CREDIT: NICO_CAMPO / ISTOCK EDITORIAL / THINKSTOCK
Newcastle's new manager, Rafael Benitez may be the fi rst manager in Premier League history to take over a relegation zone club in March and survive in the league.

In one of the least surprising staffing decisions made by a Premier League club in recent memory, Newcastle United have parted company with noted failure and all around schmuck Steve McClaren. Column inches have already been devoted to just how uninspiring his time in charge of the club has been, and his sacking was a matter of when, not if. Why the board decided to draw out the process is anyone’s guess, but owner Mike Ashley isn’t exactly known for doing things in a logical fashion.

However, he may have finally made a proper decision with a move that has the potential to shift the tide of the relegation battle in their favour, with the appointment of Rafael Benitez as McClaren’s replacement. With the club facing the drop, acquiring a manager of such prestige was an unexpected coup for Newcastle, with Benitez having proven himself on some of the biggest stages in football.

Newcastle is a big club, with huge support and big expectations. But Benitez has managed Liverpool, Chelsea and Inter Milan. He most recently managed Real Madrid, arguably the biggest club in the world. He’s been there, done that and the pressure he will feel from the Newcastle fans won’t phase him. In 2005, he won the Champions League with a relatively mediocre Liverpool side, before that he won La Liga with Valencia in two consecutive seasons. He is used to motivating teams to punch above their weight and that is just what Newcastle United needs right now.

At the time of writing, the team is a solitary point from 16th place, currently occupied by their local rival Sunderland, who just so happen to be their next opponents.

If their new manager can properly use his first full week with the team and lead them to a win in the derby, they will all of a sudden find themselves two points above the relegation zone. Their remaining matches put them against three of the bottom six, which could give them the opportunity to claw their way to safety. A trip to Benitez’s former club Liverpool will surely prove to be an interesting affair, with Newcastle earning a surprise victory against the Reds in the reverse fixture. Though he will be leading the opposition, Benitez can expect a warm reception from the Anfield crowd, who still hold him in high regard for his time in charge.

If he can lead the club to safety, he will be the first manager in Premier League history to take over a relegation zone club in March and survive in the league. A much publicized clause in his contract that allows Benitez to walk away if the club is relegated shows just how tough the task ahead of him is. His resumé is impressive, but he happens to have little experience competing at the bottom of the table. The new challenge that he is facing will be a true test of his managerial credentials, and he will become a hero at Newcastle if he can save the club from another stint in the Championship.