Rafa Benitez is the November Premier League Manager of the Month! Could you imagine this?
It is the seventh time the Spaniard has picked up the award, five at Liverpool and once at Chelsea.
Only five managers in Premier League history have now won the award more times than Rafa.
The Magpies manager guided his side to three wins from three last month, with victories over Watford, AFC Bournemouth and Burnley lifting United up the table.
Benítez was nominated for the award alongside Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola, Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp, Tottenham’s Mauricio Pochettino.
The list of nominees was completed by Everton’s Marco Silva and Huddersfield Town’s David Wagner.
And after a public vote, the Newcastle boss was given the award to mark his team’s 100 per cent record in November.
“It’s always good to win trophies,” said Benítez. “Obviously I would like to win more manager of the months, as it would mean that we are in a better position in the table. It’s always positive, it’s always good, and it’s good also for the staff and everybody who is helping you.
“Everybody has to be congratulated for this kind of thing. Always, in any club, it’s not just the manager – it’s a lot of people behind the scenes who are doing a great job.”
6 Sir Bobby Robson
Feb 2000, Aug 2000, Dec 2001, Feb 2002, Jan 2003, Oct 2003
5 Kevin Keegan
Nov 1993, Aug 1994, Feb 1995, Aug 1995, Sept 1995
2 Alan Pardew
Nov 2013, Nov 2014
In Rafa’s promotion season he only picked up one Championship Manager of the month award, for Oct 2016, the same as Steve McClaren! He got the Nov 2016 one with Derby before being sacked later that season, McClaren has just also picked up the Oct 2018 one with QPR.