West Ham will consider Rafa Benitez as a possible replacement for Manuel Pellegrini if they part ways with the Chilean, according to reports in the English media.
The former Liverpool and Chelsea manager has been targeted by David Gold and David Sullivan before, and it seems they would still be keen on hiring the Spaniard. Supporters on Twitter are wary about hiring another old manager:
Please god no. We need a young hungry manager. Someone who will bring some thing into the club not old past it managers
— Jon mcloughlin (@JonJonnymac26) November 19, 2019
Ffs another manager who’s basically retired
— Tom K (@thomasking1012) November 19, 2019
Benitez isn’t the answer
— Mark Ironside (@Mark_IronsidePH) November 19, 2019
One old past his sell by date manager for another, #yeah great!
— West_Ham_Utd (@TJCowboyHammer) November 19, 2019
No, no, no, no, no.
— aa (@hammer2090) November 19, 2019
He would be much better, but there’s absolutely 0 chance of him coming to us so don’t get your hopes up
— James Gunn (@jamesgunn_) November 19, 2019
Maybe before Pelligrini. I may be wrong but didn’t he turn is down. Would rather see Eddie howe, Sean dyche or the Cowley’s take over and have a long term manager #irons #hammers #managers
— FDT-TV Ian (@IanFdt) November 19, 2019
Another lazy appointment
— Chef Manny (@Chef_Haswell) November 19, 2019
We need to appoint somebody young
— Steve (@Steve_WHU_) November 19, 2019
Benitez is currently in the Far East managing Chinese Super League side Dalian Yifang. It does have some worrying parallels with Pellegrini who was managing Hebei China Fortune before moving back to Europe in order to manage the Hammers.
Of course, there is one major difference in the fact that Benitez has a very good record in charge of English clubs, with and without resources. He won the Champions League with Liverpool and the Europa League at Chelsea, whilst also gaining promotion on a tight budget with Newcastle before establishing them back in the Premier League.