Newcastle Toons
Fansided

Newcastle United’s 2010-2019 Manager of the Decade

By Carson A Merk

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - JANUARY 19: Newcastle United fans hold up a Rafael Benitez, Manager of Newcastle United banner prior to the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Cardiff City at St. James Park on January 19, 2019 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - JANUARY 19: Newcastle United fans hold up a Rafael Benitez, Manager of Newcastle United banner prior to the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Cardiff City at St. James Park on January 19, 2019 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Six men have walked the sidelines as Newcastle United manager this decade. Who is the best?

So far, we’ve selected a goalkeeper, defender, midfielder, and forward as the best of the decade for Newcastle United. Next up, we decide who was the best performer on the touchline as the Manager of the Decade.

The Candidates (League stats only)

Rafa Benitez: March 2016-June 2019, 56 wins/28 draws/48 losses, 182 goals for/147 goals allowed

Steve Bruce: July 2019-Present, 7 wins/4 draws/7 wins, 18 goals for/24 goals allowed

John Carver: January 2015-June 2015, 3 wins/4 draws/13 losses, 18 goals for/36 goals allowed

Chris Hughton: (Hired in May of 2009) January 2010-December 2010, 20 wins/10 draws/8 losses, 72 goals for/44 goals allowed

Steve McClaren: June 2015-March 2016, 6 wins/6 draws/17 losses, 28 goals for/53 goals allowed

Alan Pardew: December 2010-December 2014, 58 wins/34 draws/62 losses, 198 goals for/237 goals allowed

Expert Picks

Carson A. Merk: Rafa Benitez

This couldn’t have been anyone but Rafa. He arrived at Newcastle United with such pedigree and showed his moral character when he decided to stay with the club despite their 2015-16 relegation. Rafa helped Newcastle win the Championship in 2016-17 before guiding the Magpies to two quality finishes in the Premier League, in spite of the lack of investment and dishonesty from Mike Ashley.

Outside of stats and records, the overwhelming adoration he got/gets across Tyneside is special. He made such a huge impact on the club during his three years with the Magpies and will forever be beloved by the Toon Army.

Durim Halimi: Rafa Benitez

The impact that Rafa Benitez had on this club is unmatched by any other manager who trained the team in this decade. From earning immediate promotion to the Premier League in 2016 to earning a top ten finish in 2017, and once again earning a mid-table finish in 2018, Benitez set the groundwork for Newcastle United to succeed. Working with Mike Ashley is no easy task and it eventually led to Benitez’s departure this summer, but the success the Spaniard achieved with limited resources is impressive.

Related Story. Newcastle's Top 5 moments of the decade. light

Benitez was undoubtedly one of the most popular managers in the club’s history. Like Sir Bobby Robson and Kevin Keegan, Benitez won a special place in the hearts of the Toon Army. He earned that support because of his loyalty to the club, his ability to turn things around for the club, but primarily because he saw the potential of this club to reach new heights in England.