Newcastle United are a completely different club to the one Rafa Benitez managed.
Indeed, Newcastle fans have been on quite the journey since Benitez walked away from St James’ Park in the summer of 2019.
The Steve Bruce years to have immediately followed the Spaniard’s departure were bleak but the game changed completely in October 2021 when PIF bought the club.
Benitez was linked with a return to Newcastle during the protracted takeover saga but the timing was never right.
Eddie Howe has since taken charge and is proving one of the best managers in the club’s modern history, with more Champions League qualification and a second Carabao Cup final in two years potentially on the horizon.
Still, Benitez remains a popular figure on Tyneside, having won the Championship before keeping Newcastle in the Premier League all while having to deal with Mike Ashley.
Now, it seems the 64-year-old could be set to return to the managerial game.
Former Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez could join new club soon
Benitez has been out of work since he was sacked at Celta Vigo in March 2024.
That followed spells at Everton and Chinese side Dalian Professional, with the story now seemingly set to continue for Benitez.
According to Spanish football expert Guillem Balague on social media platform X, Benitez is among the candidates to be named the new Botafogo manager.
Santa Clara coach Vasco Matos and former Barcelona boss Tata Martino are also in contention.
Rafa Benitez saw something great at Newcastle United
Benitez was constantly talking up the size and potential for Newcastle, only for Ashley to ignore him.
While it seems incredibly unlikely to imagine the Spaniard ever coaching the club again despite all the reports a few years ago, his role in the takeover cannot be forgotten.
PIF surely wouldn’t have bought Newcastle had they returned to the Championship and it was Benitez who helped ensure that didn’t happen, albeit some credit must be paid to Bruce too.
Benitez was delighted when Newcastle qualified for the Champions League in 2023. That was the potential he saw.
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