“We must have had 99 percent of the game. It was the other three percent that cost us the match.”
Ruud Gullit
Showing posts with label Chelsea FC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chelsea FC. Show all posts
Saturday, 26 March 2016
Tuesday, 16 February 2016
OSM - So What is it About Guus?
Hiddink and Abramovich
Those unfamiliar with the Dutch football manager Guus Hiddink must have missed the FIFA 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan where the coach energised the nation by taking South Korea to the semi-finals. In doing so, Ji-sung Park and company topped their group, beating EURO 200 finalist, Portugal, along the way, eliminating Giovanni Trapattoni’s Italy, winning the penalty shootout against Spain in Gwanjgu, then losing 1-0 to Germany in the Seoul World Cup Stadium in the semi-final.
The reward was huge posters of Hiddink on the streets of the capital, with banners at the Daejeon arena summing up the feeling of 48 million people, with "Hiddink for President. Which could have happened given he was bestowed with honorary Korean citizenship for his footballing feats, with the added perk from Korean Air of free first-class travel for the four years following 2002.
Not unlike his arrival at Chelsea, his time with Holland or the stint with Australia, Hiddink arrived in Korea viewed as the saviour of the Korean game which he described as "chaotic" in the early days with star players such as Ahn Jung-hwan as "lazy and unfit". Within time he went about his changes using the experience from his days at PSV Eindhoven, where he led the team to its first ever European Cup triumph in 1988.
Indeed, it was his achievements in the industrial city of Eindhoven with the Philips Sport Vereniging – PSV – that established his winning reputation and helped rank the club as one of the three giants of Dutch football, alongside Ajax and Feyenoord.
In Korea he based his work on a fundamental philosophy, insisting the younger players treat veterans such as Captain Hong Myong-bo and Yoo Sang-chul as their peers, not their betters. Then on the field of play there were pre-World Cup friendlies against European and South American sides rather than the normal Asian opponents, which helped harden the Korean players.
Despite a string of early defeats the Korean FA stood by Hiddink, and his tough style, earning the benefits after the national ream reached the semi-final. But it should have been no surprise as Hiddink is no stranger to success.
Although as a player he was capped by the Netherlands, it is his record in management that stands out, with four straight league titles with PSV Eindhoven and the treble in 1988, managing the Netherlands to the semi-final of the 1998 World Cup; leading South Korea to a fourth place in 2002 FIFA; leading Australia to their best ever finish in the 2006 World Cup; then Russia to the semi-finals of Euro 2008, and Chelsea to an FA Cup in 2009.
All perhaps unlikely back in 1995 when Hiddink took over his national team filled with talented individuals, but continually racked by internal arguments and feuds, which saw Edgar Davids leave EURO 96 after a row with Hiddink. Two years later further internal conflict was prevented and Holland played the most entertaining football in the France world cup, including the Denis Bergkamp goal in the 89th minute that eliminated Argentina in the quarter finals 2–1 in Marseille.
In his second spell with PSV, Hiddink won three Dutch league titles (2002–03, 2004–05, and 2005–06), the 2005 Dutch Cup, and the 2003 Dutch Super Cup, with the 2004–05 Champions League season seeing PSV make their first appearance in the semi-final of the new look tournament we know today. This second stint at PSV would make Hiddink the most successful Dutch coach in history, with six Dutch League titles and four Dutch Cups, surpassing the record of the legendary, Rinus Michels.
In 2005 as manager of Australia, the Socceroo’s qualified on penalties against Uruguay allowing them qualify for the first time since Germany 1974, earning the Dutchman the name "Aussie Guus". However the team eventually went out in the second round to Italy after Fabio Grosso was awarded a controversial penalty eight seconds from the end of normal time.
In April 2006 Hiddink took over as manager of Russa in a deal worth US$ 2.4 million a year plus bonuses, with an option for another two years. In return for their generosity Hiddink secured qualification for EURO 2008, where the team reach the semi-finals, after a victory against his home land in the quarter finals. It would be no surprise that following the departure of Avram Grant from Chelsea in 2009, the billionaire benefactor of the Russian national team, Ramon Abramovich, saw a role for Hiddink at Stamford Bridge.
