Newcastle Name Benitez as New Manager

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Rafael Benitez has been named as Newcastle's new manager, following the sacking of Steve McClaren.

The former Liverpool, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Valencia boss takes over with the Magpies a point from safety with 10 games left.

Spaniard Benitez, 55, has signed a three-year contract and brought in coaches Fabio Pecchia, Francisco de Miguel Moreno and Antonio Gomez Perez.

"C'mon Toon Army. The club and I need your total involvement," he said.

Benitez was sacked in January after seven months as Real Madrid boss.

He spent six years as Liverpool manager, winning the Champions League in 2005. He also had an interim spell with Chelsea, guiding the Blues to Europa League success in 2013.

"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.

"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."

Under the former England manager's guidance, Newcastle won just six of 28 Premier League games.

Coaches Paul Simpson, Alessandro Schoenmaker and Steve Black have all left the club.

Managing director Lee Charnley said: "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."

Former Magpies defender Steve Howey told BBC Radio 5 live: "Benitez could be a fans' favourite straight away. He's got a fantastic track record.

"Sunderland seem to have done it in the last couple of seasons, changing their manager and getting a positive result.

"It's a big contrast for him. It's not that long since he was manager of Real Madrid and if things don't go well he could be playing on a horrible, windy, wet midweek game down at MK Dons."

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Benitez v Zidane Story So Far

Zinedine Zidane's appointment certainly rekindled the enthusiasm of the Bernabéu faithful, but a glance at his record so far shows that hardly anything has changed on the results front compared to the beginning of Rafa Benítez's reign.

Real Madrid dropped four points in their first six La Liga matches of the season, two at El Molinón and two at home to Málaga. They have let the exact same number of points slip in their opening half-dozen games of the second half of the campaign, only managing to secure a point at both the Benito Villamarín and the Rosaleda.

If we widen the scope to all competitions, Benítez compiled exactly the same record as Zidane has done in his first eight fixtures in the hotseat: six wins and two draws. The only difference is that the Madrid born coach had six La Liga games and two in the Champions League in this spell. The Frenchman has had one more in the league and one fewer in Europe.

The one area in which the duo's fingerprints are most visible is in terms of goals. Benítez had a better record defensively in his first eight matches in charge, in which his team only conceded once. Whereas Zidane has seen the Real Madrid net breached six times over the same period. 

On the other hand, Benítez's side 'only' scored 20 goals, while Real have notched 26 times in their first eight games on Zidane's watch.

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Zinedine Zidane Claims Castilla Focus

Zinedine Zidane has looked to temper talk of him replacing Rafael Benítez as Real Madrid manager in the wake of their 4-0 thrashing by Barcelona in Saturday’s clásico.

Benítez is under intense pressure following the defeat, just five months after taking over at the club. Zidane is currently in charge of their Castilla team and has for some time been linked with the manager’s post. However, the 43-year-old has claimed he is not interested, or ready, in taking up a promotion at the Bernabéu.

“I am coach of Castilla and Benítez of the first team. Things are fine at the moment,” Zidane is reported as saying. “I am with Castilla and if I stay at the club it is the coach of Castilla. Last year, at the end of the season, I had the feeling that I still lacked something to take over the first team.”

Benítez should remain mindful of the Frenchman’s presence, however, given he has stated on record his desire to become a manager one day, saying in an interview with the Guardian in May 2013 that he “would definitely like to run a club one day.”

Club president Florentino Pérez will speak at a press conference on Monday evening as speculation grows about the future of manager Rafael Benítez following the 4-0 home thrashing against Barcelona.

“The Real Madrid president, Florentino Pérez, will hold a press conference at 7.30pm CET this evening in the Santiago Bernabéu following the board meeting,” read a statement.

Initial suggestions in Spain claimed that Benítez is expected to keep his job, although Cristiano Ronaldo was reported by Fox Sports Italia to have issued an ultimatum to Pérez claiming either Benítez is sacked or he leaves.

