da fezbet： Chris Hughton and Rafael Benitez go head-to-head this evening. Hughton’s Brighton are currently one point ahead of second placed Newcastle at the top of the Championship with the two engaging in a season-long tussle as they charge towards the riches of Premier League football.
da cassino： Their respective statuses in world football epitomise the very best of the Championship. Benitez came to English football for a third spell after periods with Napoli and Real Madrid having previously been in charge at Chelsea – albeit on an interim basis – and Liverpool.
Hughton spent the best part of two decades working at Newcastle and Tottenham as a coach and assistant manager. Taking on caretaker roles at both clubs, Hughton was eventually given his first shot at being a permanent manager by his Tuesday opponents. Mistreated by the Magpies, Hughton was discarded in 2010. Protests at the club followed along with public backlash from former players and journalists. However, he remains an immensely respected man, and is highly regarded around English football.
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As manager of Birmingham, he once again did a good job. Despite playing in the Championship, he took them through to the group stages of the Europa League and a play-off finish. A spell with Norwich City followed – where Hughton was again sacked despite being five points clear of the relegation zone – before being appointed the boss of Brighton at the end of 2014. Finally given the time he deserves by the south coast club, Hughton has taken them from promotion contenders to a well-organised, Premier League bound team.
In contrast, Benitez – who is two years younger – has been at the helm of some of the world’s biggest clubs. Elevating his name with two La Liga titles as Valencia manager in the early part of this millennium, the Spaniard went on to lift the UEFA Cup in 2004 before winning the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005. An ill-fated post-Mourinho spell at Internazionale followed before a couple of years out of management.
His second spell in England came at Chelsea, where he was treated poorly by the fans. He guided the Blues back into the top four and held the ship steady for the return of Jose Mourinho despite the ugly A4 banners regularly produced at Stamford Bridge calling for his removal. Two years at Napoli followed, with Benitez eventually resigning having failed to take the club forward. A half-season as Real Madrid manager then came in 2015/16, but he was removed from the job after a poor start to the La Liga campaign.
A return to the Premier League came as Benitez was brought in to save Newcastle from relegation in the latter stages of last season. But Benitez fell short, having been appointed with too much to do and not enough time in which to do it. Despite relegation, though, he has remained in the post with the aim of returning to the top flight.
Two men respected widely across varying circles are both on course to be returning to the Premier League, then. While their encounter this week could be significant in the short-term, the difference between Brighton and Newcastle and the rest of the Championship is clear. Defeat will hurt for either side, but they should still be fancied for promotion in any case.
Hughton and Benitez will deservedly be returning to the top flight of English football, their markedly different footballing histories represent what makes the Championship such a fantastic division. Hughton has had to persevere to return to the top, but Benitez equally deserves recognition for taking on a near-impossible task at St James’ Park. They could not have much more contrasting managerial backgrounds, but that has counted for little between them this season.
Swearing and shouting on the touchline is too often applauded, but Hughton and Benitez are a reminder that aggression and ‘passion’ are seldom the answer alone. Both have had to deal with their own periods of adversity through their managerial careers – whether at Norwich or Inter – but their teams’ performances this season reflect their ability as managers.
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