But it was only following the failure of Felipe Scolari at Chelsea that Hiddink came as a temporary replacement until the end of the Premier League season, whilst continuing his duties with Russia. During that time Hiddink took Chelsea to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League, where they lost out to eventual winners Barcelona.
During his time at Chelsea Hiddink only lost once and it was a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. And in his last game as a temporary coach of Chelsea, he won the 2009 FA Cup by beating Everton 2-1.
When the Turkish Football Federation President Mahmut Özgener and Hiddink held talks in Amsterdam early in 2010, Hiddink agreed to coach Turkey after his contract expired on June 30 with Russia and lead their campaign for EURO 2012. Now after three wins, 2 losses and a draw Turkey are fighting to stay in contention in 3rd place with Germany at the top of the group with twenty-one points from 7 games. Such results suggest that the job is now over in Turkey for Guus.
Not unlike his time at Real Madrid, Fenerbahce, Real Betis or Valencia, where Hiddink's career has under achieved. Although such moments do exist in the CV, they do tend to be rare.
That is what Abramovich will be hoping when Guus Hiddink makes his expected return to Stamford Bridge over the coming days.
Thursday, 17 December 2015
Is Pep the Sixty Million Dollar Man
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola will need to resist the temptation of a four-year deal worth £40million ($60million) after-tax, which Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is willing to dangle in front of him, according to reports in The Sun newspaper.
The newspaper reports that Abramovich is willing to pay the annual £10m salary in cash to prize the all-conquering Barcelona boss away from the Nou Camp when his deal expires at season's end.
Pep reportedly earns £8m before tax in Spain.
Reports on Saturday suggest that France coach Laurent Blanc is the preferred alternative if Guardiola or former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho are beyond reach.
If caretaker coach Roberto Di Matteo is replaced, they will become the eighth boss at Stamford Bridge, with Abramovich having spent almost £150m on wages, compensations and pay-offs for Claudio Ranieri, Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant, Luis Felipe Scolari, Guus Hiddink, Carlo Ancelotti and Andre Villas-Boas in his time at Stamford Bridge.
Meanwhile, Chelsea captain John Terry insists that current coach Roberto Di Matteo is not a Stamford Bridge puppet and that the Italian is firmly in control of team affairs.
"In response to comments suggesting that I think I'm the manager, I'd like to say Robbie has stepped up and been immense," Terry told the Evening Standard newspaper.
Terry, standing to the side of Di Matteo, was spotted screaming orders at his teammates from the bench after being substituted in last week's dramatic Champions League win over Napoli.
"I am Chelsea through and through, whether I am on the pitch or off it," added the 31-year-old.
"Had I still been on the pitch, I would have been saying the same things that I was from the bench. That is my role as captain of this club.
"Just because I have come off the pitch, it doesn't mean to say my mentality changes.
"People might see it in the wrong way, but I care about this football club - we all do - and Robbie and his backroom staff deserve full credit."
Friday, 10 October 2014
Auf Wiedersehen Tiki-Taka
"If you're not sure what to do with the ball,
Just pop it in the net and we'll discuss your options afterwards."
Bill Shankly
Believe it or not, it is Champions League semi-final time! With the four best teams in Europe on show this week in the Spanish capital battling out the first legs for a place in the Lisbon final next month. Yet despite all the razzmatazz one could easily be forgiven for falling asleep over the 180 minutes as Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich failed to deliver anything close to the beautiful game. Indeed, most of it was not pretty on the eye, with the four managers – all icons of this footballing generation - all struggling to offer one vital component for football fans. That being goals aplenty.
In fact both matches were very staccato performances riddled with basic errors, tactics that stifled opportunities and belying the true talents of the over fifty players involved over the two matches. Delivering a solitary goal – thanks to goal poaching strengths of Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema. With the second legs now seeing the home teams trying to overturn their feeble away legs. None of which bodes well for any improved spectacle at Stamford Bridge of the Allianz Arena in a week’s time.
Although there is some hope that Atletico’s manager Diego Simeone’s team will arrive in London and play the only way they know how. And that is all out attack.
In the first leg at the Vicente Calderon and under par performance of the normally infallible Diego Costa may yet prove costly to Atletico Madrid, who face the game without their ever industrious captain, Gabi, for that visit to Chelsea. That one shot alone from the Atletico captain nearly enough to settled matters for the home side, as his long distance strike had the Chelsea keeper beaten. But was millimetres the wrong side of the right hand post.
