Rafa Benitez appointed Newcastle United manager after Steve McClaren is sacked

Rafa Benitez has called on the ‘Toon Army’ to help secure Newcastle United’s Premier League future after he was confirmed as manager on a three-year deal.

Sportsmail revealed on Tuesday that the Spaniard was on a shortlist of one to replace the outgoing Steve McClaren, who was finally sacked on Friday morning with the team second from bottom in the table.

Benitez then arrived at St James’ Park after lunchtime and was confirmed as boss before heading to the club’s training ground to meet his new players. 

Rafa Benitez poses with a Newcastle United shirt after being confirmed as the club's new manager

Benitez holds aloft a Newcastle United scarf pitch-side at St James' Park after being appointed manager

The Spaniard leaves St James' Park again following confirmation he has signed a three-year contract

Benitez poses with the Newcastle United shirt alongside the club's managing director Lee Charnley

Benitez waves to the cameras after arriving at Newcastle's Darsley Park training ground on Friday

Newcastle United players Fabricio Coloccini (left) and Jonjo Shelvey  arrive at the training ground

Newcastle managing director Charnley arrives at St James' Park ready for the arrival of Benitez

Benitez wasted little time in getting to work, organising an impromptu training session with his players

The Champions League winning boss has 10 games to secure Newcastle's Premier League status 

The 55-year-old wasted no time in getting to work and held his first training session with the first-team squad just 90 minutes after his appointment. 

Of his new role, Benitez said: ‘I have the pleasure to confirm I have committed to a legendary English club, with the massive challenge of remaining part of the Premier League.

‘It will be a challenge not just for me and my staff but for the players, the club and the fans.

‘All of us must push together in the same direction and with the same target in mind. This is the reason why I'm going to ask for your total support to successfully complete this task.

‘Personally, it means my return to the Premier League, closer to my home and my family. I can't be happier.

‘C'mon Toon Army! The club and I need your total involvement!’

Managing director Lee Charnley added: ‘I am very pleased to welcome Rafa Benitez to the club. In Rafa we have, without doubt, secured the services of one of Europe's top managers.

‘He has managed some of the most successful teams at the very highest level of the game and we are proud to now have him as our manager. 

Steve McClaren, pictured at the training ground on Thursday, was sacked on Friday morning

Newcastle United are sat in 19th place in the Premier League, a point from safety

Last Saturday's 3-1 home loss to Bournemouth proved the last act of McClaren's tenure

‘Our sole focus now is to give our full support to Rafa, his coaching team and the players in order to secure our status in the Premier League.’

Benitez – who it is understood has a break clause should Newcastle be relegated - will bring with him backroom staff Fabio Pecchia, Francisco de Míguel Moreno, Antonio Gómez Pérez, who will join Ian Cathro and Simon Smith.

Paul Simpson, Alessandro Schoenmaker and Steve Black have left along with McClaren, who learned of his fate following a phone call with Charnley.

A statement confirming McClaren’s exit read: ‘After the defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday the club has spent some time considering its position and has today concluded that Steve McClaren's employment with the club will end with immediate effect. 

The manager's parking space lies empty at Newcastle United's Darsley Park training centre

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‘We acknowledge that reaching this decision has taken a number of days and that this has caused uncertainty for everyone involved, in particular for Steve and the players, for which we apologise.

‘However we felt that this time was necessary to ensure the right decisions were reached with the best interests of the club at heart.’

Charnley said: ‘I would like to thank Steve personally for his services to Newcastle United. He is a man of integrity and class and he has conducted himself with great dignity during this difficult time.

‘Steve worked tirelessly to try and bring success to Newcastle United. He has the utmost respect of all the players, staff and management and he leaves with our very best wishes and sincere thanks.

‘We feel that a change is now needed in order to give the club the best possible chance of securing its Premier League future.’ 

Sportsmail revealed on Tuesday that Benitez was on a shortlist of one to replace McClaren. Talks had begun earlier in the day and continued throughout the week, with both parties indicating a willingness to get the deal done before the weekend.

Benitez will be confirmed as manager as opposed to head coach and will have more control over transfers than his predecessors.

His first home game will be the Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland a week on Sunday.

Benitez guided Liverpool to Champions League glory against Milan in Istanbul back in 2005

During his temporary spell in charge of Chelsea, Benitez won the Europa League

Dejected Newcastle United players prepare to kick off during their 3-1 loss to Bournemouth on Saturday