Rafa Benitez has hinted that he was approached by Newcastle United to replace Steve Bruce as the club’s manager following the takeover last year. The former Magpies boss was the most popular choice among a large proportion of the Toon Army but his contract with Everton, at the time, put paid to any chance of a sensational return.
He remains a much-loved figure at St James’ Park for the role he played during arguably the club’s lowest moment under Mike Ashley. In an interview with Alan Shearer in The Athletic, the pair alluded to the fact he was in the running for the manager’s job after Bruce’s departure.
After Shearer claimed that ‘a speculative call went out to Rafa or people close to him’, Benitez responded by saying: “The directors of Everton were worried about what the press were saying, but I told them, ‘Listen, if I give my word, I will try to do my best until the end.’
