Rafa Benitez's eventful reign as Liverpool manager came to a grinding but inevitable halt Thursday when the club decided to seek a fresh start after a season of failure and the Spaniard became the leading target for European champion Inter Milan.
Mired in debt and with owners who are struggling to sell the famous five-time European champion, Liverpool now sets out to find someone capable of getting the club back into contention for an English title it has not won since 1990.
Benitez, who led the club to a memorable Champions League triumph in 2005 but wound up trapped in a web of ownership strife at Anfield, is now free to talk to Inter Milan, which won that trophy two weeks ago and then said farewell to coach Jose Mourinho.
Benitez, the 50-year-old Spaniard, said he was sad to be leaving Anfield, despite leaving the team in seventh place in the Premier League and with no title for four seasons.
``It is very sad for me to announce that I will no longer be manager of Liverpool FC,'' he said in a statement released by the club. ``I would like to thank all of the staff and players for their efforts.''
He said he would always remember the support he received from the Liverpool fans.
``I'll always keep in my heart the good times I've had here, the strong and loyal support of the fans in the tough times and the love from Liverpool. I have no words to thank you enough for all these years and I am very proud to say that I was your manager.
``Thank you so much once more and always remember: You'll never walk alone.''
Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton said that a poor team performance in the season just ended had meant Benitez had to go.
``Rafa will forever be part of Liverpool folklore after bringing home the Champions League following the epic final in Istanbul, but after a disappointing season both parties felt a fresh start would be best for all concerned.''
Liverpool announced that Benitez was leaving ``by mutual consent''. That means he did not quit and he was not fired and effectively that the two sides came up with a compromise.
Firing Benitez would have left Liverpool to pay an expected 16 million pounds ($21 million; ?19 million) in compensation for almost four years left on his contract. If he had quit he would not have been entitled to anything.
According to reports, however, he ends his six-year stay with a 6 million pounds ($8.8 million, ?7.2 million) payout after negotiations between the club and his agent.
Benitez moved to Liverpool in 2004 after leading Valencia to two Spanish league titles and the UEFA Cup, and he had an amazing start at Anfield.
He led the team to a Champions League final triumph in 2005, his team beating AC Milan on penalties after being 3-0 down at halftime. The club won the FA Cup the following season and was runnerup to Milan in the 2007 Champions League final.
But Benitez was unable to guide the team to the English league title. It last won that trophy in 1990 and, in the past few seasons, Manchester United tied its record 18 championship triumphs.
Among the names mentioned as a possible replacement for Benitez at Liverpool were Guus Hiddink, who is due to start work as coach of Turkey's national team in August, Martin Jol of Ajax, and Fulham's Roy Hodgson, who took the modest west London club to the final of the Europa League this past season.
Avram Grant was another name being linked but the Israeli ruled himself out Thursday when he agreed a four-year deal to take over at West Ham.
Benitez's future has been the subject of much speculation in the past two seasons during a time of turmoil behind the scenes at Liverpool.
American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr., who bought Liverpool three years ago, have put the club up for sale after a public fallout over the running of the club. Liverpool is now heavily in debt and, for the first time since the 2003-04 season, will not be playing in the Champions League next term.
The lack of success this past season has also led to strong speculation that star players such as Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano and Fernando Torres could move to other clubs.
