A former Real Madrid manager has named the best player he has ever coached, snubbing the club's all-time leading goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo, whom he coached!
Rafael Benitez managed the Spanish giants from July 2015 to January 2016 for 25 matches, guiding them to 17 victories and three losses.
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During this period, Ronaldo garnered 25 goals and eight assists. That season, he would also go on to become the top scorer in the UEFA Champions League, helping his side win the competition.
It would be just one of many triumphs the attacker had already won and would go on to win, with the five-time Ballon d'Or winner widely recognised as one of the best players ever to have graced the beautiful game.
Benitez also managed some other high-calibre stars during his managerial career, including Frank Lampard, Wesley Sneijder, Juan Mata and Fernando Torres.
However, according to the manager, the best player in his book is former Liverpool star and 2005 UEFA Champions League winner Steven Gerrard.
The Spaniard managed Liverpool from 2004 to 2010, leading the side to a UCL trophy, a UEFA Super Cup, and an FA Cup, and the Englishman was present throughout.
"Stevie is the best player that I have ever coached," Benitez said while speaking on The Overlap.
"Because when I was in Madrid, I couldn't say that! But now I can say that. It's very clear. He had everything.
"What was missing was the tactical knowledge a foreign player has because they play in this position.
"He was so good, he had so much energy that he could get into the box, go as a full-back, do whatever he wanted to do, but he needed to understand the position."
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Gerrard amassed 186 goals and 155 assists in the 710 appearances he made for the Reds before retiring at American outfit LA Galaxy in 2017.
The one-time European Player of the Year currently manages Saudi Pro League club Al Ettifaq.