold Istanbul stories, transfer targets & more 

Legend! Rafa's undercover work at Everton was sublime!

We will forever love Rafa. He will never be forgotten in Liverpool folklore.

Forget everything about Everton, Rafa loves Liverpool fc and he’s a legend at the club. That man gave us all a night we will never forget.

I sometimes forget that Rafa had to work with Gillette and Hicks dark times for our club but he still achieved what he did!

Istanbul will live and has already lived to be one of if not the greatest moment in Liverpool history. I remember watching the first half of that game as a young boy and deciding to get into bed and turned the lights out as the game played in the dark room, woke up in the second half with the game at 3-3. That game truly is the embodiment of YNWA to me and how much a little belief goes a long way. That game changed me for life!!! Viva Rafa!

Absolute Liverpool legend. Thanks for the great interview

Have to thank Rafa for the unforgettable night in Istanbul in 2005, forever Liverpool legend.

Rafa Benitez Was A Very Enjoyable Time As A Newcastle United Season Ticket Holder...Quality...

Brilliant, forever a legend Rafa

We fans at Liverpool hold our Managers as God's they're loved, respected, and supported throughout everything. Let it be good days or bad days we fans never disrespect or are fickle like other or most team supporters. We don't forget the success and happiness they brought us just because things are going bad. It all started with Bill Shankly, followed by great managers like Bob Paisley, Kenny Daglish, Gerard Houlier, Rafa, and now the era of Klopp. Im 22 and was not born to watch their Greatness and our dominance in world football, but I've got nothing but respect for them for making Liverpool such a Giant of a club, We are called European Royalty for a reason. This season has been horrendous considering how great we were last year and all time during this Klopp era. No matter what other says, we have to support Klopp and hope the owners invest massively in this club in summer. Don't be sad or depressed fellow Liverpool fan's this dark time will not last long. YNWA

Love Rafa, the man is a genius. He was properly screwed over by Hicks and Gillett. And, I am loving the We are Liverpool podcasts. I watch all them. Keep them coming

Fascinating interview. Benitez certainly has Liverpool in his heart. His insights go a long way to explain why Man United have been struggling for so long - their managers are not supported and they are hung out to dry.

I love rafa always will. I was at the academy when he was that boss. So much respect for him! 🔴⚪️

Great stuff from Rafa. When managers aren't in a job they're always more relaxed and interesting to listen to. "Some people think to be professional is to be fit. No, to be fit is just part of your job. To be professional is to have respect for the other players and manager, and be honest with yourself".

Rafa gave me the best night ever spending time watching with my step dad. I will never forget that night. RIP x

Love Rafa - remember when he played Arbeloa left back against Messi because he is right footed and he thought Messi would cut in a lot, small details that made Liverpool punch well above their weight in Europe.

Always loved Rafa. I watched the Istanbul final in a darkened snooker club in near silence - a truly special night. Never experienced anything like it football before or since.

What a legend, love Rafa. My favourite manager.

It is clear that Rafa is a tactician, he seems to have a head for Data analysis and psychology, in all, he was a good manager, loved by the Kop....then and now.

Top Man Rafa. Kept us with the big boys when our club was a mess. Total respect Rafa. YnWA

I absolutely adore this man, when he smiles my heart melts. How lucky are we to have both him and Klopp.

Great interview, Rafa gets so much stick for no reason, people never think to consider WHY he was making the decisions he was making whether it was with signings or player selections

The Man of behind the scene miracle of istanbul 🤩🤩🤩

I loved that on Andy's podcast there we're subtitles available. I speak english, but i'm not native speaker and it's sometimes hard to watch 50~min episode with full focus to understand everything. Would appreciate if you could add subtitles to more of videos. Thanks! YNWA🔴🔴🔴

We love you Rafa! What you done for us will never be forgotten YNWA❤️

Brilliant interview always Rafa in high regard as a life long Liverpool fan. YNWA what a night

Still love rafa i was heart broken when he went to Everton.... agent rafa was amazing there tho.

