Rafa Benitez celebrates his 50th birthday today and most probably the birthday will be a low-key event.
The Spaniard joined Liverpool from Valencia in the summer of 2004 and after six years at the helm of Liverpool F.C. it is shocking to see how much he has aged during his time in Merseyside.
Rafa has put the welfare of the club before his very own health, he himself joked with the Romanian journalists before the Unirea game about gaining weight due to stress. Unfortunately there are some (including our own fans) who have made nasty remarks about his weight and mocked his physical appearance, this behaviour is really disgraceful. Agree with him or not, let us all as Liverpool supporters respect Rafa. After all this is the man who did not attend his dad’s funeral to be with the team for the FIFA Club World Cup Final in 2005.
I am a dying breed of supporters who still supports Benitez however he really needs to take care of himself. For the sake of himself and his family, Rafa needs to do something. If it does mean leaving Liverpool, then I am willing to accept it.
The memory of Gerard Houllier’s massive heart-attack during the game against Leeds back in October 2001 still haunts me. Gerard like Rafa put Liverpool before his own health and it almost cost him his life.
Rafa, I do urge you today to please take care of your own health, do it for your little girls and for Maria.
I have never attacked Rafa on any of his decisions but putting Liverpool F.C. before his own health is a wrong move.
Feliz cumpleaños Rafa
Y.N.W.A.
-Antoine