Rafa Benitez connected with the fans of Newcastle in a way not seen since Kevin Keegan... his exit undoes three years of progress in an instant

  • Rafa Benitez will officially leave his post as Newcastle manager on Sunday 
  • The Spaniard failed to agree a new contract with the club's owner Mike Ashley 
  • The 59-year-old has spent just over three years in charge of the Magpies 
  • Fans were left furious after learning Newcastle would not retain his services 

By Tom Bore For The Daily Mail

Published: | Updated:

Three years of progress undone in an instant.

It is incredibly disheartening that we will never see what this club could have become under Rafa's leadership.

This is a man who connected with the fans in a way not seen on Tyneside since Kevin Keegan.

Newcastle fans will now never see what the club could have become under Rafa Benitez

Newcastle fans will now never see what the club could have become under Rafa Benitez

Not only did he pull off two miracles in keeping us up but he had grand plans to radically overhaul the club's academy and improve the training facilities, too.


Sadly, his ambition was never matched by Mike Ashley.

If Steve McClaren was backed handsomely by the club, then why refuse to provide for Rafa whose list of honours is far greater?

Monday's decision will not be forgotten - or forgiven - by the Geordie faithful anytime soon.

Supporters grew to love Benitez after he retained Premier League status against all odds

Supporters grew to love Benitez after he retained Premier League status against all odds

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