Rafa Benitez was adored by Liverpool fans for the success he brought during his six-year spell as manager — not so much by former Red Stephen Warnock.
It all stems from a controversial omission from the Liverpool squad that performed a miracle in Istanbul in the 2005 Champions League final.
The left-back played a role in getting to the final that season, and was included in the original matchday squad to face AC Milan.
But Warnock got a call later that day from assistant coach Pako Ayesteran to inform him that a mistake had been made, and that Josemi would be taking his place. He has never forgiven Benitez for the heartbreak.
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Stephen Warnock tells all on Rafa Benitez’s Champions League snub
For any player, reaching a Champions League final is a special, special moment.
Warnock was deprived of that joy in rather cruel fashion, mistakenly named in the squad to travel to Turkey.
He discussed the events on the All Out Football podcast with Joleon Lescott: “I got a phone call not even from Rafa but Pako Ayesteran, who is his assistant who’s now at Villa, who I get on really well with because at least he had the b——- to ring me. And he went ‘we’ve made a mistake on the squad list uh you’re not in the squad.’
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“I was like, ‘Are you serious?’, and again, no explanation and I remember getting out of the final watching it and just being like, ‘I don’t want to be here.'”
It was even worse than it sounds, with Warnock flying separate from the squad and attending the game as a fan.
We all know what happened next. Liverpool mounted a special comeback against Milan in what was one of the club’s most historic nights.
Liverpool players celebrate as they pose with the Champions League trophy after the 2005 final in Istanbul
Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
For the 44-year-old, it was hard to feel too happy about it. He recalls taking a later flight than the players and landing in Liverpool with the parade already underway.
He never looked at Benitez the same way.
He explains: “I had no respect for the guy at all. Like you say, no interest in speaking to him. Whenever he spoke, I was just like, yeah, not looking. Not even interested.”
Warnock had already begun contact with his agent about leaving Anfield, and he moved to Blackburn Rovers a year later.
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Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool running during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Liverpool FC and Atletico de Madrid at Anfield
Credit: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar/Getty Images
From the perspective of the Spaniard, it worked out perfectly. There’s nothing necessarily wrong with making cutthroat personnel decisions like that, but the manner in which he did it makes Warnock justified in his anger.
He does admit that time has helped him get over it, but it clearly still lingers on his mind to this day.
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