Newcastle United opinion: Should the Magpies appoint Roberto Martinez?

According to a report from The Sun, Newcastle United are keen on appointing Belgium boss Roberto Martinez as their next manager. Rafa Benitez departed the Premier League last month to join the Chinese League and Mike Ashely is steadfast in the pursuit of Martinez.

Martinez – an eminent figure in English football

In fact, the 45-year-old kick-started his managerial career with Welsh club Swansea and there was an instant impact as he drove his side to earn promotion to the Championship. 

Furthermore, he also inspired Wigan Athletic to clinch FA Cup title in the 2012/13 season. The ex-Everton gaffer has been the household name for Belgium at the international stage since 2016 and has faced only three defeats till date.

His highest achievement with Belgium was finishing third in the FIFA World Cup last year.

Is Martinez the real heir to Benitez’s throne?

Indubitably, Benitez has fared decently as the manager of the Magpies, guiding his side to Championship glory in the 2016/17 campaign. However, the ex-Real Madrid boss failed to make his presence felt in England’s top tier after two lacklustre seasons.

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By and large, Martinez looks like an optimal solution and can help transform Newcastle entirely into a new unit. 

The former Real Zaragoza man holds a winning percentage of 75 as the Belgium manager, with 28 wins in 37 games. A recipient of a surplus of individual managerial awards in every club he has worked with, Martinez would be the downright option to succeed Benitez at St. James’ Park.

Verdict

Martinez is a huge admirer of the possession-based style of play, which is a far cry from the pragmatic style of Benitez. Yet, the Belgium gaffer’s fairy tale with the English clubs in the past is a strong aspect for the Magpies to consider appointing him as their manager.