The Magpies manager steered his side to three wins out of three in November, but the Toon Army fanbase appears split over the accolade.
Rafa Benitez’s superb managerial credentials have come to the fore once again as the Newcastle United head coach was named Premier League Manager of the Month for November.
The Spaniard overturned a difficult start to the campaign by steering the Magpies to three wins out of three, lifting the club out of the relegation zone.
A 1-0 victory over Watford at the start of the month was Newcastle’s first win of the season, before three-point hauls at home to Bournemouth and away at Burnley wrapped up a perfect month.
The Tyneside giants have since stumbled again, currently in the middle of a three-match winless run which has left them 15th in the table and three points above the bottom three, but they can get back on track with a win away at Huddersfield on Saturday.
Benitez’s award comes amid an uncertain period off the pitch, with Newcastle owner Mike Ashley – who has long wanted to sell the club – telling Sky News earlier in December that takeover talks are at a “more progressed stage” than ever.
Newcastle announced the news about Benitez’s accolade on their website and some Toon Army fans took to Twitter to congratulate their manager:
Some, however, alluded to the supposed ‘curse’ of the award and one even suggested it may already be in action:
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