10 Things Newcastle Fans Need To Know About Rafa Benitez

3. Trophy Success

He may not have won the Fairs Cup like his new club - mainly due to its lack of existence - but our new man in charge certainly has a more-than decent collection of winners medals. In his early days with Valencia, he led the Oranges to two La Liga titles. The second top-spot finish came as part of a season double, with his side beating Marseille 2-0 to lift the UEFA Cup in Gothenburg. This success allowed him to leave the Spanish giants in search of a new challenge, with Liverpool his destination of choice. His success didn't dry up in England's North West, adding the FA Cup, Community Shield, Champions League and Super Cup to his haul before a blip in performances saw him head for the Merseyside exit. Next up was Italy's Serie A, replacing his arch nemesis Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan. His spell with the Italian powerhouses saw him complete another season double, winning the Supercoppa Italiana and FIFA World Club Cup. The Europa League with Chelsea soon followed, before he headed back to Italy to help Napoli lift the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana. His spell with Real Madrid failed to land him any silverware and it'll be interesting to see whether he will prioritise cups with us next year - providing he keeps us up, of course!
Contributor
Contributor

Geordie journalist with itchy feet having lived in Tenerife, France, Belfast and Australia.