All I keep seeing is Darren Farley doing his amazing Rafa impression when watching this. He has it down so well.

Rafa is a LEGEND in liverpool history and to every real liverpool fan in the world,the best come back in football history 3_0 down in Istanbul and stevie G starts the come back, rafa Benitez done things for liverpool that put us back on the map, love rafa he is a LEGEND on the red side of liverpool 🙏97🙏YNWA ❤💚☘

Rafa siempre en nuestra corazon ❤

This is so good, he willingly elaborated on everything so well. So interesting hearing about players he wanted as well, but couldn’t imagine Juanfran and Dani Alves down the right over Kromkamp and Jermaine Pennant 🤣🤣

Thank you Mr Benetiz. YNWA

Brilliant these podcasts, Rafa the legend. 🔴👏

"Walk on, walk on With hope in your heart" Cause we believe it.

Love Rafa, what a legend. One of the best episodes yet

Brilliant interview. Need a part 2

I enjoyed the years with Rafa he gave his all when the club were financially poor, he tried his best for the club and gave his all. I think same can be said now with Jurgen klopp owners aren't backing him he's doing his all and loves the club. we should all get behind the manager the way us fans always have . I back Jurgen 110 per cent and the old term you don't know what you have till you lose it is very much true . Nice seeing Rafa again will always be remembered in my time supporting Liverpool

legend, thanks for the memorries ,rafa

Rafa talks about Roberto Colombo, the 41 year old keeper at Napoli. Before going to Napoli he played in the lower leagues of Italian football. He made just one appearance for Napoli

Legend. One of our very best managers. Thanks Rafa and a great interview.

Thank you Rafa Benitez for the Champions League Final in 2005 and the Fa Cup Final in 2006 and thank you for signing Fernando Torres

Rafa is brilliant! Y una gran persona.

I might not have even been a Liverpool fan if it wasn't for Rafa, Istanbul was the first game I ever sat down to watch on TV, the rest is history.

Not a Liverpool fan but Rafa comes across really well here. Incredibly well spoken and just a genuinely nice bloke. Made arguably the greatest substitution of all time in 2005.

IT IS A JOY LISTENING TO RAFA BENITEZ !💖🐐⚽👑...FOWLER YOU LISTEN GOOD TO ALL HE KNOWS ABOUT FOOTBALL,YOU MIGHT END UP BEEN A FANTASTIC MANAGER LIKE HIM ....YOURSELF .....YNWA GUYS !🏆👍🙏🏆🏆🏆💖💖💖⚽

Big respect for Rafa

I love these podcasts 👍

Very insightful to listen to the actual managerial strategy of Rafa and appreciate how studious a coach and well thought out his approach was. And the context and challenging circumstances he had to work in.

Very insightful

liverpool hve had 5 legends has manager ever and rafa is one of them

Love Rafa the gaffer. 😊

Absolute legend🔥

My first gaffer love the stick between rafa and fowler

We love you Rafa. Never doubt that.

A lot of people have described him as cold and distant. But NO ONE has ever denied his cerebral nature or his incredible understanding of the game. If only he would take up a position as our director of football, I would be over the moon. But he is still one of the most highly rated coaches in the world and is still very much in demand. God bless you Rafa.

Good interview, gotta love Rafa.

rafa is such a legend! turned liverpool into an absoulte beast in europe! i remember us being the most feared side, no one wanted to play us in the champs league! So many incredible nights against european heavyweights! Beating Milan on pens, beating Juve 2-1, beating inter milan 2-0, beating madrid 4-0, beating barca 2-1 away in the camp nou, beating chelsea with the smug mourinho in 05 and then again in 07! Beating arsenal 4-2 and lets not forget the 4-1 away win at old trafford even if it wasnt in the champs league ;)

Whatever I did, whatever I said, I didn't mean it. I just want you back Rafa. Want you back. Want you back. I want you back Rafa.

