Former footballer and coach of Newcastle United Alan Shearer has said he would be "amazed" if Spanish Rafael Benitez stayed on the bench of the club, which has fallen from the English Premier League (EPL) and will play in the Championship next season.
The northern England side was on Wednesday relegated to the Championship, the second tier of English soccer, after Sunderland defeated Everton 3-0, standing at 17th place and keeping Newcastle, Norwich City and Aston Villa in the relegation zone.
"A guy of great stature, a world-renowned coach with his CV, managing in the Championship? I can't see it happening. I'd love to be wrong. It would be brilliant if he was to stay," Shearer told BBC Radio on Thursday.
"I know it's a huge football club and I know he's been very impressed with how the fans have taken to him, but I'd be amazed if he stayed. I'm sure he'll have loads and loads of offers, not only from the Premier League but from around the world," added Shearer.
Benitez came to the Magpies last March to replace English Steve McClaren, but in nine games on the bench in St. James' Park he has not managed to avoid relegation.
The Spanish coach, 56, signed a three-year contract with Newcastle but added a break clause if the team fell to the second division.
--IANS
pur/vt
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app