Has anyone asked themselves this huge thing which is bigger and better than managing Newcastle United ? Must be f@cking Pandas or something, its worse than the Arab League.
Isn't it obvious? Rafa is going to work in China for 30 years, earn £360Million, come back and buy Ashley out.
£12 m a year, the opportunity to work in a developing football league elsewhere in the world, a board who will fund a proper project (training, youth, challenging for trophies etc), a chance to experience a different way of life. What's not to like? China's progress has been slow despite the names who have managed and played there in recent years. Its dawned on them that youth development is key and they have a wise old head in Lippi guiding their hierarchy. I'd imagine Benitez project will include the opportunity to build something which could end up having a huge legacy because of the embryonic stage their football is at. Funnily enough the world doesn't stop at our coastline and football is booming worldwide. Look at the players who have gone to China in recent years, some in their peak years. They go for the money of course but also to experience a different way of life and help football grow. To be honest its very narrow minded to look at football in other places like this. Can you imagine if all those big foreign names had had this attitude as our football exploded in 1992? They never came in their numbers to England before that.
I get what you say , but doubt it, I'll give Rafa 6 months out there, he'll be worming for the 1st big job in Europe come January after he's manoeuvred a pay off from China.
I'd imagine he had plenty of options. He will have struggled however to get into a club in Europes top leagues where he had a chance of winning something. Its a pretty narrow field and he isn't really in keeping with where they go now. They want younger more progressive managers. Rafa's clearly a top tactician but its not often pretty to watch. These guys who own these clubs want it all, best players, results and look great doing it. Whereas the Chinese probably don't have that luxury yet. Rafa made it clear he was looking for a longer term role, hence he kept talking about wanting a proper project. He's done the bouncing round Europe doing a few years, win something and move on. Its probably his last job so its understandable. I could see him getting unhappy though. He made it clear he wanted to stay in England as his family is settled in Liverpool. Obviously he hasn't had a chance to do that because the only real job for him was at us and its a thankless task. So how long he'll last out there will depend on his family. If they are going out with him, are they gonna be happy? If they are staying at home, how happy is wife gonna be if its long spells away from home. Either way it looks like there are issues to overcome.
