BREAKING: Newcastle sacks Mclaren appoints Rafa Benitez

After series of poor and unconvincing results including a 3-1 home loss to newly promoted AFC Bournemouth, Newcastle United has sacked coach Steve Mclaren and appointed former Inter Milan, Chelsea and Real Madrid coach Rafa Benitez to take over affairs at
St.James Park with immediate effect.

Newcastle Managing Director, Lee Charnley with Rafa Benitez

The 55-year-old Spaniard has signed a three-year contract – understood to contain a break clause facilitating a potential parting of the ways in the summer should Newcastle end up in the Championship – believed to be worth at least four times McClaren’s old £700,000-a-year salary. He is in line for a significant bonus, believed to be in the region of £2m, if he keeps the club in the Premier League this season.

Benitez first task is away against ambitious Leicester City on Monday March 14, 2016 and six days later will face Sunderland at home for the Tyneside derby.