Rafael Benitez will be a tough act to follow at Newcastle United, no matter who is appointed as his successor at St James’ Park.
That’s according to lifelong Magpies fan and former England cricketer Steve Harmison, who told talkSPORT even Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp would struggle to step into the popular Spaniard’s shoes.
The club have confirmed Benitez will depart his role as manager at St James’ Park when his contract expires on Sunday, having failed to agree a new deal with Mike Ashley.
The news was met with outrage by the Toon Army, who vented their anger at their loathed owner and his running of the club.
Many have vowed not to renew their season tickets for the forthcoming season and not to buy any club merchandise in protest of Ashley’s regime.
A host of big names have been linked with replacing Benitez in Tyneside, with Jose Mourinho a surprise candidate with the role.
But Harmison highly doubts that will happen, and put forward another man for the job.
“It’ll be very, very difficult to follow Rafa, no matter who comes in,” the St James’ Park regular said on Tuesday’s Sports Breakfast.
“You could have Pep Guardiola with Jurgen Klopp as his number two, but on August 11 against Arsenal the Newcastle fans are going to be singing ‘Rafael Benitez’, and rightly so.
Mike Ashley’s worst decisions at Newcastle, ranked by Steve Harmison
5. Upsetting legends Shearer and Keegan
4. Alan Pardew’s eight year contract (which still has a year left)
3. Joe ‘f**king’ Kinnear
2. Changing the stadium name from St James’ Park to Sports Direct Arena
1. Letting Rafa Benitez leave
“They did not want him to leave. He was their saviour. He was the only positive thing they’ve had about this whole Newcastle mike Ashley Regime, that if Mike goes and when Mike goes, we’ve still got a world class manager.
“Now that’s gone.
“I fear for the next man, unfortunately. Out of no fault of his own, it’s going to be a rocky road.
“Who do we want? Mourinho is favourite, but there’s no chance of that. If we can’t keep Rafa Benitez we’ve got no chance with Jose Mourinho.
“I’m not having a go at Jose, but the remit of Rafa was you could only sign young players, but Mourinho wouldn’t buy young players, nevermind play them, so there’s no chance he will come in.
“Then you’ve got Garry Monk, David Moyes, I don’t even know who Anthony Hudson is, and Avram Grant? It gets worse!
“There’s no way Sean Dyche or Eddie Howe or would leave their clubs to come.”
Harmison believes the job is made for a younger, less experienced manager, and believes former Magpie Lee Bowyer would be a perfect choice.
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He added: “Further down the list you’ve got Mikel Arteta and Patrick Viera. For me it would be between them, a young manager coming through.
“I’ll chuck another one in, someone who used to play for Newcastle. He took Charlton from second bottom of League One to the Championship, galvanised the club and played decent football – Lee Bowyer. He knows the club.
“Someone like Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard – players who have just come out of the game, they are the kind of appointments fans would put up with.”