After his team’s clásico humiliation, Benítez said: “We are all responsible and now we have to show unity in order to win the next game and give the fans something to be happy about, which is something we failed to do [against Barcelona]. We need to get over this result and focus on the next match as soon as possible.”

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Benitez Nearly Blowing Bubbles - Sullivan

David Sullivan has revealed that Rafael Benítez had agreed a deal to become West Ham United’s manager in the summer before Real Madrid stepped in at the 11th hour.

West Ham’s co-chairman said he approached several high-profile managers as a replacement for Sam Allardyce before capturing Slaven Bilic, but Benítez was the closest to joining.

“We were two hours from getting Benítez and then Real came in. We had agreed a contract and everything,” Sullivan said. 

“He is a top manager whatever anybody says and I think he’d have done a wonderful job for us. We tried [Jürgen] Klopp as well but he wouldn’t come because he said he wanted a break. But I’m glad with the manager we have got.”

West Ham United will make Manuel Lanzini’s season-long loan from Al Jazira Club in the United Arab Emirates a permanent deal two months earlier than planned, said Sullivan. The Argentinian midfielder, who is currently sidelined with a thigh injury, has scored four times in his 12 Premier League appearances for West Ham this season.

“The contract we have is 100% watertight. We have until April to make it permanent but we’ll probably do it before the due date,” said Sullivan. “He is a fantastic player and a fantastic man. By February or March, he will be a permanent West Ham player.

“He could be a top, top, top player. He’s already sensational and he could be as good as any player in the world.”

Sullivan also heaped praise on the injured Dimitri Payet, who has gained many admirers for some eye-catching performances for West Ham, having been directly involved in nine goals in his 12 league appearances. 

“Payet is the signing of the season. He’s the best player I’ve signed in 25 years. He’s a £30m player,” Sullivan said of the 28-year-old signed for an undisclosed eight-figure fee from Marseille.

“He’s a supreme footballer. He makes every player in our side play better. On his day, he’s world class, he’s unstoppable.”

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Real Madrid Sack Rafa Benitez

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Rafael Benitez has been sacked by Real Madrid - seven months after he took charge of the club.

The former Liverpool and Chelsea boss has lost three of his 18 La Liga games in charge, though Los Blancos were kicked out out of the Copa Del Rey for fielding an ineligible player 

Zinedine Zidane is current favourite to take over. 

Rafa Benitez joined the ranks of Real Madrid CF when he was 13 years old and played in various teams from a young boy through youth and amateur teams until the age of 20, winning among other titles the Spanish Youth Championship in 1977-78 and also runner-up in the Spanish Amateur Cup in1979-80. 

When he was involved in the Universiada in Mexico in 1979 (similar to the Olympics at university level), he sustained a knee injury that prevented him reaching the second team Real Madrid Castilla and was transferred to AD Parla, where he played 4 seasons, from 1981-1985, during which they were champions of the 3rd Division and won promotion to Second División B.

In his final season 1985-6, before retiring because of a recurrence of his knee injury, he played for CF Linares.

He was also an International player at University level with Spain on 5 occasions and participated in Mexico’s Universiada in 1979 as previously mentioned.

Coaching Career.

June 21st witnessed the unveiling of Rafa Benitez as head coach of SSC Napoli in the club sports facilities - Castell Neapolitan Volturno. 

The Madrid born coach appointed by club president Aurelio De Laurentiis was presented to a packed room of 250 journalists from around the world. The press conference was broadcast live and it's impact has been compared to the arrival of Diego Maradona decades ago. In his first season as head of Napoli, Rafa Benítez managed to lift the Coppa Italia - the fifth in the history of the Neapolitan club and the eleventh title in the personal honours of the Madrid born coach. 

The twelfth title was won after beating Juventus in the Italian Super Cup played in Qatar on 22nd December 2014.

