OPINION
Luis Enrique has been named as the new Spain manager and it’s great new for Newcastle fans.
The official announcement follows on from a worrying report in the Daily Star over the weekend that claimed Rafa Benitez had been added to the shortlist of candidates for the job.
There’s no need to mince words here – if Benitez had left Newcastle it would be a fully-fledged disaster.
The loyalty that he’s shown to Newcastle, in the face of completely testing conditions at St James’ Park, and little money to work with, is nothing short of incredible.
It’s no wonder that he’s seen as a God in Newcastle but there was a feeling that the Spain job might have been a temptation that would have persuaded him to move.
Since Benitez brought Newcastle back up to the Premier League by winning the Championship, he’s over-achieved and got the very best out of a squad of players that aren’t good enough to be challenging at the top of the table.
There are some hints of good news to come, with Kenedy reportedly close to another season-loan loan.
However, Benitez staying for at least another season would crown any signing they will make the summer, unless they find a striker for less than £20million who can guarantee them 20+ goals in the league.
That’s unlikely but it’s looking way more likely that Benitez will stay after the news about Enrique was announced. And with Benitez at the helm, we would imagine that Newcastle will coast to another solid mid-table finish in the Premier League.
And that is the best news that Newcastle fans can reasonably expect this summer, with Mike Ashley still in control of the club.
