Former Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez was left with egg on his face after a Twitter mishap had fans in stiches.
The Magpies secured Champions League football for the first time in two decades after the point they earned in Monday’s goalless stalemate with Leicester City was enough to guarantee Eddie Howe’s side a top-four finish this season.
Howe’s team have made impressive strides this term. They could finish as high as third in the Premier League and reached the final of the Carabao Cup back in February, their first final since 1999, where they were defeated 2-0 by Manchester United.
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So far this season, only Premier League champions Manchester City have lost fewer league games than Newcastle.
Off the pitch, however, the club continues to be the subject of criticism following the £305m takeover by the Saudi Public Investment Fund in 2021. The Magpies are now believed to be in advanced talks with another Saudi-based company, Selo, over a commercial deal thought to be worth £30m that could see the events company become the team’s new shirt sponsor next term.
But while opinion continues to be divided about their off-field activity, Newcastle’s showing on the pitch has garnered support from several big names within football, not least former manager and Premier League legend Benitez.
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The 63-year-old Spaniard, perhaps best known for his eccentric hand gestures and guiding Liverpool to Champions League glory in 2005, was in charge at St James’ Park from 2016 to 2019.
During that time, Newcastle were relegated to the Championship but, in 2017, made an immediate return to the top flight after winning the league.
And it seems Benitez’s love for the Magpies has not faded. Following confirmation of their return to European club football’s elite competition this week, Benitez took to social media to express his joy, posting, “Congratulations to all involved. Howdy the lads!” in a tweet that has since been deleted.
The error, writing “Howdy” rather than ‘Howay’, sparked a wave of jovial responses from fans online.
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"Autocorrect has gifted the world something magical," one wrote.
While another posted: “I love a good autocorrect mistake.”
One user even suggested that Benitez was actually paying tribute to a city in Texas, USA that shares the club’s name.
“Rootin’-tootin’ for the toon!” a fan added.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Champions League, Newcastle United, Premier League, Rafa Benitez, Fan Reactions
