Benitez ranks Gerrard above Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema

Rafael Benitez has hailed former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard as the most complete player he has ever managed.

The Spanish tactician has placed the Englishman above other footballing greats such as Samuel Eto'o, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Karim Benzema in a statement made in an excerpt from a book focusing on Liverpool's greatest players.

He was very good at almost everything. He had endurance, dedication. He was a leader, setting an example. That’s why he was the best player I’ve ever managed. I have worked with Eto'o, Cristiano, Benzema, but he was more complete than all of them.

Benitez worked with Gerrard for six seasons between 2004 and 2010, during which time they lifted the Champions League and the FA Cup together.