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2 months ago
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Between June 2015 and March 2019, Rafa Benitez was one of five managers appointed by Real Madrid.
Nothing that unusual in that, as managers rarely last long there.
From June 2003 onwards, Real Madrid have made 17 managerial appointments.
Rafa Benitez must always wonder what would have happened if he hadn’t approached Newcastle United and declared his interest in the job, initially taking on a pretty hopeless looking relegation fight in March 2016, after Mike Ashley and Steve McClaren had done so much damage.
Rafa Benitez said it was the Newcastle fans who convinced him to stay and sign a three year deal in summer 2016 despite facing second tier football. However, once again the NUFC fans showed their faith and backing in Rafa Benitez, creating modern day records of support in the second tier, filling St James’ Park match after match and averaging over 51,000.
Promotion instantly achieved as champions and then Mike Ashley went back on promises made to Rafa Benitez.
Having rescued Newcastle United and then kept them in the Premier League via budget signings, Ashley eventually forced Rafa Benitez out at the end of his three year deal and then paid £3m compensation to Sheffield Wednesday to get his preferred type of stooge/patsy in again, in the shape of Steve Bruce.
A sliding doors moment for Rafa Benitez, as if the takeover had happened earlier, even during the two years after Ashley forced him out, it was very likely the new owners would have had the Spaniard as their first choice.
By October 2021 however, Rafa Benitez had already disastrously (for him) made the terrible decision to go to Everton.
This compounded the previous disaster of going to China, a poor decision made impossible to succeed in any way, once Covid came along.
Taking on minnows Celta Vigo was always going to be a tough ask in June 2023 and a season-long relegation struggle for the La Liga ended for Rafa Benitez with the sack in March 2023.
The question of which club, if any, next for Rafa Benitez?
I have thought for some time that Rafa would perfectly suit a Director of Football post at a major club these days but the former Newcastle United boss adamant he wants another go at Premier League management, saying he has already turned down half a dozen offers as they weren’t the right ‘project’ for him…
Rafa Benitez speaking to ‘Stick to Football’:
“I am thinking about taking a job in the Premier League.
“I had offers, trust me.
“I had five or six offers from teams at the bottom of the table.
“I am realistic.
“I have the passion, I have the knowledge, I have the experience, so I can make a difference.
“And the methodology.
“I like to be on the [training] pitch coaching players and improving players.
“Anthony Gordon is one of the examples [when at Everton].
“We can improve players and make things happen.
“But there are not too many [job offers at the top of the table]…
“Then the teams in the middle of the table, bottom of the table, they start firing managers and then you have to make a decision.
“I want to coach in the Premier League and that this team at the bottom of the table is coming with a project.”

 
