Jose Mourinho thinks he is the "Special One" but John Toshack believes that title should be attributed to the manager at Anfield Rafael Benitez.



The Wales coach, an Anfield hero in the Bill Shankly era, had an input into Benitez's early career when managing Real Madrid and a young Rafa was working with their youth. Toshack said:

"When I first met Rafa there was definitely something about him. I remember when I was at Madrid the second time around and we were in Switzerland pre-season. He was over watching the training and was making notes. He was always a very studious type.
"I think his Valencia side that played Liverpool a couple of times was very impressive.
"I saw the game at Anfield and they never gave Liverpool any options at all. That sort of approach, which is common on the continent, maybe prompted Liverpool to go for him and he hasn't let them down."

He added: "When I first went to Madrid in 1990, Rafa was working with the youth team. He has worked his way up and did tremendously well to come through some difficult times at Valladolid and Osasuna.
"He then got Tenerife promoted but was still a bit of a surprise choice when he first went to Valencia. At the Mestalla he pushed on and was very successful. He established a very methodical side and once they went 1-0 in front it was very difficult to get anything back from them. He won the Uefa Cup with Valencia as well as La Liga and his record since taking charge of Liverpool speaks for itself."

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