Steven Gerrard confesses he was "surprised and shocked" Rafa Benitez took the Everton managerial post given his "legacy" with rivals Liverpool.
The Aston Villa boss also admits he is "disappointed" for the Spaniard after he was sacked by the Toffees last week, just six-and-a-half months into the job.
Benitez was unveiled as Everton boss at the end of June and last Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Norwich proved to be the final game of his calamitous tenure.
He left the Goodison Park club loitering above the Premier League relegation zone following 10 defeats in 19 games this season.
Benitez's appointment was controversial from the outset due to his heroic status across Stanley Park at Anfield. The 61-year-old won the Champions League in 2005 and FA Cup the following year during a six-year stint as Liverpool manager.
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Gerrard was club captain during Benitez's reign and the pair have a strong bond which lasts to this day, so the former England international was astonished to see him take up the Everton hot seat.
"I'm disappointed for Rafa because obviously I've got a relationship and I've got an awful lot of respect for him," the 41-year-old told reporters on Friday.
"I have to be honest, I thought it was a unique appointment at the time. I was surprised and shocked that Rafa wanted to go and have a go at that job.
"With his legacy and his relationship with Liverpool, that was a surprise.
"Obviously it hasn't worked out for whatever reasons. You'd have to be inside the club to know why, which is none of my business."
Gerrard travels to Goodison Park for the first time as a manager on Saturday as Villa take on Everton in the Premier League.
Duncan Ferguson, his former rival in the Merseyside derby, has been appointed caretaker manager as the club searches for their next permanent boss.
Fabio Cannavaro is the latest name linked with the job while Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and Roberto Martinez are also in the frame.
But that is of little concern for Gerrard, who is solely focussed on obtaining a positive result against a fired-up Everton side supported by a "cauldron-like atmosphere".
"Big Dunc will take the reins for this game and it's quite obvious what kind of reaction he'll get from the supporters and the players. "We need to be ready for that," Gerrard added.
"I think you're going to see a real cauldron-like atmosphere at Goodison. They'll be behind the team because the majority wanted a change.
"To have an iconic figure leading the team, I think it'll be pretty similar to what happened when he took over previously. The atmosphere and the support behind the team changed and he got a big reaction out of the players."
