Newcastle United: Rafa Benitez’s passion has been present for decades

Newcastle United’s manager leads by example, and that dedication is inspirational.

Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez has shown a remarkable dedication and passion for his job for a long period of time, with stops at Valencia and Liverpool showcasing those qualities long before arriving on Tyneside. But in a recent interview with The Times, the Spanish tactician offered up wonderful stories from his past that illustrate just how hard he works at his craft.

Newcastle’s boss was active in the media this past week, and spoke to several news outlets while his side are currently on a break in Premier League play. The 57-year-old revealed that coaching is not something that he picked up later in life, but instead has been a part of his routine for decades.

“When I was 12, my team won the championship for schools in Madrid. At 13, I went to Real Madrid and started taking notes. I was giving marks to my team-mates after every game, writing down the top scorers.”

Benitez also hinted at the frustrations that can come with the position, but is certainly “proud” of what has been accomplished at St. James’ Park since he signed on in 2016 to lead the Magpies.

“Have I enjoyed being Newcastle manager? I enjoy it when we are winning.”

Motivation towards success

In this well-written and engaging interview, Newcastle fans are privy to how much of Rafa Benitez as an individual is invested in the club. He speaks of long days and even longer nights studying film and creating tactics, all in the hopes of driving the Toon higher up the table.

It is a part of who he is, and it is refreshing to hear some of his takes on what he looks for out on the pitch.

“I can hear when you are kicking the ball properly or not, just from the sound. I like to see players, watch them. That human part is crucial.”

In an age where Football Manager progress can be listed on a person’s CV, it makes me immensely happy to see a manager focus on the human element of the game, the intangibles that are not tracked digitally.

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Newcastle United and Rafa Benitez continue on their journey together. One thing that is guaranteed is that the Toon manager will be giving maximum effort.