4 Jun 2010

Redknapp surprised by Benitez's departure from Anfield

1:08 pm on 4 June 2010

The former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp says he is surprised by the news that Rafael Benitez has left Liverpool by mutual consent after six years in charge.

The Premier League club's board signalled the 50-year-old's departure when it approved a payoff, reported by British media to be around $6.5 million, despite agreeing a five-year contract in March last year.

Benitez had a hugely successful start at Liverpool in 2004 when they won the Champions League, however they finished seventh in the Premier League in the season just ended, their lowest position since 1999.

Redknapp, who played 11 years at Anfield says Liverpool is obviously going in the wrong direction and some of the players aren't at the level they should be.

Benitez's severance paves the way for a possible move into the Inter Milan job vacated by Jose Mourinho after winning the Champions League with Inter last month.