Mick Quinn has ensured that Newcastle fans understand just how hard Rafa Benitez had to work to get his side back into the Premier League.
The Magpies won the Championship title on the final day of the campaign to secure a return to the top flight and Quinn believes that Benitez had to work the hardest he’d ever worked in his career to do so – to the point that he was completely worn out.
The former Real Madrid and Liverpool boss has guided teams to league titles and Champions League history during his career but at times looked like he struggled to cope with the sheer competitiveness of England’s second tier.
Now, Quinn has reminded the fans of the harsh reality of what it took for the Magpies to get back into the top-flight.
“Rafa Benitez led Newcastle United to the title and he did a magnificent job – but I even think that division wore him out to a certain extent,” said the former Magpies striker on the Newcastle Chronicle website.
“The title-winning season took all of Rafa’s knowledge and experience to get Newcastle up.
“It’s not something I think he’d want to repeat in a hurry, even if he thrived on the challenge.”
Even though Newcastle spent a lot of money trying to get themselves back in the big time, the Magpies still only just secured the title thanks to Brighton dropping points at Aston Villa on a dramatic final day.
The Tynesiders ended on 94 points – eight fewer than what they amassed in their previous Championship campaign in 2009/10.
At times it looked as though things might not have gone to plan with several worrying results in the last few fixtures.
Nevertheless, the Magpies regrouped and took advantage of a faltering Brighton to take the silverware.