Rafa joined Chelsea FC in November 2012 and worked hard to instil the highest standards and challenge for honours. Achievements include managing the team to victory at the UEFA Europa League Final in Amsterdam on May 15th. 

Also securing a spot in the UEFA Champions League football group stages for Chelsea FC next year and for finishing in third place of the Premier League. 

In the 2010-2011 season, Rafa Benitez had managed Inter Milan in winning the Italian Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup just six months after joining.

He spent six seasons as manager of Liverpool FC, from the 2004-05 to 2009-10. 

Before that, he spent three seasons as coach of Valencia CF SAD in La Liga (First Division), from 2001-02 to 2003-04.Imagen

CD Tenerife SAD Coach, Division 2, 2000-01 season. 

CF Extremadura SAD Coach, 2nd and 1st Division, 1997-98 and 1998-99. 

Club Atlético Osasuna Coach, Division 2, 1996-97. 

Real Valladolid SAD Coach, 1 st Division, 1995-96. 

Real Madrid B Coach, Division 2, 1993-94 and 1994-95 season, as well as Assistant First Team Coach Real Madrid CF, La Liga First Division (93-94). 

Real Madrid U-19 coach and Assistant Coach Real Madrid B, Division 2, 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons. 

Coach of Real Madrid Juvenil "A" and half the 1990-91 season as coach of Real Madrid U-19. 

Coach of Real Madrid Juvenil "B", 1989-90. 

Three seasons as coach of Castilla Youth "B" from 1986-87 to 1988-89.

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Valencia v Real Madrid - Preview

Gary Neville has dismissed suggestions his previous encounters with Rafael Benitez provide an advantage for Valencia in Sunday's home Primera Division fixture with Real Madrid.

Neville played for Manchester United throughout Benitez's six-year reign at Liverpool which began in 2004, and also spent six years as a team-mate of Real's key player Cristiano Ronaldo from 2003.

Neville is still looking for his first win as Valencia head coach after losing 1-0 to Villarreal on New Year's Eve and expects to find few similarities with the Real side coached by Benitez now and the Reds team he came up against regularly in the Premier League.

"It's a big match, an important match, playing against Real Madrid in any season is obviously an important match," Neville told the Spanish media after the Villarreal game.

"It's a key match, but (Villarreal) was a key match.

"If we play like we did in the second half (against Villarreal) it gives us a great opportunity. It's a key match but not anything more than Villarreal was.

"It's a very, very different Rafael Benitez team to the one he had at Liverpool. The one he had at Liverpool was obviously a very good team also, but it was a lot more rigid in the way in which it played, even though it had excellent individuals.

"I don't think the lessons of playing against a Benitez team in the past are going to help me or hinder me. I don't think it helps me knowing Rafa Benitez and his style at Liverpool versus playing against Real Madrid on Sunday.

"The team at Liverpool is completely different to the Real Madrid of today."

Anything but victory for Real will likely further increase the pressure on Benitez, which has gradually been building despite them scoring 13 goals in their past two games. Los Blancos currently trail league leaders Barcelona by two points.

His departure would come as little surprise, but Sergio Ramos has called for a period of stability at the famously volatile club.

"At a professional level, I hope 2016 is a successful one, that we can finally reach a regularity, a balance and a stability," he told reporters in Spain.

"And that we find the best way to play, keep that going and get to the end of the season the strongest possible to win titles and celebrate with our fans."

Ramos remains an injury doubt having missed Wednesday's 3-1 defeat of Real Sociedad. Fellow defender Raphael Varane could return from a month out with a thigh injury, as could Dani Carvajal after a similar problem.

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Benitez Unbeaten and Unbowed

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Rafael Benítez praised Cristiano Ronaldo for carrying Real Madrid “on his back” after the forward scored twice in a scrappy win over Real Sociedad that helped ease the pressure on his manager.

