Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez has yet to officially leave the north east club. However, the Spaniard will leave the Magpies on 30th June when his contract expires. The Magpies now need to find somebody to fill the big void left by the former-Liverpool boss. He will be so difficult to replace, as he is a top-class manager. Here are some of the reported candidates:
Mikel Arteta
The Manchester assistant boss is current favourite to be the next Newcastle boss at odds of 11/4. The Spaniard has worked under iconic City boss Pep Guardiola for the last few seasons.
Arteta is regarded as a bright young up-and-coming coach. However, his lack of experience would be a big concern, especially as Newcastle owner Mike Ashley is not interested in spending any money on strengthening the Magpies squad.
It would be a big chance for the former Arsenal midfielder. However, it would also be a big risk for Arteta.
Roberto Martinez
The Belgian boss has emerged as a surprise candidate to be the next Magpies boss. A compatriot of Arteta, Martinez has done an excellent job in international football with an admittedly talented Red Devils squad.
Martinez has experienced mixed fortunes as a club boss. He won an FA Cup with Wigan before suffering relegation. The 45-year-old also endured a mixed three-year period at Everton before the Toffees sacked him.
Crazily Martinez was the favourite to replace Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde earlier in the summer. However, the Catalan giants decided to keep the faith in their current incumbent.
Claudio Ranieri
The experienced Italian boss has enjoyed the good, the bad and the ugly of the managerial game throughout his career. He won his first ever big trophy as a manager in 2016, when Leicester shocked the world by winning the Premier League title.
However, he failed to even last another season with the Foxes, as the side from the Midlands dispensed with his services before the end of the next campaign. He has since endured poor spells at Fulham and Roma.
His appointment would definitely split opinion amongst the fans and the club’s supporters that’s for sure.
Sergio Conceicao
Highly-rated Portuguese boss Sergio Conceicao has reportedly stated his interest in taking the Newcastle job. The 44-year-old guided Porto to the Portuguese title in 2018 and his brand of football is of the exciting variety.
In fact, many call Conceicao a tactical genius. He is certainly a boss with huge managerial acumen, despite just six years of experience as a number one. He would certainly be an interesting appointment.
Whether his ideas would translate to English football and especially a club with such a poor standard of player is unknown. He would very much be a maverick appointment.
David Moyes (yes, David Moyes)
Yes, this is not a joke David Moyes is pretty high in the betting to become the next Newcastle boss. However, surely his managerial performances since he left Everton is enough to put off any self-respecting recruiter?
No, surely the fact that he was once boss of Newcastle’s bitter-north east rivals Sunderland should end his hopes of getting the job? It should do, but you just never know in football.
Ashley likes to save his money and the former Manchester United boss could be appointed with any compensation, which is no doubt one of the criteria the Magpies are looking at in their next boss.
Newcastle unlikely to find another saviour
The current Newcastle squad is thin and low on quality. Only the managerial skills of Benitez have kept the Magpies out of the Championship in recent seasons. A complete lack of investment has stunted the club’s development.
For the sake of the fans, I really hope that they find their saviour this summer. Unfortunately, I am not sure there is anybody who can do a job on par with their outgoing boss.
Who will be the next Newcastle boss?
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