Mikel Arteta was a leading candidate to take over as Newcastle United manager following Rafa Benitez’s departure

Newcastle United pushed hard to appoint Mikel Arteta as their new manager in the summer of 2019, it has been claimed. Then-owner Mike Ashley identified Arteta as his first choice to replace Rafa Benitez and told staff he was prepared to offer an unusually long contract to secure him.

Benitez left St James' Park that summer after his contract expired, having spent three years in charge. Newcastle said in a statement that it had 'not been possible to reach an agreement with Rafa and his representatives' over an extension.

According to The Telegraph, Ashley was willing to offer Arteta a deal described as 'far longer than a rookie manager would usually expect' to persuade him to move to Tyneside. Arteta is said to have been tempted by the opportunity as he considered his first managerial role.

However, the timing did not suit his preferred coaching staff. Arteta reportedly approached several key figures as he considered the Magpies' offer, but ultimately turned down the opportunity.

Make sure you never miss the latest Newcastle United news and opinion by making Chronicle Live one of your Google preferred sources.

Replacing a hugely popular figure in Benitez would have presented a significant challenge for Arteta in his first managerial role. With tensions running high among supporters, any successor was likely to face immediate pressure if results failed to meet expectations.

The squad also needed attention after Newcastle lost two key forwards that summer. Ayoze Perez joined Leicester City, while Salomon Rondon departed following the end of his loan from West Bromwich Albion.

The pair had scored 23 of the side's 42 Premier League goals in 2018/19, leaving a significant gap in attack.

Ultimately, the Magpies appointed Steve Bruce on a three-year deal, while Arteta took over from Unai Emery at Arsenal a few months later. Bruce subsequently left by mutual consent in 2021 following the club's Saudi Arabia-backed takeover.

As for Arteta, seven years on he has become a popular figure at the Emirates, guiding Arsenal to their first Premier League title in 22 years. He has also won two Community Shields and two FA Cups.

Make sure you don't miss out on the latest NUFC news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.

You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day's biggest stories.

And, finally, if you would rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Everything is Black and White podcast. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including and Apple Podcasts, and you can also watch along on YouTube.