What Rafa Benitez's Rangers could look like as Steven Gerrard flags 'teacher' mentality before admiring Ibrox glances
The pair didn't strike up a solid relationship at Liverpool despite a successful spell at Anfield
Out of work Rafa Benitez has been floated as a potential next Rangers manager - and the club could be set for a major behind the scenes overhaul if he steps into the hot seat.
Barry Ferguson is currently in the dugout on an interim basis following the decision to axe Philippe Clement - and defeat to Motherwell did the club legend no favours of landing the job permanently during a period of transition for the Scottish Premiership heavyweights. The San Francisco 49ers backed takeover is inching closer behind the scenes with bookmakers making Benitez one of the favourites to land the Ibrox job in the summer.
The 64-year-old is currently out of work after leaving Celta Vigo earlier this season - but operated at elite level during his managerial career leading Liverpool to the Champions League victory, Chelsea to Europa League glory and picking up silverware in Spain and Italy with Valencia and Napoli respectively. A potential deal has been backed by Rangers legend Ally McCoist who admitted on Monday he "wouldn’t have a problem with" the arrival of the Spaniard.
But it could be a very different story for the players at the club - with title-winning Light Blues boss Steven Gerrard already offering an insight on the ruthless streak put in place by Benitez. In his 2015 autobiography, Gerrard spoke out about his difficult relationship working with Benitez and how it fired him up.
He said: “I don’t think Rafa Benitez liked me as a person. I’m not sure why, but that’s the feeling I got from him. I can pick up the phone and speak to all of my previous Liverpool managers. Except for Rafa.
“Our working relationship was ultra-professional and his frostiness drove me to become a better player. I had a hunger to earn a compliment from him — but also a hunger to let him know he really needed me as a player.”
But speaking in 2021 after Rangers had lifted the Premiership title under Gerrard, he insisted his methods had helped the Liverpool icon in his managerial career - as well as hinting he had kept an eye on the unbeaten season that was achieved on the road to glory. He responded to Gerrard: “Firstly, congratulations Steve! He has done really well this season.
“I have had many players who at the time were complaining but after they became coaches, they say: ‘Oh Rafa was teaching me that, Rafa was telling me that.’
"They don't realise when they are young why you are pushing. Then after they realise. You will always remember the teachers who were pushing you, not the teachers who were very nice. The nice teachers are fine but if you want to win, you need teachers who will give you something and that means that sometimes it has to be difficult.”
Later that summer, Benitez was touted as a potential Celtic manager before the arrival of Ange Postecoglou. However, he played down the prospect of a move to Scotland. Asked for his preference on his next job and if it would be in Glasgow's east end by The Times, he said: “A competitive team that allows you to challenge for trophies, or a project that allows you to improve and grow and do better.
"The priority is England. Why? Because obviously I like the Premier League and my family is here." But after tough spells at Everton and Celta since then, could Benitez finally take the plunge and manage in Scotland?
