Benitez 'clearing up another one of Mourinho's messes', says wife

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 3: Jose Mourinho the manager of Chelsea and Rafael Benitez the manager of Liverpool shout instructions to their players during the Champions League semi final second leg match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield on May 3, 2005 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Rafael Benitez has found himself tasked with clearing up another of Jose Mourinho's "messes" at Real Madrid, according to the Spaniard's wife.

Benitez has succeeded Mourinho, with whom he shared a particularly bitter rivalry while manager of Liverpool, as manager at three clubs after his summer appointment at Real Madrid.

Mourinho left Inter Milan after winning the treble with the Italians in the 2009-10 season, with Benitez lasting just six months as his immediate replacement.

Benitez was also one of seven Chelsea managers in the six-year period after Mourinho's first spell at Stamford Bridge, and has now jumped into the Real Madrid hot seat just two years after the Portuguese left the Santiago Bernabeu.

Speaking to Spanish outlet La Region, Benitez's wife, Montserrat Seara, says the former Napoli boss has had to "tidy up" what Mourinho has left behind at each of those clubs.

"We tidy up his messes," she said. "If you think about it, of course you end up crossing paths. There are only a few world-class clubs out there."

Montserrat Seara added the 55-year-old, who began his managerial career in 1993, is not close to considering retirement.

"I don't know if he'll ever retire," she added. "All being well, he has 20 years of football left."