Rafael Benitez: The World's Best Manager or Skin Saver?

Recently, Spain's AS and Marca, plus Italian broadsheet La Gazzetta dello Sport conducted online polls asking their readers to vote for the best coach in world football.

And, on all three occasions Rafa Benitez came out on top ahead of managers such as Ferguson, Mourinho, Guardiola, Lippi, Del Bosque, Wenger, and Hiddink. Benitez did not just came out on top, but came out with relative ease ahead of his counterparts.

Is it me or was this a general surprise? Don't get me wrong I am a Liverpool fan and as a tactitian I feel he is the best but compared to Ferguson's record it seems an almost shock that he voted world number one!

Surely Ferguson would warrant such acclaims but is the one that teams would want heading into a European Cup game?

Clearly not!

In his almost 23 year career as manager at United, Ferguson has led them to 10 League titles, five FA Cups, eight Community Shields, three League Cups, a pair of European Cups, a Cup Winners' Cup, a Super Cup, and a double of World club Championships. Rather impressive even from a Liverpool fans point of view!

So, what makes Rafa the most sought after manager in world football? His record as Liverpool Manager? Unlikely. The number of trophies he has won? Doubtful. His consistency as a manager? Certainly not. His wheeling and dealing? No chance!

For me its his unbelievable ability to know what the opposition has in their locker. Be it that Real Madrid wanted their game at a slow tempo or that United had frailties at the back if they were pulled out 10 or 20 yards, Rafa almost always knows whats coming.

As you'd expect its this that leaves him loved at Anfield. The ability to beat the big guns who are sometimes easier to read than the little guys.

Would he have a new contract had Madrid knocked us out and we failed to beat United? I would say the answer is a most certain, no, but Rafa has always had the knack of saving his bacon on a few occasions.

Though very much a man not afraid to change things I personally feel he would be a great addition to International management where sometimes tactics rather than having the great players (England and Russia spring to mind) are the most important key.

In 2005 Rafa's tactics from Olympiakos onward in the European Cup were something to behold, with in all honest fairness and respect, an average group of players who could not make the top four in there own domestic league.

Sure he is giving a challenge and as a Liverpool fan I say about bloody time too and were still in the Champion's League as we should be and it seems there will be contract extensions galore from now till next season but whether it will bring success or not only time will tell.

Questions are now also being raised on how much control of transfers he ever had!

The man has brought great wealth to Liverpool Football club with his European success and has earned control of all transactions coming in and going out.

Coming into another huge bill of European football against Chelsea I know I wouldn't swap Rafa for anyone on the night, be he the greatest manager in the world or not!

Another Champions League final appearance and a first league title in 19 years and he might just be!