Everton boss Rafael Benitez is not said to be an option for Newcastle United as they search for a new manager, the Athletic say.
No return
Newcastle’s new owners are known to be big fans of Benitez and when they initially tried to join the club he was their first choice target.
However, Benitez is now employed by Everton which has completely changed the scenario.
The Athletic say that the Spanish boss is now off limits and rules out a fairytale return happening in the coming weeks.
That may disappoint some Newcastle supporters, as Benitez remains hugely popular at St. James’ Park.
He performed an excellent job with limited funds and with a bigger budget there is a feeling that he could be the man to get Newcastle competing again.
But it seems that Newcastle’s new owners will have to look elsewhere if they are to appoint a new manager to replace Steve Bruce.
A coveted role
The good news for Newcastle is that their new riches means that high profile bosses are sure to be interested in the job.
The Newcastle project has suddenly become one of the most exciting in football, with Amanda Staveley already outlining ambitions to win the Premier League title in the next decade.
The Magpies job, therefore, represents a huge opportunity for most managers.
And it will be interesting to see who Newcastle pick, for what is sure to be a highly coveted job.
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