On August 4 2016, Rafa Benitez made a decision which is still felt at Newcastle United to this day, thanks to one player.
The Spaniard is long gone from Tyneside, but his influence on the club can still be felt in multiple areas around the club.
Rafa Benitez joined Newcastle United in 2016 and decided to stay with the club after their relegation to the Championship. Benitez was able to guide Newcastle back into the Premier League at the first time of asking, and kept them in the top flight for the next two seasons.
After leaving the club following a series of fallouts with Mike Ashley, many thought the club was doomed to fail, but Eddie Howe proved to be a saviour after joining as manager after Newcastle were taken over in 2021.
As manager, Benitez made big decisions, including transfers and promoting academy prospects. While many of those decisions have been forgotten about, there is one which is still recognised in pre-season nine years later.
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Rafa Benitez named Jamaal Lascelles club captain in August 2016
Jamaal Lascelles is Newcastle’s longest-serving player, having joined the club from Nottingham Forest alongside Karl Darlow in 2014.
The defender was loaned back to his former club for his first season, but broke into the starting XI during the 2015/16 season. He found his best form under Benitez in the latter stages of that season after stepping up and tearing into some of the club’s senior players following a defeat away at Southampton in 2016. His confidence and character made Benitez choose him as club captain for the 2016/17 season.
After being chosen as captain, Lascelles said: “It’s an unbelievable feeling for a manager like Rafa Benitez to give me the captain’s armband at a club like this.
“It is a lot of responsibility for a young player but I will always give my all because I want what is best for the team and the club.
“It is such a proud moment for me and the biggest in my career so far.
“It is nice for someone to show that much trust in you, and I want to repay the manager’s faith by leading this team back into the Premier League.”
Lascelles was only 22 at the time, but the captaincy helped him become a quality player for the Magpies in the Premier League.
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Why Rafa Benitez named Jamaal Lascelles as Newcastle United club captain
Lascelles recently returned to Newcastle’s first-team squad following an extended absence after suffering an ACL injury. His last start came in a pre-season game against Team K-League, where he wore the captain’s armband, showing that Benitez’s decision is still felt to this day.
Whether Lascelles will still be a Newcastle player next year is unknown. The 31-year-old is out of contract next summer, but his inclusion in pre-season suggests he still has a part to play in Howe’s squad.
The decision to name Lascelles club captain was a risky one, especially given his age and lack of experience. However, Lascelles has gone on to help Newcastle qualify for the Champions League and lift the Carabao Cup alongside Kieran Trippier and Bruno Guimaraes.
Talking about naming Lascelles captain in 2016, Benitez told Sky Sports: “We have a few players now in the squad who have the character to be captain but Jamaal has proven himself to be a leader and a big personality in the dressing room and on the pitch.
“At the end of last season he really developed as a character and a man. He has grown quickly and takes responsibility. He has teammates here who will help him do the right thing and he has the right mentality
“I am pleased that Jamaal will be our captain but I have also said to other players that they must too show their character, strength and leadership qualities to support the team.”
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