I started a revolution when I took over at Liverpool - the Premier League hasn’t been the same since

Former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez believes he started the Spanish revolution in the Premier League.

Benitez replaced Gerard Houllier as manager of the Reds in June 2004, becoming the first Spaniard to manage in the Premier League. During his first transfer window, Benitez convinced Steven Gerrard not to join Chelsea and signed a number of players, including Spain duo Luis Garcia and Xabi Alonso.

Garcia and Alonso were not the only Spanish players to sign for Liverpool under Benitez. Pepe Reina, Fernando Torres, Alvaro Arbeloa and Albert Reina were among the others Benitez moved over from La Liga to the Premier League, with most of them becoming instant successes.

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When Benitez joined Newcastle in March 2016, he followed a similar blueprint and signed a host of Spaniards. Jesus Gamez, Javier Manquillo, Joselu and Mikel Merino were the four stars from Spain he moved across. Although Ayoze Perez was signed before he came in, he transformed him into a steady Premier League player.

"There was a time when the Spanish player did not adapt to the Premier. In the 2004/05 season we opted for players like Xabi Alonso, Luis García, Fernando Torres and Reina, who paved the way for others," Benitez said in an interview with AS.

"At Newcastle, years later, in a newly promoted team with a fairly low budget, we brought in Merino and Joselu, who joined Ayoze. We didn’t discover them, but we did bet on them and that opened the door to the Premier League for many players and coaches."

Many top Spanish stars have played in England. Santi Cazorla spent six years at Arsenal and is renowned as one of the most gifted players in Premier League history. The same can be said for Juan Mata, who played for Chelsea and Manchester United, and ex-Manchester City maestro David Silva.

Cesc Fabregas, David de Gea and Diego Costa are among the other high-profile players from Spain who have donned the Premier League.