Newcastle United goalkeeper Rob Elliot has admitted his surprise that ex-Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez took the job as manager.
The Spaniard took over the job after Steve McClaren was sacked earlier this month by the north East side after a poor string of results.
Benitez’s first game in charge was a disappointing loss at the King Power Stadium to Premier League leaders Leicester City, leaving the Geordie side a point adrift of 17th place north East rivals Sunderland.
The two side’s face each other at the weekend in the Spaniard’s first fixture as boss at St James’ Park, and Elliot believes, as reported by the Chronicle Live, that United must ‘make the most’ of the opportunity they have been provided having Benitez as boss.
“If you had said to me a couple of weeks ago that Rafa would be our manager, I’d have probably laughed.
“But it’s a fantastic opportunity for the players and this football club to move forward with Rafa in charge.
“We just need to make sure that, one we stay in the division, and two he’s our manager for the next few years to build and take us to where we want to be.”
Benitez was sacked as Real Madrid boss earlier this season, replaced by club legend Zinedine Zidane and took a break from managing before the role at the north East side became available, making it his third spell in English football after famously managing both Liverpool and Chelsea to European successes.
