Rafael Benitez is one of only six managers to have won both the European Cup/Champions League and UEFA Cup/Europa League during his coaching career.
The Spaniard, who celebrates his 65th birthday today, lifted the 2004-05 Champions League title for Liverpool before winning the Europa League with fellow English club Chelsea in 2012-13.
Benitez has enjoyed plenty of success in terms of trophies, also landing two La Liga titles while in charge of Valencia, in addition to the Coppa Italia at Napoli.
It is incredible to think that his coaching career started way back in 1986, being in charge of Real Madrid's Under-17s until 1993, and he then managed Real Madrid Castilla between 1993 and 1995.
Benitez would later manage Real Valladolid, Osasuna, Extremadura and Tenerife before his big break at Valencia, and as mentioned, he won two La Liga titles during his time at Los Che, in addition to the UEFA Cup.
The Spaniard's work at Valencia attracted the attention of Liverpool, and he managed the Reds between June 2004 and June 2010, winning the FA Cup, Community Shield, Champions League and UEFA Super Cup.
Benitez has since been in charge of Inter Milan, Chelsea, Napoli, Real Madrid, Newcastle United, Dalian Professional and Everton, but he finds himself without a managerial job at this moment in time, having left La Liga team Celta Vigo in March 2024.
The former Liverpool head coach is part of a very exclusive list of managers when it comes to European trophies, but can you name the other five head coaches on the particular list?
Matt Law
