{"product_id":"9781399626668","title":"Season on the Brink","description":"\u003cp\u003ePRE-ORDER RISE OF THE VILLANS, GUILLEM BALAGUE'S NEW BOOK, NOW. OUT 25 SEPTEMBER'ENTHRALLING' FourFourTwo'STIRRING' Dublin Herald'FASCINATING' Red and White Kop'ASTONISHING' Bleacher ReportThe Sunday Times BestsellerTwentieth anniversary edition, fully updated with a new foreword from Rafael BenitezWhen Rafael Benitez was appointed manager of under-achieving Liverpool at the start of the 2004-05 season, the reaction of many fans was 'Who the **** is Rafael Benitez?'.  After a wonderful spell at Valencia, the Spaniard arrived to take over Liverpool's famous Boot Room, determined to change the club's fortunes and win over a disillusioned Kop. In just one season, Benitez's importation of Spanish players, coaching methods and diet led to a revolution, usurping José Mourinho's Chelsea to reach the European Champions League final in Istanbul. It was a match that would go down in history as one of the greatest of all time. At half-time, Liverpool were 3-0 down to Carlo Ancelotti's AC Milan, a team many regarded as the best in the world, filled with stars such as Paolo Maldini, Kaká and Andrea Pirlo. However, against all the odds, Liverpool produced a stunning comeback, with goals from club captain Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Šmicer and Xabi Alonso, before a dramatic penalty shoot-out saw the Reds clinch European glory. Featuring exclusive interviews with Benitez himself, assistant manager Pako Ayestarán and key first-team players, this is the behind-the-scenes story of Rafa's remarkable success with Liverpool.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Guillem Balague","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52395071275326,"sku":"9781399626668","price":351.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4357\/7662\/files\/9781399626668.jpg?v=1761180429","url":"https:\/\/exclusivebooks.co.za\/products\/9781399626668","provider":"Exclusive Books Online","version":"1.0","type":"link"}