Rafael Benítez has been appointed Newcastle United’s new manager, hours after Steve McClaren’s sacking was confirmed.
Benítez, the former Liverpool and Real Madrid manager, arrived on Tyneside on Friday morning to complete negotiations with the club and has now been confirmed on a three-year deal.
“I have the pleasure to confirm I have committed to a legendary English club, with the massive challenge of remaining part of the Premier League,” he said in a statement. “It will be a challenge not just for me and my staff but for the players, the club and the fans.
“All of us must push together in the same direction and with the same target in mind. This is the reason why I’m going to ask for your total support to successfully complete this task. Personally, it means my return to the Premier League, closer to my home and my family. I can’t be happier. C’mon Toon Army! The club and I need your total involvement!”
Benítez wasted no time settling in, cancelling a scheduled day off for his players to oversee his first training session at the club’s Darsley Park training ground.
Newcastle also confirmed Fabio Pecchia, Francisco de Míguel Moreno, Antonio Gómez Pérez will join the existing coaches Ian Cathro and Simon Smith on the staff, with Paul Simpson, Alessandro Schoenmaker and Steve Black leaving with immediate effect.
The club’s managing director, Lee Charnley, added: “I am very pleased to welcome Rafa Benítez to the club. In Rafa we have, without doubt, secured the services of one of Europe’s top managers. He has managed some of the most successful teams at the very highest level of the game and we are proud to now have him as our manager. Our sole focus now is to give our full support to Rafa, his coaching team and the players in order to secure our status in the Premier League. I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to Paul Simpson, Alessandro Schoenmaker and Steve Black for their service to the club.”
The Spaniard’s most recent coaching job, at Real Madrid, ended unhappily in January after seven months. He was sacked and replaced by Zinedine Zidane, with the club third in La Liga. Madrid suffered a humiliating 4-0 home defeat by Barcelona on his watch.
Benítez won the 2005 Champions League and 2006 FA Cup during his time in charge of Liverpool, and finished second in the Premier League in 2009.
Newcastle’s next match is on Monday, at the league leaders, Leicester City. That is followed by a derby at home to Sunderland a week on Sunday.
SOURCE: (Theguardian)
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