Former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is set to cross paths with one of his old stars at Anfield
Rafa Benitez
Former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is set to return to Anfield(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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Former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez will be reunited with Robbie Fowler as he prepares to return to Anfield. The Spanish coach is scheduled to be on punditry duty for Amazon Prime alongside Fowler and Daniel Sturridge as the Reds take on Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The 66-year-old manager, who was most recently in charge of Greek giants Panathinaikos, is beloved by Liverpool fans for his six-year tenure, which brought Champions League glory in 2005. He added to his success by winning the FA Cup the following year, later reaching a second Champions League final in 2007 and narrowly missing out on the Premier League title in 2009.
Despite the adoration for Benitez, former striker Fowler has the distinction of being nicknamed ‘God’ by Liverpool supporters. The prolific centre-forward quickly scored 171 goals in 330 games before falling out of favour under Gerard Houllier and leaving for Leeds United in 2001.
Benitez provided Fowler with an opportunity to make an emotional return to Anfield when searching for a new striker in January 2006. As Liverpool prepare to face Villarreal, the club icons are set to reunite as pundits.
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Amazon Prime’s lineup will see host Gabby Logan joined by Benitez, Fowler and former Reds striker Sturridge as pundits. Benitez and Fowler first crossed paths after Liverpool defeated Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final at Anfield in 2005, with the striker laying the groundwork for his heartwarming second spell at the club.
“After that match was the first time I had met Rafa Benitez,” Fowler recalled to Liverpool’s club website earlier this year. “I was in a bar in Liverpool following the game - I actually think it was a club function that I had managed to sneak myself into.
“It took a little bit of Dutch courage, if I am totally honest - but I was quickly in his ear and telling him how much I'd love to come back. He fobbed me off at first, but it was less than a year later that I got a phone call out of nowhere when I was at Manchester City.”
Rafa Benitez and Robbie Fowler
Benitez signed Robbie Fowler, who rejoined Liverpool on a free transfer from Manchester City in January 2006(Image: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
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Fowler had left Liverpool as Michael Owen and Emile Heskey began forging their memorable strike partnership. Following a short spell with Leeds, he spent two–and–a–half seasons at Manchester City but was struggling for minutes when Benitez’s offer to return arrived in 2006.
“Getting that chance to return to Liverpool was the best thing that ever happened to me in football,” Fowler admitted. “It was better than winning trophies.
“I got the chance to pull on a red shirt again and I probably appreciated it more. Rafa had said to me that he wanted me to come in and energise the players and the club and give everyone a lift - I'd like to think I did that.”
Across his 18-month stint, Fowler clocked up another 39 games for his boyhood club, scoring 12 goals. The ex-England international officially retired in 2012 following spells abroad in Australia and Thailand.
Another of Benitez’s old charges Pepe Reina will also be keeping a close eye on Liverpool’s clash with Villarreal. The former Reds goalkeeper, who made 302 total appearances under Benitez, had two spells with the Spanish side as a player and is currently coaching Villarreal’s U19 side.