Benitez joins Liverpool greats

In his very first season at Anfield, Rafael Benitez has shown what a shrewd tactician he is by steering Liverpool to their fifth European Cup success - an honour that kept the glittering 'Big One' permanently at the club's boardroom.

Benitez has now joined the Liverpool legends of Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Kenny Dalglish.

These four spent a total of 32 years in management at Anfield and Benitez, in his baptism campaign, is already bracketed in this category.

The way he masterminded Liverpool's victory in the most prestigious club competition in the world of football was phenomenal, to say the least.

In last week's final in Istanbul, the Spanish coach succeeded in transforming a disaster into a triumph. It never happened before in 50 years of European Cup history that a club 0-3 down in a 'final' managed to cancel out that deficit (the Reds went on to win the penalty shoot-out).

The match against Milan will be remembered as the most incredible final since the competition started in 1955.

Benitez wanted to surprise his opposition by drafting Harry Kewell in the starting line-up but the Australian, besieged by injuries for much of the season, pulled out of the scene after only 22 minutes.

Benitez replaced him with Czech international Vladimir Smicer. For the second half Benitez then introduced Dietmar Hamann for Steve Finnan, who had a thigh injury.

Hamann's task was to give new life to a side that was trailing heavily and running out of ideas.

The second period was marked by a magical seven-minute spell that saw the Kops notching a quick treble to draw level.

Captain Steven Gerrard started the goal rush with a fine header from a John Arne Riise's cross and then Smicer scored with a grounder a minute later. The recovery was complete when Xabi Alonso took the penalty after Gerrard was bundled in the penalty area by Gattuso.

Alonso failed with his first attempt but managed to net from the rebound to make it 3-3.

In extra time, Liverpool looked tired and jaded but now it was the turn of Polish goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek to take over. His double save from Andriy Shevchenko in the last minute of extra time drew comparisons with Gordon Banks' stunning save from Pele in the England-Brazil World Cup match of 1970 in Mexico.

Dudek said that it was the save of his career and the most important one.

Before the start of the penalty shoot-out, Jamie Carragher went over to Dudek and told him 'to remember Bruce Grobbelaar and the rubbery legs in the penalty drama of 1984, when Liverpool defeated Roma in front of their own fans.

Dudek unnerved Milan's penalty-takers with his motions on the line and then it was history as Liverpool went on to triumph 3-2.

Dudek dedicated Liverpool's triumph to the memory of a distinguished Polish compatriot - the late Pope John Paul II.

Dudek added: "I've felt inspiration since the Pope's death, I can't account for it. I had met him and was really moved. It has been a devastating year for all Poles and he has been a major presence in all of our lives."

Gerrard and Owen

Gerrard, who had been pondering his future earlier in the season and was linked with great clubs like Chelsea, Real Madrid and Milan, is now certain where he will be playing next season.

Benitez had already told him that if he wanted to win honours he could do so with Liverpool. Probably Michael Owen also received the same advice but still declined and left for Real Madrid, who had another blank season.

Who knows what will happen next season? Liverpool have a first option on Owen if he decides to move.

Gerrard was full of praise for the fans who travelled in their thousands to Istanbul to support the Reds. While the anguish on their faces at half-time was evident, the joy that followed afterwards was so big that nobody can describe it. The peak was reached at the presentation of the trophy that was followed by the emotional 'You'll Never Walk Alone' tune.

Now, the big poser is whether Liverpool will be awarded a wild card to defend the trophy as champions after missing out on a top-four position in the Premier League.

It will indeed be absurd to deny a club the right to defend an honour they've just won. UEFA would surely be criticised if they were to leave the holders out of the competition.