Tuesday 15 March 2016 08:12, UK
Rafa Benitez is back in the Premier League with Newcastle but what is his record against the current crop of managers?
The Spaniard was appointed Newcastle boss on Friday after Steve McClaren was finally relieved of his duties and is tasked with steering the second-bottom Magpies to safety.
It will be no easy initiation for Benitez, with league leaders Leicester up first in Monday Night Football, but Newcastle fans with one eye on Sunday's Sky Live derby clash with bitter rivals Sunderland may take hope from their new manager's previous against Black Cats boss Sam Allardyce.
Benitez has claimed seven wins from 12 matches against Allardyce - giving him a win percentage of almost 60 per cent.
That ratio is only marginally bettered by his record against a previous Newcastle manager in Alan Pardew - and Pardew's Crystal Palace visit Tyneside at the end of April in what could be another crunch clash in Benitez's bid to keep his new club in the top flight.
Improving an already striking win ratio against Allardyce would likely give Benitez, as well as the long-suffering Toon Army, satisfaction because it's fair to say the pair don't see eye-to-eye.
Their feud started when the then-Liverpool boss was critical of Allardyce's Bolton and their physical playing style - a sentiment that did not sit well.
"Rafa would be very lucky to be in a job if he hadn't got to two Champions League finals, because they've had some very poor finishes in the Premier League," Allardyce was quoted as saying in a magazine interview in September 2007, after he had left Bolton to take the Newcastle job.
"While they are a very good Champions League team, they're not a Premier League-winning side. They don't have the mentality to win that yet."
Things came to a head, after several other spats, in 2010, following another victory for Benitez - Liverpool's 2-1 success over Blackburn at Anfield.
"I think he is a model for all the managers all around the world," jibed Benitez. "His style of football, his behaviour, everything.
"He is the perfect role model for all the kids. I am sure parents will enjoy this model and encourage their kids to be the same. I also think Barcelona are trying to copy his style of football."
Allardyce responded - and didn't hold back.
"It was a good cover-up by Rafa because he knows how bad his side were," Allardyce said.
"He's got personal with it for many, many years now - that's why I don't like him and the feeling is probably mutual."
Allardyce later wrote in his book: "Of course, he can say he won the Champions League with Liverpool, which is something I never did. But it has nowt to do with him."
Watch Benitez's first game back in the Premier League live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7pm on Monday. Or watch for £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV.
