(Article from The Scum)
ANDREA DOSSENA, Josemi, Fernando Morientes, Mark Gonzalez, Antonio Nunez and Gabriel Paletta.
Everyone can name some of Rafa Benitez's worst signings - but apart from Fernando Torres, can you name a brilliant one?
Well, believe it or not, the Liverpool manager has pulled off one of the transfer coups of the year with the recruitment of Rodolfo Borrell.
True, he's not a household name yet but neither is he a dodgy left-back from a third division side in Argentina.
Borrell is, in fact, one of the most highly-regarded coaches and scouts in world football.
Just take a look at the Arsenal v Barcelona match this evening for the proof.
You could see as many as six of the players he discovered, nurtured and developed.
Lionel Messi, Cesc Fabregas and Gerard Pique all played in his youth side together at the Barcelona academy.
He also coached Andres Iniesta, Pedro and Bojan as well as Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina - and Everton's Mikel Arteta.
In 11 years in charge at the Barca academy - La Masia - Borrell won 18 trophies. His class of 2002 was undoubtedly the best as it contained Messi, Fabregas and Pique.
The team swept all aside and often scored 20-30 goals in ONE match.
Messi and Fabregas regularly bagged double figures in a game while centre-half Pique netted 50 GOALS in a season.
'Rodo' is regarded by Pique and Fabregas as one of the best coaches they have played for.
That's some praise given that between them they have been under the guidance of Arsene Wenger, Alex Ferguson, Frank Rijkaard and Pep Guardiola.
But it was the rapid promotion of Guardiola to Barca boss which led to Borrell's disillusionment and decision to leave.
After excelling for so many years, Rodo was shocked when Guardiola was brought in above him to manage the reserve side three years ago.
When Guardiola was then promoted again after just one season, Borrell was once more overlooked for the 'B' job which was given to Luis Enrique.
That led to him requesting a move and Benitez brought him to Anfield to lead their under-18 team last summer.
Borrell has already made an impression and young players and coaches have warmed to his intuitive style.
It's hardly surprising. His job at Barca was to take boys and help them realise their potential. He specialises in identifying a player's best position and coaching them to play there as if they were in the first team.
Borrell made Pique a centre-half and turned Fabregas into a midfield general.
Here is Fabregas' memory of Messi at La Masia: "It was like he was mute when he arrived, Leo never spoke. He's not only phenomenal as a player - he's like that as a guy too."
Messi attributes his development to Borrell, but the coach's influence does not stop when a player leaves his charge. Rodo saw Fabregas play well below par for Arsenal on TV. He made enquiries and went to London.
Fabregas said: "My parents were separating, I was struggling. Rodo found out, I don't know how. I had not told anyone. He said he saw I was preoccupied and that my level of play had dropped.
"He opened a bag and brought out a present. There was Guardiola's signed No 4 shirt with the message: 'One day you will be the No 4 for Barca.' I still don't think they know how much they helped at that moment."
Who knows how much Borrell may now do to remedy failing fortunes at Liverpool.
Read more: ...
ANDREA DOSSENA, Josemi, Fernando Morientes, Mark Gonzalez, Antonio Nunez and Gabriel Paletta.
Everyone can name some of Rafa Benitez's worst signings - but apart from Fernando Torres, can you name a brilliant one?
Well, believe it or not, the Liverpool manager has pulled off one of the transfer coups of the year with the recruitment of Rodolfo Borrell.
True, he's not a household name yet but neither is he a dodgy left-back from a third division side in Argentina.
Borrell is, in fact, one of the most highly-regarded coaches and scouts in world football.
Just take a look at the Arsenal v Barcelona match this evening for the proof.
You could see as many as six of the players he discovered, nurtured and developed.
Lionel Messi, Cesc Fabregas and Gerard Pique all played in his youth side together at the Barcelona academy.
He also coached Andres Iniesta, Pedro and Bojan as well as Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina - and Everton's Mikel Arteta.
In 11 years in charge at the Barca academy - La Masia - Borrell won 18 trophies. His class of 2002 was undoubtedly the best as it contained Messi, Fabregas and Pique.
The team swept all aside and often scored 20-30 goals in ONE match.
Messi and Fabregas regularly bagged double figures in a game while centre-half Pique netted 50 GOALS in a season.
'Rodo' is regarded by Pique and Fabregas as one of the best coaches they have played for.
That's some praise given that between them they have been under the guidance of Arsene Wenger, Alex Ferguson, Frank Rijkaard and Pep Guardiola.
But it was the rapid promotion of Guardiola to Barca boss which led to Borrell's disillusionment and decision to leave.
After excelling for so many years, Rodo was shocked when Guardiola was brought in above him to manage the reserve side three years ago.
When Guardiola was then promoted again after just one season, Borrell was once more overlooked for the 'B' job which was given to Luis Enrique.
That led to him requesting a move and Benitez brought him to Anfield to lead their under-18 team last summer.
Borrell has already made an impression and young players and coaches have warmed to his intuitive style.
It's hardly surprising. His job at Barca was to take boys and help them realise their potential. He specialises in identifying a player's best position and coaching them to play there as if they were in the first team.
Borrell made Pique a centre-half and turned Fabregas into a midfield general.
Here is Fabregas' memory of Messi at La Masia: "It was like he was mute when he arrived, Leo never spoke. He's not only phenomenal as a player - he's like that as a guy too."
Messi attributes his development to Borrell, but the coach's influence does not stop when a player leaves his charge. Rodo saw Fabregas play well below par for Arsenal on TV. He made enquiries and went to London.
Fabregas said: "My parents were separating, I was struggling. Rodo found out, I don't know how. I had not told anyone. He said he saw I was preoccupied and that my level of play had dropped.
"He opened a bag and brought out a present. There was Guardiola's signed No 4 shirt with the message: 'One day you will be the No 4 for Barca.' I still don't think they know how much they helped at that moment."
Who knows how much Borrell may now do to remedy failing fortunes at Liverpool.
Read more: ...
