🖐 Five managers who could replace Rafa Benitez at Newcastle | OneFootball

And just like that, he’s gone.

In what was one of the longest-running contract wrangles in Premier League history, Rafa Benitez finally admitted defeat and walked away from Newcastle this week.

But just who can come in and replace the Spaniard? And more pertinently – who the hell would want to work under Mike Ashley?

Here are five names to consider.

The favourite

Mikel Arteta

It was a straight shoot-out between Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta for the Arsenal job last summer and ultimately the Gunners board went for the safe option.

If Newcastle want to get over losing Benitez though, safe isn’t a word that should be coming up in recruitment meetings.

Arteta is the favourite and rightly so. Having worked under Pep Guardiola for two seasons now, he’s at the best training school there is and is now ready for a Premier League job.

The outsider

Darren Moore

Inexplicably sacked by West Brom towards the end of last season, despite almost guiding them to safety in the Premier League and then taking the Baggies to a secure play-off place, Darren Moore is highly-regarded by almost everyone in the game.

He showed a real tactical flexibility at the Hawthorns during his time there and is clearly a hit with every player he works with. It might not be the star appointment Newcastle want, but it could be the right one.

The statement

Arsène Wenger

The chances of this happening? Close to zero, we reckon. But then again, who really thought Benitez would be tempted to work under Mike Ashley?

Arsène Wenger has always said that he wants to get back into management, and what better place than at St James’ Park? He’d become an instant hit on Tyneside and could revitalise a club reeling from the loss of another of the game’s great thinkers.

The Frenchman may have gone stale at Arsenal, but in a new environment, under new pressure, he could be the manager of old.

The former player

Lee Bowyer

Despite taking Charlton back to the Championship, Lee Bowyer has left The Valley after falling out with owner Roland Duchâtelet.

Bowyer then, knows a thing or two about working miracles under terrible ownership, and having spent three years at St James’ Park as a player, will have an acute understanding of what it means to represent Newcastle.

Sometimes two plus two can make five – this though, seems to add up entirely.

The safety pick

Sean Dyche

Just what, exactly, is Newcastle’s ambition?

With the paltry amount of money they spend on transfers it can’t be Europe.

It must then, be staying in the Premier League. And if that’s the case – look no further than Sean Dyche.

He probably wouldn’t be a popular pick among Magpies fans, with his pragmatic style of play not endearing Burnley to many neutrals.

But he gets the best out of very little and would be a cast-iron guarantee of keeping the Tyneside outfit in the top division.