As Rafael Benitez and his family prepared to start a new chapter of their life in Italy, Liverpool supporters were reminded of the humility of the man who gave them possibly the greatest night of their lives.
But Inter Milan's soon-to-be manager leaves Merseyside having left a lasting impression on Kopites young and old, arguably drawing comparisons with the late great Bill Shankly.
Of course the two do not match up like-for-like due to their varying backgrounds and the different footballing eras in which they excelled, but there are similarities as both had the best interests of the club's supporters at heart.
It is no secret that Shanks used to have to argue his case regularly for the Anfield board to loosen the purse strings to sign some of the now legendary names in the club's history such as Ian St John and Ron Yeats and Benitez did the same, albeit in different circumstances.
However Benitez was not at odds with reluctant directors from the local area who wanted the best for the club but were firm believers of Liverpool living within their financial means. Instead he was locked in conflict with American owners devoid of morals and care for the club.
Like Shankly, he genuinely cared about Liverpool's supporters as countless post-match interviews will testify and that was reciprocated by the fans who took to the streets of Anfield three years ago amidst reports that George Gillett and Tom Hicks were set to wield the axe.
His predecessor Gérard Houllier liked to think of himself as a man of the people and in many respects that was true but he made the carnal mistake of insulting fans, when he once said: "If they want to go back to the 70's & 80's they can do that but not with me."
Not once did Benitez slate the fans even when a vocal minority called for his head after the humiliating FA Cup defeat to Reading in January.
He was always happy to spend time in conversation with them about football, even taking time out of preparing for a big game to meet fans in a pub in Cologne, much like how Shanks would talk to fans who visited his house on Bellefield Drive.
Whether supporters disagreed with his media outbursts, some of his signings or even the rotation policy in the early years of his reign, no one can deny that he and his family had a natural affinity with the city of Liverpool and the football club to which it lends its name.
Yesterday, he handed over a cheque for £96,000 from his own salary to the Hillsborough Family Support Group as news broke that he had accepted the Inter job. This was not a token gesture but a heartfelt one from a man who was a passionate supporter of all things LFC.
One wild night in Istanbul will be his lasting legacy on the pitch at Anfield despite a mixed tenure but off it, like Shanks, he truly made the people of Liverpool happy.
http://www.clickliverpool.com/blogs/richard-buxton/193-he-made-the-people-happy.html
