Just two months after being sacked by Real Madrid, Rafa Benitez seems to have secured himself a new job.
Reports from the Daily Mail and Spanish outlet As suggest that the former Liverpool boss will take over as Newcastle's new manager, hoping to steer the team to safety after nine months under Steve McClaren. The Magpies are currently ranked 19th in the Premier League, one pont behind Sunderland.
Speculation about McClaren's future kicked off after Newcastle's 3-1 defeat against Bournemouth. The under-fire boss was scheduled to have a meeting with some of the team's top executives, but the meeting ended up being cancelled. McClaren was pictured outside the team's training facility at Darsley Park sporting a gloomy look, maybe as a sign of things to come.
Newcastle has only been able to win seven games out of a total of 31 with McClaren as coach.
Benitez's agents are currently holding talks with Newcastle's board to seal the final details of the Spanish manager's contract. According to a report by As, Benitez would return to the Premier League with a three-year contract, which could mean he will keep coaching the Magpies even if they can't avoid relegation this season.
The former Real Madrid boss, who left Los Blancos back in January, will have to focus especially on the team's defensive skills, as the black-and-white side have conceded 56 goals in all competitions. If the deal is sealed in the next 24 hours, Benitez would make his debut against league-leaders Leicester City on Monday.
This would be Benitez's third experience coaching a Premier League side, following his successful period as Liverpool's boss. His most recent managerial job in the EPL came on the 2012-2013 season, when he took over as Chelsea's manager.