If there was any beauty on the night it was proffered by the home side, who seem to know nothing else but counter attacking for ninety minutes. Not unlike the valiant side Dave O’Leary inherited at Leeds United which saw them reach the semi-final in 2001. For Simeone however it may have been the first time he faced a few parked buses across the Calderon playing surface, as Jose Mourinho resorted to standard operating procedure that over the years have defeated Barcelona and Bayern in recent seasons. First coming to light at the Stadion Gelsenkirchen in 2004 when unfancied Porto defeated football royalty, AS Monaco, managed by Didier Deschamps.
As a contribution to football spectacle - in Bill Shankly parlance – the first semi-final must rank well below the standards at Anfield during his time which saw the club win the equivalent of the Premier League in 1963–64, 1965–66, 1972–73; the FA Cup in 1964–65, 1973–74; the FA Charity Shield in 1964, 1965, 1966, 1974 and a UEFA Cup in 1972–73. Arguably laying the foundations for his successor Bob Paisley to add to by winning 6 League titles, 3 League Cups, 6 FA Charity Shields, 3 Champions Leagues in 1977, 1978 and 1981. As well as a UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup.
Alarmingly if one was compelled to watch any of those games again today, it would probably be done by many fans with little hesitation. Although that maybe more nostalgia and rose tinted glass than objectivity. In contrast would struggle to even watch the highlights of the two matches televised this week. Unless they were obliged to under duress. Leading many to agree with the words of Franz Beckenbauer after the Real Madrid v Bayern game at the Bernabeu stadium
"Possession means nothing when the opponent has the chances. We can be happy that Real only scored one goal", Beckenbauer said.
A valid quote even under Der Kaisers time coaching Germany, where the only game that comes to mind in ugliness was the World Cup final at Italia 90, when an over physical Argentina tried to unsuccessfully outmuscle the natural athleticism of a talented German team. Which in the end was settled by Andy Brehme’s penalty in the 85th minute. By which time Argentina had seen two players sent off for dangerous tackles.
The tactics of Jose Mourinho border on the similar as he openly admitted picking a physical side for the encounter with Simeone, who now infamously provoked David Beckhams’ sending at the World Cup of 1998 in France. Albeit his alleged reputation as a hard man has seen him revamp an ailing Atletico Madrid over the past two seasons into a brand that is now in contention for the La Liga title for the first time since 1996. And on the verge of reaching their first Champions League final since 1974 which they lost 3-0 to a rampant Bayern Munich in Brussels. Captained ironically by Franz Beckenbauer.
All on the back of already winning the Copa del Rey last season and a current unbeaten home record that would send any pundit into the national library of Spain to find out when such a feat was close to being repeated.
As if that was not enough, they are also an exciting team to watch as Diego Simeone is not obsessed about possession. Rather attacking with the ball at speed and has as such invented the antithesis of Tiki-Taka…Attacka Attacka!
Across the city Carlo Ancelotti proved unable to escape his Italian DNA and so still wavers little from the counter attack formation he long favours and learnt by wrote as a player in Serie A. But who could argue with a CV that has delivered two Champions Leagues with AC Milan. Perhaps could even have been a third had the bizarre comeback of Liverpool in Istanbul not come to pass and see Gerrard the Reds to take the game to a penalty shoot-out. Which then incredibly saw the majestic Andrea Pirlo and the Footballer of the Year Andry Shevchenko miss penalties in the heat of the Atatürk Olympic Stadium.
Like Mourinho there is a formula that has guaranteed success in two competitions which underlies their philosophy.
But so has Pep Guardiola during his time at Barcelona where a clutter of La Liga titles and other trophies decorate his footballing CV. The problem perhaps for Guardiola is that the tiki-taka carved out from his years of tutelage of the Clockwork Orange of Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels, has now been mastered by most opponents. In an era where one touch possession and constant possession was mesmerising many teams floundered under the dizzying movement of Xavi, Iniesta, Messi and company. Especially Premier League teams who found constant possession alien to their weekly matches. Consequently Barcelona were untouchable during that period.
