Sampdoria end interest in former Liverpool boss Rafael Benítez

Rafael Benítez will not be returning to management with Sampdoria this summer, the Serie A outfit have announced.

The 52-year-old has been out of employment since he was sacked by Internazionale in December 2010 after a disastrous start to his spell at the San Siro.

Sampdoria owner Riccardo Garrone revealed earlier this week that the club were keen to appoint Benítez despite current manager Giuseppe Iachini having a year left to run on his current deal after helping the club achieve promotion from Serie B last term.

The 1991 Italian champions met with the former Valencia boss in London this week to discuss the possibility of him taking the reins at the club, but a deal was not agreed and Sampdoria have ended their pursuit of the Spaniard.

“Following discussions held recently in London and subsequent contacts between UC Sampdoria and Mr Rafael Benítez, with mutual regret, the club and the Spanish manager agreed that the time for collaboration was not right,” a statement on the club’s website read.

Rafael Benítez fact-file

• Benítez was a midfielder for Real Madrid’s reserve team and two other lower ranking sides before injury prompted an early move into coaching.

• He 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.

• He 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.

• The Spaniard joined Liverpool in June 2004, winning the Champions League in his first season, with his side beating AC Milan on penalties having come from 3-0 down in the final. Also the Reds won the 2006 FA Cup on penalties after trailing West Ham United 3-2 in stoppage time of the Cardiff showpiece.

• He took Liverpool to the top of the Premier League for two spells during 2008-09 but Manchester United retained their title. Benítez left Anfield after six years in summer 2010, stepping into José Mourinho’s shoes at Inter, before being dismissed in December 2012.

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