Will always love Rafa. One of the best tacticians ever

What a brilliant manager. If Rafa was given the players he wanted, he'd still be managing the Reds. He was a tactical genius and utterly ruthless and had a great coaching staff. Legend. 👍

That was a difficult watch at the beginning of the interview. Raffa was the boss, you do what he says. Just be grateful you got the chance to return.

the legend

Rafa could win the UCL with City and I would still love him just the same, thank you for the memories gaffer ❤

World class manager

Our legend! Thank you for everything Rafael! YNWA

Love you Rafa Liverpool lagends a long with the great Bill Shankly Bob Paisley Joe Fagan King Kenny Gerard Houlier and Jurgen Klopp ❤️🔥YNWA 🔥❤️

Brilliant Interview Guys, well-done

The Rafatollah will remain a legend of our cluub!

Rafa a top man always. Even since moving on from Liverpool I’ve always tried to keep up to date with how he’s getting on and listen into his insights on football

Even with Klopp, Rafa will forever be my favorite LFC manager. The stoicism, rotating players even if you win 5:0, bringing best out of Stevie.

What a moment was, this the first match of LFC I attended

Anybody else thinking about James Milner when he was talking about the 41 year old goalkeeper??

I always enjoy hearing Rafa talk even if it isn’t Liverpool or football related

Great man RAfa I’ll still take him back if klopp went , some people are made for clubs he was made for liverpool , and with money he would be superb

You'll never walk alone, Rafa. Certified Liverpool Legend.

Rafa was a legend at Liverpool.

Rafa will always be a Liverpool legend. Great guy and a great manager

love you always rafa.

Nothing but love ❤️ Rafa

Rafa is such a fascinating interview. LFC legend. 🔴🔥

he is the only man to snatch UCL trophy from Ancelotti

always have the place in my heart

THAT FINAL AGAINST MILAN I WILL NEVER FORGET UNFORGETTABLE WE WAS LOSING FOR 3XO AFTER STEVEN GERRARD AND ALL PLAYERS I HAVE BEEN SEEN MY LIVERPOOL CHAMPION IN 2005 IN THE PENALTIES DECISIONS... THANK YOU RAFA BENITEZ FOR TROPHY CONQUEST.

that was very detail..i loved it!

We love Rafa! :)

Rafa is a Liverpool legend

Cracking episode! Unapologetic reflections from one of the greatest analytical & tactical minds when it comes to the sport we love. Wish we could have had more on his relationships and plans with specific players. His take on Gerrard vs Lampard vs Scholes. His take on Spanish football. Messi, Barca post-Messi. All sorts!! Get him on the Robbie Fowler podcast now :)

RAFA you’ll always be in our ❤ YNWA Boss. PS this has been the best of these LFC podcasts up to now!,Rafa will always hold a ❤ felt spot in true LFC fans for me🙂,as for this podcast series up to now👍👍,LFC as per the Best content 🙂.

a lovely human being. Nice one rafa.

Absolutely love Rafa always a legend to us Reds ❤️YNWA

Brilliant Interview 👏🏽

Rafa is an absolute legend. I love you Rafa...

✊🏾Bring Back RAFA✊🏾

Any Team In Scotland will be a great project fro you Rafa :)

i blended with liverpool coz of this legend right here at istanbul

Thank you so much for this Rafa

LEGEND! RAFA RAFA BENITEZ❤️‍🔥

Rafa is one of the greatest managers we’ve ever had. Not just because of what he can do in the game but he’s also a humanitarian and wonderful person with nothing but love in his heart. I hope he returns to the club in some capacity, would be awesome if he becomes the Director of Football for both men and women’s teams. Another option, if for Rafa to become Director of the Women’s academy when the club buy back Melwood. YNWA🏆🧣

Rafa you will always be red Rafa in our hearts

Half time istanbul… “Finnan off Hamann on, we go to 3 5 2, Stevie moves forward”: The rest is history and Rafas legendary status is cemented…YNWA ❤️