***RAFA BENITEZ FIRED FROM INTER MILAN***
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/footbal ... 302348.stmInter Milan have parted company with manager Rafael Benitez just over six months after appointing the Spaniard.
The move follows Benitez asking for backing from the board to buy players following the Serie A side's Club World Cup win over TP Mazembe last Saturday.
A statement on Inter's website said "a mutually satisfactory agreement for the early termination of his [Benitez's] contract" had been agreed.
Benitez took over from Jose Mourinho at the San Siro in June.
Mourinho, who left for Real Madrid, led Inter to the Serie A title, the Italian Cup and the Champions League glory last season and left his successor with a hard act to follow.
PHIL McNULTY BLOG
Benitez's availability will alert clubs around Europe despite damage done to his reputation in the last 18 months, encompassing his decline at Liverpool and a swift demise at Inter
Benitez was named Inter manager a week after leaving Liverpool on 3 June and, although he had injuries to key players to contend with, the 50-year-old's exploits have not helped his cause.
Inter are 13 points behind Serie A leaders and arch-rivals AC Milan and struggling for form.
Although Inter have two games in hand on the teams above them in the league table, they are languishing in seventh place having won only six of their 15 league games.
In defence of their Champions League crown, the Nerazzurri could only finish as group runners-up behind Tottenham to leave them facing a difficult tie against Bayern Munich in the last 16.
Even though Inter won the Club World Cup by beating TP Mazembe, it did not leave Benitez in a strong enough position to survive his outburst after the match.
"There are three possibilities for the club," said Benitez. "One, 100% support for the coach and buy four or five players to build a stronger team with competition among the players to be able to carry on winning matches and trophies.
"Two, carry on like this without a project, without planning, and go ahead with one person to blame, for the whole season.
Hodgson 'can't see a priest in a mountain of sugar' - Benitez
"The third," he added, "is to speak to my agent to reach an agreement if there is not this support. Simple."
Inter president Massimo Moratti was less than impressed by Benitez's comments and said they "were not suitable for the situation" before adding it was "not the moment to ask for reinforcements".
Consequently, the Inter board has removed Benitez with the Serie A season currently on a winter break and Inter's next game scheduled for 6 January at home to Napoli.
"Inter thank Rafael Benitez for his work in leading his team to success in the Italian Super Cup and the Fifa Club World Cup," added the San Siro club.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... 05?cc=59011960: Born Madrid, April 4.
1981: Leaves Real Madrid after seven years without ever playing for the first team and joins third division Parla.
1986: After retiring as a player, appointed to Real Madrid's coaching staff, starting off with the juniors and working up to the Under-19s.
1994: Leads Real Madrid's B team to seventh in Spain's Segunda Division and ends the season as assistant to first-team coach Vicente del Bosque.
1995: Appointed coach of Valladolid but sacked after 23 games with the team bottom of the Primera Division.
1996: Takes over at Osasuna in second division, but lasts just nine games after recording one win.
1997: Joins Segunda Division outfit Extremadura and leads them to promotion.
1999: Extremadura relegated from top flight after play-off defeat to Villarreal - Benitez quits the following season to take a year's sabbatical to study coaching in Italy and England
2000: Appointed boss of Segunda Division Tenerife and leads them to promotion.
2001: Replaces Hector Cuper at Valencia and leads the club to their first Spanish league title in 31 years.
2004: Leads Valencia to their first ever double, lifting the league title and the UEFA Cup, before the club announce his deparure by mutual consent.
June 16 - Confirmed as Liverpool manager on five-year contract.
2005: May - Wins Champions League in his first season as Liverpool come from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 before beating AC Milan on penalties in Istanbul.
2007: American duo Tom Hicks and George Gillett buy the club from David Mooresand in May Benitez's side reach the Champions League final for the second time in three seasons but lose to AC Milan in Athens.
2008: Relations between Benitez and the Anfield hierarchy sour suddenly with doubts over the Spaniard's long-term future.
2009: March 18 - Benitez signs a new contract after months of uncertainty, keeping him at Anfield until 2014. Liverpool finish second to Manchester United in the Premier League.
2010: April 29 - After previous early exits from the Champions League and FA Cup, Liverpool are knocked out of the Europa League at the semi-final stage by Atletico Madrid.
May 9 - A goalless draw on the final day at relegated Hull confirms Liverpool finish the Premier League season in seventh - their worst position since 1999.
June - Benitez leaves his job as Liverpool manager by mutual consent and Inter Milan confirm an agreement has been reached for him to become their new coach on a two-year deal to succeed Jose Mourinho.
August 21 - Leads Inter to Italian Supercoppa triumph with 3-1 win over Roma at San Siro.
August 27 - Inter beaten 2-0 by Atletico Madrid in European Super Cup final in Monaco.
December 18 - Leads Inter to FIFA Club World Cup glory with 3-0 win over Congolese side Mazembe in Abu Dhabi final. Immediately then calls on club to back him in the transfer market in January or sack him.
December 23 - Inter announce Benitez's dismissal after agreeing the financial terms of his departure.