But as Roberto Di Matteo discovered during his brief tenure – yet triumphant - at The Bridge, Barca were beatable once they were deprived of time on the ball and not given space to breathe. In 2014 Pep methods have now been analysed, dissected and broken down with increased frequency.
Best exemplified when Holland met Spain in the 2010 World Cup final and the likes of Van Bommel resorted to the physical game. A last ditch effort to break down rather than practice a style that the likes of Van Persie, Wesley Sneijder and others were superior at on their day. Thankfully history validates that occasion with the right victor on the night. But as a game plan the constant passing is now finding itself tired and dated in a new era where passed are played at high speed, with power and swift movement. Offering more penetration into the penalty box rather than all the lateral criss-crossing. Beautifully demonstrated last season by BVB Dortmund, with manager Juergen Klopp giving Mourinho’s Madrid a lesson over the four games in last season's Champions League. Finally ending Jose dream of rewriting the record books winning his a third title leading a team from a third different country.
In the real world there is little to do when Robert Lewandowksi, Marco Reus and Mario Goetze are running at flatfooted defenders at speed with the ball at their feet - dinking intricately weighted passes manoeuvring defenders. Something that Bayern also exemplified to beat Real Madrid two seasons ago in the semi-finals. Albeit by penalties in the end thus ending Mourinho’s tenure at the Casa Blanca. Revenge perhaps for the final at the same Santiago Bernabeu venue where Inter Milan unwound Bayern in the 2010 final with defensive display second to none.
In those times the Mourinho effect still had inertia and his treble winning season in Milan prior to Madrid was testament that his method had merit and yielded results.
Again, some four seasons later those matches have been analysed and now most teams know how to outgun the Special One over two games. At least the more experienced ones. Which is where Simeone perhaps fell short. Still only a Champions League rookie, along with his players, as Atletico have not been at these lofty levels in over four decades. So he can perhaps be forgiven for not foreseeing the full extent of the Mourinho game plan. For the return leg he faces a depleted Chelsea with John Terry out, Eto’o still injured and a host of suspensions to the likes of Frank Lampard that will offer hope to his regular game plan. Particularly as the away goal could prove enough.
Whatever the outcome of the return legs the spirit of the beautiful game will be squeezed by the high stakes which can instil a lack of imagination or invention. A weight that could hinder the managers of Madrid, Chelsea and Bayern. All of whom have pressure to make it to the Lisbon final.
Bayern now facing the result of a game plan that saw them consistently caught by the quick Madrid breakaways. Fortunate perhaps too that Ronaldo left his shooting boots at home. The truer result being a 2, 3 or 4 goal deficit on the night. With Pep unable to revamp the game plan in a place where he has fearlessly torn Madrid apart during many a Clasico.
As things stand Simeone could be on his way to winning his first Champions League title as manager, a distinction that eluded him as a player. Not unlike Jose Mourinho who entered the football hall of fame as manager having a very modest playing career. Something that cannot be said about Ancelotti who won twice with Milan. Or with Guardiola who won it once in 1992 at Wembley with Cruyff’s Barcelona.
Next week three of those managers will dream of the chance to join Bob Paisley, the only current manager to win the Champions League three times. A man who made his life at Liverpool for 38 years rather than travel the road of Europe as do the new managers of now. Not unlike Shankly, or indeed Beckenbauer, Paisley’s vision of the beautiful game was also simple. Yet effective. More of the Simeone kind it has to be said.
"It’s not about the long ball or the short ball, it’s about the right ball."
Bob Paisley
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Thursday, 19 September 2013
Special One in Basel Loss
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| Getty Images |
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says he should take the blame for his team's Champions League 2-1 defeat by Basel.
Oscar put the home side ahead but Mohamed Salah equalised for Basel and Marco Streller headed in a late winner.
"When we lose I don't speak about the players or individuals, I speak about my responsibility," said Mourinho. "I am responsible."
New signing Samuel Eto'o started and Demba Ba was a second-half substitute, with Fernando Torres not on the bench.
However, the Portuguese insisted he has no concerns over his striking options, despite a lack of goals from them.
"I'm happy with the three strikers for the rest of the season," he said.
Cameroon striker Eto'o made his home debut after joining from Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala, but did not test Basel goalkeeper Yann Sommer until injury time at Stamford Bridge.
