A Season on the Brink

Trade Paperback

Rafael Benitez, Liverpool and the Path to European Glory

'ENTHRALLING' FourFourTwo

'STIRRING' Dublin Herald

'FASCINATING' Red and White Kop

'ASTONISHING' Bleacher Report

The Sunday Times Bestseller

Twentieth anniversary edition, fully updated with a new foreword interviewing Rafael Benitez

When Rafael Benitez was appointed manager of under-achieving Liverpool at the start of the 2004-05 season, the reaction of many fans was 'Who the **** is Rafael Benitez?'. After a wonderful spell at Valencia, the Spaniard arrived to take over Liverpool's famous Boot Room, determined to change the club's fortunes and win over a disillusioned Kop.

In just one season, Benitez's importation of Spanish players, coaching methods and diet led to a revolution, usurping Jose Mourinho's Chelsea to reach the European Champions League final in Istanbul. It was a match that would go down in history as one of the greatest of all time.

At half-time, Liverpool were 3-0 down to Carlo Ancelotti's AC Milan, a team many regarded as the best in the world, filled with stars such as Paolo Maldini, Kaka and Andrea Pirlo. However, against all the odds, Liverpool produced a stunning comeback, with goals from club captain Steven Gerrard, Vladimir micer and Xabi Alonso, before a dramatic penalty shoot-out saw the Reds clinch European glory.

Featuring exclusive interviews with Benitez himself, assistant manager Pako Ayestaran and key first-team players, this is the behind-the-scenes story of Rafa's remarkable success with Liverpool.