Soccer:Rafael Benitez was confirmed as the new Inter Milan coach today and is charged with the tough task of following on from last season's stunning treble success under Jose Mourinho. The Spaniard, who last week ended his six-year spell at Liverpool, has penned a two-year deal with the European, Serie A and Italian Cup champions.
"Inter welcome Rafael Benitez," the club said in a statement, adding the new coach will hold his first press conference as new coach next Tuesday.
Mourinho quit for Real Madrid in the wake of Inter's Champions League triumph last month, having become disillusioned with Italian football.
Inter acted quickly to tie up Benitez, who won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005 and reached the final in 2007.
Club president Massimo Moratti first targeted England boss Fabio Capello but when the Italian decided to stay until Euro 2012, attention turned to Benitez when he left Liverpool.
The 50-year-old Spaniard knows plenty about Serie A having visited for European games with Liverpool and faced Inter's city rivals AC Milan in both his Champions League finals.
He already speaks Italian, which went down well with the country's demanding reporters, and his love of tactics will endear him to the many Serie A fans.