In a move that would never have possibly predicted last December, Rafa Benitez will indeed be taking to the technical area at the Pirelli stadium, home of Burton Albion, after signing-on as manager of Newcastle United for their upcoming season in the Championship.
As news emanated around lunchtime on Wednesday that Benitez was on his way to Newcastle to commit his future to the club, I, like many other Newcastle fans, simply couldn’t quite believe what was happening.
In January, when this expert tactician was appointed on the proviso of keeping the Toon up, I would like to have thought that there was a 50/50 chance that he would stay in the event of relegation. Yet did I believe it? Almost certainly not. But here we are now with Benitez agreeing to a three -year contract to be manager of Newcastle United and preparing to go to the likes of Rotherham on a cold Tuesday night.
There’s some things that you just clearly can’t call in football…
Twitter:
RAFA: The wonderful moment Rafa put pen to paper and committed his future to Newcastle United.
#NUFC https://t.co/YgGHI0Oo4Z (@NUFC)
Everywhere he’s gone in the city- shops, restaurants, hotels etc – Benitez has been touched by the friendliness of the people, rekindling special bonds he had with those on Merseyside and in Valencia. I genuinely believe it’s this, rather than footballing reasons in isolation, which has got our beloved club a manager of such calibre.
Take the final day of the season for example. We hosted Spurs after we’d already been relegated. The fans sung Benitez’ name non-stop for 90 minutes. The popular adaptation of the ‘La Bamba’ tune reverberated around Saint James’ Park generating such an atmosphere that has been lacking for many years under a failing regime.
Benitez’s post-match comments proved to be the hint of what was to come. The Spaniard spoke of how the fans had impacted him in a way that he never thought would have been possible. His heart was telling him to stay. Benitez said he would have to go away and think it through with his head, but I just had that feeling he’d stay.
A mutual affection was there for all to see. From that interview onwards there was never really a moment where I thought we’d be without Rafa come August.
In his ‘second unveiling’ as NUFC manager, if you like, there was a sign that things may be changing at this club. ‘We don’t have to sell anyone who we don’t want to,’ declared Benitez. This, just one of the signs of his role as the man who would have the overruling decision on who to buy and sell.
Benitez intends to revamp the club’s flawed transfer policy. A £12million move for proven Championship goalscorer Ross McCormack has been muted. The Spaniard already has a list of targets he intends to go for this summer, once which he’s been compiling over the last ten days at his home on the Wirral.
A complete overhaul of a failing youth system at the club. Consultation with Lee Charnley and Mike Ashley about commencing developments on the Benton training base. A high-class individual with an addiction to detail; no stone will go unturned.
I can’t stress the importance of the opportunity we now have with Rafa at the helm. I genuinely believe this man can build something special on Tyneside. The hopes of a football-mad city have been renewed by the ambition and quality of Benitez.
So, for those looking to make an exit this summer, I would say the grass isn’t always greener elsewhere…
