Newcastle United will get Rafa Benitez

Steve McClaren is done folks. It’s a shame to have seen the relationship with the great manager end this way. I in no way dislike Steve McClaren as a person or head coach. He was magnificent in past years, but his tenure as Newcastle United’s head coach was just something that he could not successfully manage. Perhaps he was thrown into a tough situation, but that is still no excuse for losing three straight, and seeing Newcastle United fall into 19th place with the end of the season looming.

Believe it or not, Rafa Benitez has agreed to a deal with Newcastle United, who wish to have him manage the club come Monday when they play league leaders, Leicester City. It is no longer a matter of will they sign Benitez, but when they will announce him. There is also a question as to whether or not Steve McClaren will remain involved with the club, or if he and his entire staff are done.

It’s a swift end to a myriad of changes that were made when Steve McClaren was ushered in as the new head coach as Newcastle United hoped to enter a new era of success rather than relegation battles. We can expect Benitez to have his own plans for Newcastle United, including a new staff, and we will likely see McClaren’s coaching staff be removed, or at least stay on until contracts can be worked out with Benitez’s top choices.

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I’ll miss McClaren’s passion, but not his managing. Benitez is a proven tactician, having managed Europe’s top clubs for the better part of almost two decades. He is the only manager to ever win the UEFA Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and UEFA Cup. I’m actually surprised that he agreed to join a club in turmoil, however, he has been out of a job since January, when he was sacked by Real Madrid after seeing the club in third place. Legend Zinedine Zidane has taken over, and in fact has done a marvelous job. (Note to my higher ups: Please please please let me write about this, I promise I’ll do good)

Benitez is already a legendary manager, having lead Chelsea to stellar finishes in the past. So while McClaren was a message of intent for Newcastle United, signing Benitez must be a battle cry. The good thing here, is that Benitez is no stranger to tough fan bases. Having managed Real Madrid, Napoli, Chelsea, and one of my favorites, Internazionale, he knows what it means to manage a passionate club full of passionate fans.

Rafa Benitez has the pedigree to do right by Newcastle United fans. And his agreement to a deal will give Newcastle United one of the best tacticians in the game. His ability to use great talent, and mesh it with formation changes and strategic maneuvers will be a blessing to Russell and myself as we will get a chance to marvel at his brilliance.