Date of birth: 16 April 1960
Nationality: Spanish
Playing career: Real Madrid Castilla, CP Parla, CD Linares
Coaching career: Real Madrid Castilla, Real Valladolid CF, CA Osasuna, CD Tenerife, CF Extremadura, Valencia CF, Liverpool FC, FC Internazionale Milano, Chelsea FC

• A midfielder for Real Madrid CF's reserve team and two other lower ranking sides, injury prompted an early move into coaching.

• Having coached at youth and B-team level with Madrid, Benítez struck out on his own with Valladolid, Osasuna, Tenerife and Extremadura before getting his big break in 2001 at Valencia.

• Guided Valencia to the club's first league title for 31 years in 2002 and added a second championship two years later, when they also won the UEFA Cup.

• Joined Liverpool in June 2004, winning the UEFA Champions League in his first season, with his side beating AC Milan on penalties having come from 3-0 down in the final. Also won the 2006 FA Cup on penalties after his side trailed West Ham United FC 3-2 in added time of the Cardiff showpiece.

• Left Anfield after six years in summer 2010, stepping into José Mourinho's shoes at Inter. Guided his new charges to victory in the Italian Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup but left following the latter competition in December 2010, subsequently working in the media. Returned to management on 21 November 2012 when he took over at Chelsea for the remainder of the season following Roberto Di Matteo's dismissal.