Fellow forward Ba was introduced before Basel's second goal as the Blues searched for a winner, while £50m signing Torres was not named in Mourinho's matchday squad.
The trio have scored only one of the Blues' seven goals in their opening six matches, when Torres netted in the Uefa Super Cup defeat by Bayern Munich.
"The players are good players and good professionals, and try their best every day and every match," added Mourinho. "The happy moment will arrive."
Chelsea dominated possession in the opening hour against Basel, but created few goalscoring opportunities apart from Oscar's opener.
They were punished by the Swiss champions as impressive winger Mohamed Salah levelled with a curling shot before skipper Marco Streller headed in a late winner.
Basel's victory ends a run of 29 Champions League group games without defeat for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Mourinho believes the Blues will have to beat Basel in the return fixture on 26 November to "compensate" for their home defeat.
The Blues, who became the first Champions League holders to be eliminated at the group stage last season, must also play German side Schalke and Romanian champions Steaua Bucharest.
"We lost three points that we must get somewhere," said the Portuguese. "We must get them, in Basel, or Schalke, or Bucharest, or all of them or some of them.
"Normally you have to win the matches at home and get a few points away. Now we must win six points at home, Schalke and Steaua, but we have also to win points away.
"Probably we have to go to win at Basel to compensate for the defeat today.
"But the objective of finishing in the top two in the group phase and to go to the next stage of the Champions League is an objective that is not lost - far from it.
"It's an objective we're going to fight for and it's an objective that I believe very, very much that we're going to achieve."
Friday, 21 December 2012
Miereles Banned for Spitting
Former Liverpool and Chelsea midfielder Raul Meireles has been banned for 11 games after being accused of spitting at a referee.
The 29-year-old Fenerbahce player, who was also sent off in the 2-1 derby loss at Galatasaray, denies the claim.
However, the Turkish Football Federation backed referee Halis Ozkahya's claims and issued the ban.
Meireles said: "I will be taking legal action against him to prove my innocence."
He also denies Ozkahya's claims that he made a homophobic gesture at the official.
"I don't know what the hand gesture for calling somebody gay is in Turkey but what I did was entirely based around the referee being a coward and bowing to the pressure," the Portugal international added.
"Look at my hairstyle, what I wear, I'm not a prejudicial person, my hand gesture was in no way, shape or form a homophobic one.
"The referee's accusations are outrageous and defamatory. I have an eight-year-old child, can you imagine if kids start saying your father spat at a referee?"
Meireles spent two seasons in the Premier League, joining Liverpool from Porto following the 2010 World Cup, before handing in a transfer request and signing for Chelsea in August 2011.
He left Stamford Bridge in September to join Fenerbahce in an £8m deal.
Sunday's defeat to Galatasaray was only the second time that Meireles had lost in 14 appearances for Fenerbahce.
Sunday, 25 November 2012
Rafa Makes a Point at the Bridge
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| Getty Images |
Rafa Benitez could not inspire Chelsea to victory over Manchester City in his first game in charge and was the subject of protests from some fans in a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge.
The Spaniard has succeeded the sacked Roberto Di Matteo on an interim basis and his former connection with Liverpool has made him unpopular in London.
Sections of the Chelsea support held up banners against Benitez and they also stood and applauded in the 16th minute, which was Di Matteo's shirt number in his playing days, before the game ended in a forgettable 0-0 draw.
Sergio Aguero wasted the best chance of a turgid Premier League encounter in driving rain, which the visitors had the better of in the first half but the home side the second.
The draw moved unbeaten champions City to within a point of new leaders Manchester United, leaving Chelsea fourth.
Benitez has shored up the Blues' defence during his four days in charge but he has his work cut out to get them playing the scintillating football demanded by the watching Roman Abramovich - and to get Fernando Torres scoring.
But that is nothing compared to winning over the fans on today's evidence.
Chelsea's stadium announcer was drowned out by jeers as he appealed for calm in order to pay tribute to former Chelsea boss Dave Sexton, whose death was confirmed on Sunday.
There were also expletive-laden chants of "you're not wanted here", and signs reading 'Benitez out' - coupled with songs and banners hailing the sacked Di Matteo.
