Former Liverpool star Vladimir Smicer has revealed that Rafa Benitez ’s brutal farewell left Reds icon Steven Gerrard fuming with the Spaniard.
The ex-Czech international spent six years at Anfield having arrived from French club Lens as Steve McManaman ’s replacement, who left for Real Madrid on a free transfer. Smicer won the FA Cup, UEFA Cup and two League Cups during his time on Merseyside but his highlight will no doubt be the Reds’ Champions League victory in 2005.
Liverpool famously came from 3-0 down against AC Milan to run out winners via a penalty shootout. After Gerrard had given the Reds hope in Istanbul, Smicer got himself on the scoresheet to reduce the deficit to just one. Xabi Alonso then scored the equaliser for Liverpool.
Despite the glory of the Champions League win, Smicer had to face up to the reality of leaving Anfield with his contract expiring. Talking with Ladbrokes: Fanzone, the now 49-year-old has revealed he did not exactly get the heartfelt farewell that he was hoping for from Benitez.
He said: “After the Champions League trophy tour, I went to see Rafa before I flew back to Prague because I was thinking maybe he would give me a one or two-year contract.
“I went to see him and said, ‘So Rafa, I am leaving tomorrow to go to Prague and I just wanted to say goodbye and thank you for everything.’ He responded, ‘Ok Vlady, thank you for the final and bye.’
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“I thought he might have said something more, but it was just that; it was sad because I care about Liverpool, they were like a family to me after six years, so it was hard to leave.”
Benitez - recently linked with struggling Nottingham Forest - was a contentious figure at Anfield. Smicer has since claimed that he rubbed a few players up the wrong way with how he handled certain situations including Reds hero Gerrard.
He continued: “I think all the players had the same mentality as me. There were always rumours that [Xabi] Alonso and [Javier] Mascherano were unhappy with it and I don’t think [Steven] Gerrard was entirely pleased either.
“That was the thing I didn’t like about him, but the training sessions and how he prepared the team tactically was a good experience for me and I was happy to train under him.”
In leaving Anfield, Smicer sealed a return to France with Bordeaux. However, he only stayed there for two seasons before then sealing a switch back to his home country having re-signed for first club Slavia Prague.
Throughout his Liverpool career, the former midfielder made 183 appearances for the Reds in all competitions and scored 19 goals - his last being his memorable strike in the Champions League final.
