Rafael Benitez, termed as one of the most undervalued football managers in the world, had a roller coaster coaching career in his early days. The former Liverpool, Valencia, Chelsea, Napoli, Inter Milan and Real Madrid boss has won several major honours in Spain, England and Italy including the historic UEFA Champions League victory with the Reds and a couple of La Liga triumphs with Los Che. However, he has faced a number of sacks as well with Real Madrid are the latest one who axed him this year in early January after only a six-month spell with the Spanish giants.
The Spaniard ignored the downfall and decided to begin from scratch as he agreed to join relegation-threatened Newcastle United a couple of months later on a three-year contract. Despite ending the season with a six-match unbeaten run, Rafa failed to survive the relegation scare as the Magpies were demoted to Championship.
But he did not move! More than twenty years back, Rafael Benitez was struggling over his career in senior management since parting ways with Real Madrid youths. He faced consecutive dismissals with Primera División outfit Real Valladolid as well as Segunda Division side Osasuna after miserable outcomes. But since his meeting with fitness instructor Pako Ayestarán, Rafa resurrected his coaching career as two of them formed a formidable partnership over the next decade.
Rafa led Extremadura, another Segunda Division team to promotion but failed to survive more than a season in the top tier of Spanish football as they were relegated next year after finishing 17th and losing a play-off to Villarreal. Rafa quit his job and took an year out to study in England and Italy in order to enhance his managerial skills. He returned to management with Tenerife and was promoted with the Segunda Division side to the top tier. His success earned him a position as the head coach of La Liga giants Valencia and the Spaniard enjoyed years of prosperity ahead.
Surprisingly, Rafa is on a similar mission after so many years with another second-tier side (this time in English football) following his sack from Real Madrid. Newcastle United, once considered as one of the top-flight sides in England, had a massive downfall in later years.
Mike Ashley, the owner of the Tyneside outfit, spent millions to revive their fortunes but failed big time and currently banking on the high-profile Spaniard to bring back the legacy. Rafa had initial stumbles during his first season in charge in Championship football with back to back defeats against Fulham and Huddersfield Town. Since then, the Magpies have been beaten only once in next 15 fixtures and currently on an eight-game winning streak ahead of their weekend clash against Blackburn Rovers.
They are currently top of the league table, five points clear of second-placed Brighton and Hove Albion. Although his summer signings have performed spectacularly, changes in backroom are being considered as the key to their resurgence.
Mikel Antia
The new first-team coach has been acquired from the Aspire Academy in Qatar who had previous experience of playing under Rafa Benitez – initially with Real Madrid reserves and later for Valladolid. The 43-year-old Spaniard has been found as a replacement of Italian Fabio Pecchia who has returned to his country in order to take charge of Serie B side, Hellas Verona.
Antonio Gomez Perez
Perez, the other first-team coach, too, has been a long-term member of Rafa Benitez’s backroom staff. The 42-year-old Spaniard played under him for Real Madrid youth as a midfielder and later joined in as a coaching resource with Liverpool, Napoli, Real Madrid and now Newcastle.
Ian Cathro
The 29-year old was a part of former Newcastle boss Steve McClaren’s backroom staff due to his previous reputation back in Scotland and Spain. Cathro, known as an innovative thinker, has impressed Benitez with his plans and objectives, thus retained by the Spaniard as Magpie’s assistant coach.
Francisco de Miguel Moreno
The new fitness coach has replaced Alessandro Schoenmaker who has previously worked under the Spaniard in Liverpool, Inter Milan, Chelsea and Real Madrid. Fitness has been an issue for the Magpies who were dealt by several severe injury blows during previous campaigns. Moreno is on a mission to change the scenario.
Simon Smith
Like Cathro, the 53-year old Englishman is the only other resource from McClaren’s backroom staffs who has been relied upon by Benitez as Newcastle’s goalkeeper coach. The vastly experienced Englishman had previous spells with the Magpies under Ruud Gullit and Sir Bobby Robson and later during Kevin Keegan’s time.
Rafael Benitez has been successful so far and on course to turn around the Magpie’s fortune. It’s too early to predict anything, but the Spaniard has made things look easy in one of the toughest leagues as Newcastle United’s “Rafalution” is in full swing.
*Article was written prior to the game against Blackburn
