"Jose Mourinho Was Desperate For The Liverpool Job In 2004"- Danny Murphy.

By Ewah Chika.

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has revealed that current Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho while in Porto was desperate to succeed Gerard Houllier as Liverpool manager before the appointment of Rafa Benitez from Valencia in 2004.


Murphy claims Mourinho and Benitez were the only contenders for the job in 2004. Benitez was later appointed based on his reputable record of winning the Spanish La Liga with Valencia despite the presence of heavyweights Real Madrid and Barcelona a feat only Atletico Madrid and Diego Simeone have since being able to repeat  as well as winning the UEFA Cup after beating Marseille in the final.

Mourinho on his own had a better record having won the UEFA Cup with Porto the previous season (2002/2003) beating Celtic and winning the Champions League and the Portuguese League with Porto in 2003/2004.

"When Benitez was appointed at Liverpool, it was between him and Mourinho . I know that for a fact. Mourinho wanted the Liverpool job massively.

"But Liverpool basically went with Benitez, because he'd just won the Spanish League and UEFA Cup with Valencia and they thought that was more solid an appointment than someone who only done it, and that time, in Portugal.

"I know that time Mourinho was massively disappointed," Murphy concluded.

Liverpool went on to win the Champions League in Benitez's debut season and a further FA Cup before his exit in 2010 and Mourinho winning the Premier League in his debut season at Chelsea which was the same year with Benitez, repeating the feat the next season before adding the  League Cup (won it twice)  and FA Cup  departing in 2008.

Murphy was later deemed surplus to requirements by Benitez upon his appointment, moving to Charlton Athletic before playing for the likes of Tottenham, Fulham and Blackburn before retiring.