Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez has once again been named among the world’s top managers in a feature by football magazine FourFourTwo on their website.
The Spanish boss comes in at number 33 on the magazine’s list, which features a whole host of the best managers and coaches from around the globe.
It marks a return to the feature for the 57-year-old, having missed out altogether in 2016, and is an improvement from the 2015 list, which saw him placed at number 36 while manager of Real Madrid.
It sees him named above Premier League rivals Marco Silva at Watford, Eddie Howe at Bournemouth and David Wagner, boss of fellow promoted side Huddersfield.
It also sees him ranked a place higher than former Borussia Dortmund Thomas Tuchel and four places higher than Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers, who guided his side to an unbeaten domestic season and a treble of silverware, picking up the Scottish Premiership, the Scottish Cup and the Scottish League Cup.
Of Benitez, journalist Alex Hess wrote for the magazine: “Last season’s promotion at the first time of asking was what you would expect from a manager with eight major trophies in three countries.
“(Newcastle) has been reinvigorated by a tubby touchline tactician. Apathy has become enthusiasm.”
Benitez chose to remain at Newcastle despite their relegation in 2016, and, after overhauling the entirety of the Magpies’ squad, helped guide them back to the top flight by winning the Championship, pipping fellow promoted side Brighton to the title on the final day of the season.