Rui Faria is a candidate being considered for the vacant Newcastle United manager’s role, according to journalist Duncan Castles.
The Sunday Times correspondent revealed that the former Manchester United assistant manager under Jose Mourinho is in the running to take over at St James’ Park.
Speaking on The Transfer Window podcast, Castles said: “There has also been an approach to the former Manchester United and Chelsea, Porto, Real Madrid, Inter assistant manager Rui Faria.”
“Very much fits into that category of young, talented coaches – he would actually be the most experienced of all of them.”
The 44-year-old has recently taken his first role in management, in charge of Qatari side Al Duhail, where he has overseen 13 matches with a point per game average of 1.77. [Transfermarkt]
As mentioned, Faria has worked closely with Mourinho in the past, assisting the Champions League winner in 156 matches in English football.
OPINION
It is slowly getting to the point where it is hard to believe who is in the running for the job and who isn’t. Faria holds many attributes that will no doubt impress senior officials at St James’ Park and has won nearly every major competition Europe has to offer during his time with Jose Mourinho. This link could see the Magpies reignite their Portuguese interest, with Mourinho himself already being linked with the role alongside Porto manager Sergio Conceicao. There is no doubting the fact that Faria has been there and done it, but surely Newcastle fans would prefer a manager who has more experience of being in the hot seat and delivering success as the man in charge. Winning in Qatar is much different from winning in the Premier League, and you can’t help but feel that this link has come a little too early in Faria’s management career.
