Former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has just made a remarkable return to management this week, taking the top job at the Greek Super League side Panathinaikos, who the Reds defeated in the semi-finals on their way to winning the 1985 European Cup. Benitez will be assisted by the former Liverpool reserve coach Antonio Gómez in Athens. The pair also get to coach former Melwood prospect Pedro Chirivella at their new club. Chirivella helped win their debut match in Greece with a 2-0 win over Asteras Tripolis at home.

Rafa famously guided Liverpool to the 2005 Champions League final where they famously came back from 3-0 down to beat the Italian giants AC Milan on penalties.

His captain that night, Steven Gerrard, recently turned down a return to management with Scottish side Rangers, but four members of that iconic matchday squad have followed Benitez into management and are currently working, using what they’ve learned from their former boss to forge their own careers. 

Let’s see how they are getting on.

1. Xabi Alonso

Credits : SkySports

Starting with the most successful member of the squad, Alonso started his coaching career at his former club Real Sociedad’s B side in the Spanish third tier in 2019.

The playmaker guided them to promotion in 2021 via the playoffs, returning them back to the Segunda Division for the first time since the early 60’s when they defeated Algeciras.

He turned down the vacant position at Borussia Monchengladbach that summer and extended his contract, but would eventually move to Germany the following season, joining Bayer Leverkusen after Real Sociedad B’s relegation.

His remarkable rise within coaching kicked into overdrive at the North Rhine-Westphalia club. In his first season, after being appointed in October with the team in the relegation places, he guided the club to a top six finish in the Bundesliga and the semi-finals of the UEFA Conference League, being eliminated by his former Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho’s Roma in the semi-finals.

His first full season was remarkable, guiding the Black and Reds to an invincible German league and cup double, the UEFA Europa League final, as well as setting a new European record of 51 competitive matches without defeat in all competitions until their Europa final defeat to Atalanta. 

He won the German Super Cup in his final season before joining Real Madrid after losing the title to Bayern Munich.He won 16 of his 19 matches in charge of Los Blancos and currently sits on top of the La Liga table with 27 points out of a possible 30.

2. Djimi Traoré

Credits : Newcastle United

Never the most accomplished footballer, the Malian left back wasn’t fancied when he took to the field in Istanbul but, after a slow start, he recovered well to help the Reds lift the biggest prize in world football. 

He has since coached in the United States and went on to become a coach within the Right to Dream Academy in Ghana. He now manages Monaco’s second string side in the Méditerranée Regional 1 division in the French lower leagues.

3. Harry Kewell

Credits : Football Scotland

The Australian winger was substituted early in the 2005 Champions League final due to an injury. Kewell was a good servant for both Liverpool and Leeds United during his time in England. Alongside the UCL, he also won the FA Cup under Benitez and was also part of the squad that lost the 2007 final to Milan in Athens. 

Since his retirement, he has managed in England with Crawley Town, Notts County, Oldham Athletic and Barnet to minimal success. 

He rebuilt his reputation as a first team coach in Scotland with Celtic, working alongside former Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglu at the Glasgow club, helping the club to win the Scottish domestic treble before departing after working for a few months with Postecoglou’s successor and former Reds boss Brendan Rodgers the following year.

He then flew to the far eastern corner of the footballing world, taking on the head coach role at Postecoglou’s former side Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan. He guided them to the 2024 AFC Champions League final but unfortunately lost to UAE side Al-Ain across two legs. His domestic results were not as impressive either. He was sacked in July 2024, just seven months into his role.

He now manages Vietnamese club Hanoi FC, who sit sixth after eight games.

4.  Igor Bišćan

Credits : Gol