On March 11, 2016, Newcastle United officially announced former Real Madrid manager Rafael Benitez as their new manager on a three-year deal after parting ways with Steve McClaren. This announcement was met by mixed reactions on social media as some fans thought that the former Liverpool boss deserved a better job than managing a relegation-threatened side in the Premiership. Some section of fans, however, believed that by managing such an underperforming club, it would reveal the true managerial potential of the Spanish tactician.
The English club broke the news through its official Twitter handle:
BREAKING: Rafa Benítez confirmed as Newcastle United manager https://t.co/O4V9NssMqz #NUFC pic.twitter.com/ywlGb16vTJ
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) March 11, 2016
Rafa has been without a club since parting ways with Los Blancos on January 4, 2016 and had been linked with a move back to the Premier League, but obviously at a big club, probably bigger than his former side Liverpool. To the surprise of many fans, the experienced manager is now tasked with the challenge of raising Newcastle out of the relegation zone.
Where did McClaren go wrong? Find out here!
The Toons sit at the second-last position in the Premier League table with 24 points. However, the journey out of the red zone looks possible given the fact that Sunderland have 25 points, and sit one place above the drop zone. Considering the one-point difference, the Spanish tactician could turn things round but first things first, here are some of the reactions on Twitter:
Imagine starting the season at real Madrid and finishing it at Newcastle lol
— Reevey (@Reevey1998) March 11, 2016
I'll be amazed if Rafa keeps Newcastle up
— Ballo (@DomGFCBallard) March 11, 2016
So we sign a champions league manager and everyone is hating us, not bad for a little team up north. I love Newcastle United.
— Chris (@_ck248_) March 11, 2016
Bet every Newcastle fan has a hard on rn
— Jmarsh (@Jmarsh72) March 11, 2016
Newcastle are still going down. Allardyce is made for Premier League survival
— Jack Prentice 杰克普伦蒂斯 (@JPrentice8) March 11, 2016
Feels a direct face-off between Newcastle and Sunderland for relegation...
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) March 11, 2016
What makes Newcastle think that Rafa Benitez will get them out the predicament they're in? If I were them, I'd go for Nigel Pearson.
— Peter Schmeichel (@Pschmeichel1) March 11, 2016
The final line from Rafa Benitez's NUFC statement: it feels like the least likely Rafa sentence of all time ... pic.twitter.com/wbid0xmUdk
— Sam Wallace (@SamWallaceTel) March 11, 2016
Match details, result and original broadcast info
Leicester City 1 - 0 Newcastle United
March 14, 2016 4:00pmKing Power Stadium (Leicester, Leicestershire)This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
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