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Rafael ("Rafa") Benítez Maudes, (born 16 April 1960 in Madrid, Spain), is a football manager, appointed on 16 June 2004 as the manager of Liverpool F.C. in England in succession to Gérard Houllier.
In 1982 he obtained a degree in Physical Education at the National Institute of Physical Education (INE) assigned to the Technical University of Madrid.
As a footballer, he played in the lower teams of Real Madrid from the 1973/74 season until the 1980/81 season. In 1981 he signed up for AD Parla, where he played in the 3rd and 2nd Division B of the Spanish League in the 1981/82, 1982/83, 1983/84 and 1984/85 seasons. He ended his playing career at Linares CF, playing in the 2nd Division B in the 1985/86 season.
As a manager, his achievements include:
- League Championship with Castilla "B", seasons 1986/87 and 1988/89.
- Preferente League Champion with Real Madrid CF Youth team, season 1989/90.
- Cup Champion with Real Madrid CF Under-19, season 1990/91
- League and Cup Champion with Real Madrid CF Under-19, season 1992/93.
- Promotion to 1st Division with Extremadura CF, season 1997/98.
- Promotion to 1st Division with CD Tenerife, season 2000/01.
- Spanish League Championships with Valencia C.F., seasons 2001/02 and 2003/04.
- Spanish League Championship and UEFA Cup with Valencia C.F., season 2003/04.
- UEFA Champions League with Liverpool F.C., season 2004/05
- Became third coach to win UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League in succession after the 2005 Champions League win with Liverpool, after Bob Paisley (1975/76, 1976/77, 1977/78) and José Mourinho in 2002/03 and 2003/04, and the first to achieve the feat with two different clubs.
Benítez has been noted for his cool character and humble attitude, often in counterpoint to the braggadocio of Chelsea F.C. manager Jose Mourinho.es:Rafa Benítez he:רפא בניטז it:Rafael Benitez ja:ラファエル・ベニテス sv:Rafael Benítez