---
title: "Newcastle United: Rafa Benitez ‘first choice’ for manager"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manager-news-rafa-benitez-everton-premier-league-2/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Adam Clancy"
section: "Newcastle United"
published: "2021-10-27T18:40:35Z"
modified: "2021-10-27T18:40:35Z"
---

# Newcastle United: Rafa Benitez ‘first choice’ for manager

**A source from Newcastle United has now revealed that Rafa Benitez is the Public Investment Fund’s (PIF) ‘first choice’ to become their new manager.**

### The Lowdown: Everton backlash

Benitez is of course already in the country having taken over as Everton coach in the summer, and even making promising start to life at Goodison Park.

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However, the recent poor results at home to both West Ham United and Watford, coupled up with his ties to Liverpool, has seen some supporters of the Merseyside club [turn against him](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/everton-fc-news/rafa-benitez-newcastle-premier-league-7/).

### The Latest: First choice

A Magpies source has revealed to [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-newcastle-line-up-new-benitez-move-after-surprise-twist/) that Benitez is now, and always has been, the ‘first choice’ for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium to take over from Steve Bruce.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”375684″\]

There is reportedly still a little bit of hope that the Spaniard could be persuaded to leave the Toffees, despite only joining them in the summer to replace Carlo Ancelotti, who left for Real Madrid.

### The Verdict: Dream appointment

In the eyes of many members of the Toon Army, it would certainly be a dream appointment to get Benitez back, given that he is [idolised](https://www.footballinsider247.com/newcastle-united-update-benitez-takeover/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1633610303) by them after bringing them straight back up from the Championship in first place and then finishing in the top half of the Premier League table in their first season back ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.com/rafael-benitez/leistungsdatenLigenNational/trainer/1522)).

Lauded as a [‘proven winner’](https://www.evertonfc.com/news/2181395/benitez-appointed-everton-manager) by majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri when he first became Blues boss, Benitez has a sparkling CV that has seen him win [major trophies](https://www.transfermarkt.com/rafael-benitez/erfolge/trainer/1522) at a lot of top European clubs.

Nonetheless, it would certainly be a statement by the new owners to lure him out of EFC so quickly and bring him back where he is adored.

[***In other news, find out who has now been lined up for the NUFC Director of Football (DoF) role here!***](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-news/dof-news-jason-wilcox-man-city/)