Twitter Reacts: Newcastle Sack Steve McClaren, Benitez Favourite to Take Over

It was inevitable, and on Friday it became official: Newcastle United parted ways with manager Steve McClaren.

Pressure had been mounting after three successive league defeats, and on Friday, the Magpies sat second from bottom in the Premier League table.

The 54-year-old won just six of his 28 league games in charge this season.

Many Newcastle fans were sympathetic, suggesting the club's failures weren't necessarily down to the manager:

And others pointed out that he's not the only one guilty of underperformance:

"

Games lost since 1st December 2015:

Steve McClaren = 9
Louis van Gaal = 9 pic.twitter.com/HmjP871uLv

— BreatheSport (@BreatheSport) March 11, 2016"

Of course, many took the opportunity to revisit some his previous highlights:

And attention soon turned to identifying the next man to take up the hot seat at St James' Park, with former Liverpool, Inter Milan, Chelsea and Real Madrid boss Rafa Benitez expected to take charge, per Louise Taylor of the Guardian, a prospect that excited most on Tyneside.

His fall from grace would have been spectacular:

"

Benitez did a reverse Santiago Muñez loool man went from Real Madrid to New Castle

— C.C (@ElAficionadofcb) March 11, 2016"

The Spaniard was warned the task ahead of him wouldn't be easy:

"

If Newcastle think Benitez is the answer then they clearly don't understand the question.

— Paul O Keefe (@pokeefe1) March 11, 2016"

The (albeit tongue-in-cheek) hashtag "#RafaOut" wasn't trending:

Newcastle's next match is against league-leading Leicester City at the King Power Stadium in the Premier League on Monday.

[Twitter]