Rafa Benitez has been honored by the University Philosophical Society of Trinity College Dublin in a presentation this evening (Monday) and after a ceremony in front of an interested audience. The coach was awarded the Gold Medal of Honorary Patronage during the event. It has been awarded for his outstanding contribution to sport in his illustrious professional career in Spain, England and Italy. From today, along with those who have received the honour, Rafa Benitez becomes a member of the patrons of the society, known as the ‘Phil’.

Rafa also gave an address entitled, “Belief, Determination and Success” in which he spoke about the search for success throughout his experiences as a coach in the three most important leagues in Europe.

It is worth remembering that this award, with a heritage of over five centuries, is made to individuals who have excelled in public life and made a worthy contribution to society. Other recipients of Honorary Patronage include Al Pacino, Chris Blackwell, Sen. John McCain, Bob Geldof, Stephen Fry, U2 singer Bono, model Naomi Campbell, and Dame Helen Mirren. The Society is privileged to have had among its members such luminaries as Bram Stoker, Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett, George Berkeley and Sir William Petty.

Since its foundation, the Phil has consistently been a forum for the radical debate of issues that both reflect and affect society. During its long history, it has also recorded the presence of many remarkable guests, including Friedrich Engels, Karl Popper and Winston Churchill.

Patrons of the Society were traditionally those senior academics who were charged with seeing to its interests within College and protecting it from censorship and interference. Today, the Phil nominates as Honorary Patrons those select individuals whose contributions to artistic, scientific and political life demonstrate the same mix of creativity, curiosity and inspiration which have made the Society an exciting forum of debate and discussion for several hundred years.

The University Philosophical Society is the world’s oldest debating society.
It was founded in 1684 and its Senior Patron is the Provost of Trinity College.
Honorary Patrons: Al Pacino • The Most Revd Desmond Tutu • Tommy Hilfiger • Valéry Giscard d'Estaing

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