Ronaldo opened the scoring from the spot shortly before half-time having skied a penalty earlier in the half. Bruma levelled just after the break, but Ronaldo put the hosts back in front with an impressive swivelled volley to make it 57 goals in 57 games in 2015. The Madrid substitute Lucas Vázquez sealed the points late on, arriving in the box to control a Gareth Bale cross and finish neatly.

“I have congratulated Cristiano and everyone else because they all united today,” said Benítez. “He took responsibility after missing the penalty and carried the team on his back.”

Madrid went into the game having scored 22 goals in their past three games after thrashing Getafe 4-1, Malmo 8-0 and Rayo Vallecano 10-2. Yet reports that Benítez’s job was at risk gathered pace over the Christmas period, and in his pre-game conference the former Liverpool and Chelsea manager denounced the stories, talking of a “campaign” against him, the club and the president Florentino Pérez. 

After the latest victory Benítez rejected suggestions he could have lost his job had the Basques not been beaten.

“I don’t feel that’s the case, I’m now focusing on the next game,” he said. “Madrid controlled the game apart from for 10 minutes. We had chances but we didn’t take them and then the team reacted [to Sociedad’s equaliser] phenomenally. I can only congratulate the players as this means we can look forward.”

Benítez also insisted he was unmoved when fans in the Bernabéu booed his name when it was read out before kick-off and again when he brought off James Rodríguez for Mateo Kovacic. “It’s my responsibility to get the best out of the players we have on the bench, they all did a good job and their fresh legs helped us,” he said. “We’re happy when we win and that’s all we want, to win games and win trophies. We’re going in the right direction.”

Vázquez played down the significance of the booing. “The crowd have the right to applaud and to boo us,” said the 24-year-old. We just need to keep doing what we’re doing and keep winning games.” 

The Madrid director Emilio Butragueño reaffirmed the club’s belief in Benítez, insisting their faith in the Spaniard was “absolute”. 

But Eusebio Sacristán, the Sociedad coach, was left lamenting three penalty decisions which did not go his side’s way. “I don’t know if that’s down to coincidence or bad luck,” he said. “But it has happened before with this referee and it’s a real shame.”

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Relaxed Rafa Faces Midweek Real Test

Real Madrid manager, Rafa Benítez, has claimed that there is a campaign against him and the club and that the team is not playing as badly as is being made out before their clash with Real Sociedad in La Liga on Wednesday.

Speculation has been rife in the Spanish capital over the future of Benítez who has failed to win over many fans with his team’s results and style of play this season.

“There is a campaign against [the president] Florentino [Pérez], Real Madrid and me,” said Benítez. “Everything is criticised that can be and where not it is manipulated which anyone can see. This is particularly clear if you look at the situation from the outside.”

Real face Sociedad on the back of a crushing 10-2 win over Rayo Vallecano but the result was distorted by two sendings-off for the visitors who looked strong early on and held a 2-1 lead.

Although they have scored freely against the more modest sides, Real have generally been unable to beat stronger opponents and a humiliating 4-0 loss to Barcelona last month was particularly damaging for Benítez.

Real are two points off the joint leaders, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, with 33 points from 16 games, but the Catalan side have a game in hand after playing in the Club World Cup.

“Everything is being magnified and I have a lot of experience coaching so I know to be distracted as little as possible,” Benítez said. “I have 24 players in the squad but when I leave out one player then it is made out that it is something personal and a load of speculation is built up. The team is a lot better than people think.

“My relationship with the players is infinitely better than what you read in the press. There is a communications department that keeps me informed. The team is doing some things well and others not so much.”

Benítez said he was able to relax over Christmas which he spent with his family in northern England where he used to manage Liverpool.

“It was calm. I had a short holiday as we are playing again on the 30th,” he said. “Fortunately, the English press do not exaggerate as much and so it was relaxing with the family and concentrating on how to beat Real Sociedad and win trophies this year.”

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