Ex-Liverpool striker Peter Crouch reveals Rafa Benitez told him to 'rein it in' after Abbey Clancy pictures 'no one could believe'

During Crouch's three-year spell at Liverpool, he began dating the model - who, in turn, became a household name. The pair were regularly in the newspapers; something then-manager Benitez allegedly was not best pleased about, according to the former England striker.

He said on That Peter Crouch Podcast: "I remember Rafa [Benitez] told me to rein it in because Ab[bey] was in the paper and I was getting pictured with her. And he was like, 'Are you sure about this?'

"He said this is becoming a problem because people were taking pictures of us and we are in the paper and that. I think no one could believe what was going on when I was with Ab. Like how the f*** he pulled that.

"My unbelievable achievements off the pitch were perhaps overshadowing my reasonable achievements on the pitch."

Crouch joked that he was becoming more famous for the off the pitch endeavours than his on-field ones. However, he scored 205 goals over two decades, played for Aston Villa, Tottenham, Liverpool and more, and scored 22 goals in 42 England caps. Plus, he won the FA Cup in a respectable career.

While Crouch will continue to shoot his podcast and carry on his punditry work ahead of the new Premier League season, Benitez is currently looking for a new managerial job after leaving Celta Vigo earlier this summer.