I haven’t written something personal on this site since Newcastle United nearly got relegated last in the 2014/2015 season. But Rafa Benitez has ignited a personal passion.
Not many managers would go from Real Madrid to Newcastle United. At least, not in this day and age. The last to do something like it was Kevin Keegan when he left Manchester City, only to be mistreated by management and then stepped down.
Of course, Rafa knows the history of what happened then. He was in the Premier League at the time. And who would have thought that would be the club Benitez would join nearly ten years later? Especially when he is one of the most decorated managers in the history of the game.
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Do we have to rehash the resume of the Spaniard? Valencia, Liverpool, Inter, Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Napoli. Sure, he was sacked after a falling out with Inter management, and Real Madrid’s league form had dipped but third place isn’t that bad. Some would say the manager’s best years are behind him, and are left in that 2004-2010 span at Liverpool.
His time at Real Madrid will be looked at as a failure by many, but for us Newcastle fans, we believe it builds character. Heck, Benitez could have done worse. Just look at what Louis Van Gaal has done to Manchester United. Sometimes things just don’t work out, you go your separate ways and you thrive. Perhaps this is where Benitez belongs. English football.
But still, Newcastle United are never linked with top players or managers. If they are, I kindly remind people that there are such things as liars. And I only take them as they are…rumors. I didn’t take the Benitez rumors seriously. I thought the club was sticking with Steve McClaren, who I felt had a vision, but did not have control over the players to enact that vision.
Following the news, I felt like everything was going to be okay. I got so excited I nearly cried when I found out that the Rafael Benitez was going to be managing Newcastle United. I’m young. I don’t remember excitement under Sir Bobby Robson. I was two when he joined the club and seven when he left.
You know what that means. I only remember the horrendous battles against relegation, and players that don’t seem to give a damn. Seeing Benitez sign on was like finally feeling what it meant to love a club. That anything can happen, and even Mike Ashley can do someone right for once.
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I was dead certain that the club would escape relegation, and when that didn’t happen, I felt like Benitez would leave the club for dead. I thought he only joined for the challenge of fighting relegation and preventing it, which would have definitely made him a great legend.
But no, Benitez is remaining with the club through the darkest time since 2009. Which ironically was the year that Sir Bobby Robson died. The loss of a legend, and relegation to the Championship. The great Newcastle manager never saw his success replicated.
Rafa Benitez, the only manager in history to have won the UEFA Cup, UEFA Super Cup, The Champions League, and the FIFA Club World Cup, is with Newcastle United in the Championship. And some say it is the downfall of a great. But I believe that it shows that Benitez is loyal to the supporters. He’s loyal to the club that he feels at home with, and I know he wouldn’t be here right now if he didn’t truly believe that Newcastle United have a chance to win something in the future.
It takes courage, to remain with a club when they fall. But to take that fall will build strength. And that strength can be used to rise. Benitez knows a thing or two about being promoted. But he’s not assuming that it’s going to be an easy task. He understands that the Championship is completely different than La Liga’s second division. Yes, Burnley would kick CD Tenerife’s ass.
With all the players considering jumping ship, it’s good see someone stand their ground and stay. And Rafa Benitez should be proud of what he has already achieved on Tyneside.
Unity.
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Unity with fans, and players. For once in a very long time, the fans have not been calling for a manager to be sacked. We loved Chris Hughton, but the love for Benitez has gone so much higher. So high that I thought there may be riots in the streets in Benitez was let go.
Benitez is a true Toon hero.