Share

Benitez named Inter coach

Rome - Spaniard Rafael Benitez has signed a two-year contract to coach Inter Milan until mid-2012, the Italian club said in a statement posted on its website on Thursday.

Benitez, 50, will be presented at the Appiano Gentile sports centre near the northern city of Milan on Tuesday.

"Inter welcomes Rafael Benitez. This morning, the two-year deal tying the Spanish coach to the club until June 30, 2012 was finalised with mutual satisfaction," said the statement.

He will take over from Jose Mourinho, who joined Real Madrid after leading the team to a unique treble of Serie A, Italian Cup and Champions League titles last month.

Inter president Massimo Moratti had announced on Tuesday that Inter and Benitez had reached an agreement.

Benitez parted company with Liverpool last week after guiding the English giants to a disappointing seventh-place finish in the Premier League last season.

The Spanish coach had enjoyed a golden start to his Anfield tenure, inspiring the club to their fifth European Cup title in 2005 as they came back from 3-0 down to beat AC Milan on penalties on a memorable night in Istanbul.

Benitez is a renowned operator on the European stage, having also led Valencia to UEFA Cup glory in 2004, and his challenge at the San Siro will be to continue the work of Mourinho after the Portuguese ended Inter's 45-year wait for the top prize in club football.

Inter won their fifth successive Italian title last term, but Benitez has been targeted to ensure they remain competitive in continental competition.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
How much would you be prepared to pay for a ticket to watch the Springboks play against the All Blacks at Ellis Park or Cape Town Stadium this year?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
R0 - R200
32% - 1843 votes
R200 - R500
32% - 1810 votes
R500 - R800
19% - 1100 votes
R800 - R1500
8% - 470 votes
R1500 - R2500
3% - 193 votes
I'd pay anything! It's the Boks v All Blacks!
5% - 261 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE