Rafa Benitez: from Madrid to the cusp of immortal glory on Tyneside

Football, as a sport, as a product of consumption and above all as the central feature of many people’s lives, is a game defined by pride.

That pride can take many forms, be it the adrenalin rush a player is engulfed by as they walk out to to the sound of thousands of fans on a Saturday afternoon at 2.55pm, the pride of a fan as the final whistle goes and three crucial points have been collected by their beloved side in an enthralling relegation battle, or even the pride of an owner, as the team they have invested many a million in lifts a domestic trophy, or even the accolade of a trophy from further afield in Europe.

When Rafa Benitez was appointed as manager of Newcastle United in March 2016, with the club embroiled in a relegation battle of surreal proportions, Mr Benitez knew that Newcastle were a club where pride was a prominent element of not just the club, but the city.

Under Mike Ashley’s ownership, that pride, at times, had taken considerable dents, and Benitez’s appointment came at a time where the club were at risk of slipping into the second tier. For many, Rafa found himself in a “do or die” situation – if he could keep Newcastle in the Premier League he would write himself into their history and provide a platform to take this sleeping giant of a club back to where they belong. If he couldn’t, then Rafa Benitez would be manager of a club in the second tier of domestic competition for the first time in just over 19 years in his career.

Despite Newcastle ending the 2015/16 Premier League campaign on a six match unbeaten run, including a 5-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur on the final day, Benitez’s side were relegated from the Premier League for the second time in seven years. Fingers were pointed, most notably at owner Ashley, though Tyneside remained apprehensively silent amidst the uproar of relegation – the real question being asked, was would Rafa Benitez stay, or would he go?

On 25th May 2016, Tyneside’s question was answered, and it was confirmed that Rafa Benitez would remain as manager for their Championship campaign. It was widely expected that Benitez would be departing Newcastle for pastures new, and the likes of club legend Alan Shearer were aligned with this belief.

“A guy of great stature, a world-renowned coach with his CV managing in the Championship? I can’t see it happening.

“I’d love to be wrong. It would be brilliant if he was to stay.”

Alan Shearer, May 2016

Benitez defied the assumptions of Shearer amongst others, and Newcastle retaining the services of a world-class manager whilst plying their trade in the Championship was considered to be a massive coup. Benitez was financially backed ahead of the 2016/17 campaign, predominantly through capital generated by player sales, and the club embarked on a season of considerable success. In May 2017, Newcastle won the 2016/17 EFL Championship, and in doing so made an immediate return to the Premier League after a sole season in the Championship.

The decision of Rafa Benitez to stay with Newcastle when they were relegated to the second tier was one that well and truly won over the fans. Benitez is a notoriously popular character with Newcastle’s fanbase, though as they were promoted, and questions lingered over the extent of Mike Ashley’s financial commitment to the club’s transfer dealings, questions arose once more. Was the partnership of Ashley and Benitez a compatible one for their return to the Premier League?

Amidst the uncertainty, Newcastle United released a statement, confirming that:

‘Newcastle United can confirm that a meeting has taken place between the club’s owner, Mike Ashley, managing director Lee Charnley, and manager Rafa Benítez.

It was agreed by all parties that the meeting was very positive and constructive.

Newcastle United Statement, May 2017

This was the news that every Newcastle fan was desperate to hear ahead of their return to the Premier League: they would be returning with Rafa Benitez at the helm. Though in a somewhat typical Mike Ashley-esque manner, the 2017 summer transfer window was one of considerable complication, with Benitez known to be growing increasingly agitated with Newcastle’s lack of business. Rafa had stuck with the club when they were relegated, taken them back up at the first time of asking, and now put simply: Ashley wasn’t playing ball.

In a transfer market that was admittedly bordering on outright lunacy, it was understandable that Newcastle were being priced out of some deals, though Benitez is a world-class manager, and in tandem arguably deserves world-class backing. Ahead of their return to the Premier League, Newcastle signed the likes of Jacob Murphy from Norwich (£11m), Joselu from Stoke (£5.5m), Florian Lejeune from Eibar (£10m) and Christian Atsu’s loan from Chelsea was made permanent for £7.5m. With no disrespect to the aforementioned players, I believe Rafa would’ve been hoping for more quality when Newcastle’s promotion to the Premier League was confirmed.

Newcastle embarked on their 2017/18 Premier League campaign, and after consecutive league defeats to Tottenham and Huddersfield, Benitez crafted three successive league victories over West Ham, Swansea and Stoke – the initial fears of relegation were beginning to be quashed by the Spaniard. A month to the day after Newcastle’s victory over Stoke, Mike Ashley announced Newcastle United were for sale. Joyous relief came from Newcastle’s fanbase, and rumours gathered pace of a takeover from a consortium lead by Amanda Staveley, perhaps Rafa was about to be backed financially by a new owner in January after a summer window of considerable disappointment.

Though after months of negotiations, Staveley’s takeover fell through, the two parties were reportedly too far away in their valuations of the club. The January window arrived, as did the likes of Islam Slimani from Leicester City, as well as Kenedy from Chelsea, both on loan. Ashley evidently remained keen to not spend big after declaring his interest in selling the club, and Rafa was left to work with his previous players coupled with the impetus of Slimani and Kenedy, as well as Martin Dubravka on loan from Sparta Praha.

In reality, Newcastle’s squad was never of Premier League calibre and quality – there remains promise in the likes of Jamaal Lascelles and Jonjo Shelvey, though the task Benitez was confronted with was keeping a Championship side in the Premier League. Regardless of his indisputable qualities as a manager, that is a task of immeasurable difficulty for any coach, in any league.

Benitez continued to work his magic, and after the January window closed, Newcastle went on a run including just one league defeat (to Manchester City), and yesterday, a symbol emerged of just how hard Newcastle and their manager have been working. Three points at home to Manchester United, courtesy of a clinical Matt Ritchie strike. Newcastle now find themselves in 13th place, with 28 points, and the horizon of Premier League survival is moving nearer and nearer into eyeshot.

With fixtures against Bournemouth and Southampton in their next three Premier League games, Newcastle are at a vital stage in their season, and if the Tyneside outfit are to retain their Premier League status, praise will understandably be lavished on the players, but make no mistake: Rafa Benitez is due indescribable credit for this achievement.

Benitez is now 12 Premier League points away from the promised land of ’40 points’, and with 11 games left and some winnable fixtures, this no longer looks an overly daunting task for the Spaniard.

Newcastle’s fan-base are notoriously passionate, notably full of pride for their club, but that passion and pride will combine to reach unprecedented heights in their adoration for their manager if Newcastle retain their Premier League status. Despite being a club whereby survival should be an expectation not an aspiration, the circus-like administration that has occurred under Ashley had lead to Newcastle’s fans, and by extension their manager, altering their ambitions.

Whilst Newcastle will be hoping to see the back of one of their clubs most important figures in Mike Ashley, they’ll be hoping, praying, that Benitez sticks around a little while longer, as what the Spaniard has achieved given the circumstances is admirable, but most importantly, Newcastle’s fans are certainly aware of this too.

Written by Tom Newman.