The off-field action was of more interest than events on the pitch, where, although Chelsea kept a first clean sheet in 11 games, they never truly looked like scoring.
Torres, who worked with Benitez at Liverpool, was closely marked by City captain Vincent Kompany and the Spaniard again appeared shadow of his former self.
Wednesday, 21 November 2012
Red Rafa Turns Chelsea Blue
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| Getty Images |
Chelsea have appointed former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez as interim manager until the end of the season.
Previous manager Roberto Di Matteo was sacked on Wednesday following the 3-0 Champions League defeat by Juventus.
Benitez's short-term appointment could pave the way for owner Roman Abramovich to make a summer approach for ex-Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.
Benitez, 52, becomes the Blues' ninth manager since Abramovich took over in 2003.
A Chelsea statemen said: "The owner and the board believe that in Benitez we have a manager with significant experience at the highest level of football, who can come in and immediately help deliver our objectives.
"The two-time Uefa Manager of the Year comes with outstanding pedigree."
Benitez joined Liverpool from Valencia in 2004 and won the Champions League in 2005, as well as reaching the final in 2007, before leaving Anfield by mutual consent in 2010.
He has been out of work since he was sacked by Inter Milan in December 2010after just six months in charge despite winning two titles - the Club World Cup and Italian Super Cup.
The Spaniard is due to meet the players at the training ground in Cobham on Thursday, before his first match in charge at home to leaders Manchester City on Sunday.
Earlier, when asked if Chelsea had approached him, Benitez told Abu Dhabi-based website Sport 360: "I am looking for a club that can challenge for trophies and Chelsea is one of these clubs."
When he was asked about the prospect of managing on a short-term basis, he added: "I am just trying to go to a team that can win. So we will find ways to have a challenge like this."
Former Chelsea midfielder Nigel Spackman suggested Benitez's appointment would be unpopular.
He told BBC Radio 5 live: "You won't find many Chelsea fans happy with an appointment of an ex-Liverpool manager.
"Benitez has got a great CV and a good record, but the only way he will win the Stamford Bridge crowd over is getting the results. Now he had to focus on trying to win the Premier League.
"He is the interim manager but if he does a good job maybe he will get it for longer."
Blues supporters' groups had earlier reacted angrily to suggestions Benitez could be named Di Matteo's successor.
David Johnstone, spokesman for Chelsea fanzine cfcuk, told BBC Sport: "Rafa Benitez is not a Chelsea manager. Some people are born to play for or manage certain clubs and for us, Benitez isn't what we want.
"When he was Liverpool manager and Jose Mourinho was Chelsea boss there was a bit of 'beef' between them.
"He was very dismissive of Chelsea, very rude towards us and my impression of him was, whenever anything went wrong it was always somebody else's fault, not his."
But former Liverpool and Germany midfielder Dietmar Hamann, a Champions League winner under Benitez at Anfield, believes the Spaniard will improve Chelsea and target silverware.
"He is a very talented and outstanding manager," he told BBC Sport.
"He's a very meticulous worker and he puts a lot of emphasis on tactical exercises and you can see it - his handwriting is all over his teams."
The length of Benitez's contract appears to indicate Abramovich's determination to land Guardiola once the former Barcelona manager returns to the game.
Guardiola, 41, is midway through a 12-month sabbatical having left Barcelona at the end of last season having won 14 trophies in four years, including three titles and the Champions League twice.
Di Matteo won the Champions League and FA Cup as caretaker manager last season and was given a two-year deal in June.
But following the defeat to Juventus, which has left the Blues on the brink of a Champions League exit, he has left Stamford Bridge after just eight months in charge.
Benitez's coaching career
1960: Born Madrid, 4 April
1886: Joins Real Madrid's coaching staff
1995: Becomes coach of Valladolid but sacked after 23 games
1996: Osasuna tenure ends after nine games
1997: Wins promotion with Segunda Division Extremadura
2000: Gains promotion from Segunda Division with Tenerife
2001: Appointed Valencia boss, securing club's first league title in 31 years
2004: Wins league and Uefa Cup with Valencia
June 2004: Signs five-year deal with Liverpool
2005: Secures Champions League in his first season
June 2010: Becomes new manager at Inter Milan
December 2010: Leaves Inter weeks after winning Fifa Club World Cup
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