7) Rafael Benitez
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Rafael Benitez has earned an unfair reputation as a steady, unspectacular, safe pair of hands when looking at his exceptional record in Europe’s top club competitions. During his spell at Valencia, Benitez not only broke the Real Madrid and Barcelona dominance in La Liga to win the title in both 2002 and 2004. That 2004 league victory was coupled with UEFA Cup success. Benitez went one better the next season, winning the Champions League in his first season at Liverpool, in a final that became known as the miracle in Istanbul as Liverpool came back from a 3 goal deficit to win on penalties. Benitez would guide Liverpool to the Champions League final again in 2007 facing AC Milan, the team they beat in 2005, however this time the Italian club were victorious. Benitez most recent success in Europe was during his interim spell at Chelsea, where he helped the club recover from being the first reigning champions to exit the Champions League at the group stage, by winning the Europa League final.
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