Real Madrid found a new manager in Rafa Benitez this summer, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti as manager at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, it could have all been very different had Benitez signed on as the new manager of West Ham, which co-chairman David Sullivan has now revealed he was close to doing.
The Hammers eventually appointed former Besiktas manager Slaven Bilic as the new man in charge of first-team duties at Upton Park, but they were extremely close to bringing in Benitez, formerly of Liverpool, Internazionale, Chelsea and Napoli. Quoted by the Evening Standard, Sullivan said: “Rafa Benitez was within three hours of signing for us.”
“Every clause in his contract was agreed and then he went to Real Madrid. It was a real blow because he is a really experienced manager in England and done really well in Italy.“
“We had an agreement in place but you have to pick yourself up, look who else is available and pick the best you can.”
However, Sullivan also defended the man West Ham eventually chose to lead the line into the new season, Slaven Bilic: “Whoever you take is a gamble. The bottom line is we have a manager. He has our 100 per cent support. We will support him in the transfer market. We like him.“
Benitez has enjoyed reasonable success in the Premier League with previous spells at Anfield and Stamford Bridge, winning a combined five trophies. However, he’s considerably more well-liked at Liverpool, where he won a Champions League trophy. That pedigree certainly would have benefited The Hammers, but the allure of players such as Sergio Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo will often prove too strong in the footballing world.
