5 contenders for the Premier League Manager of the season

#2 The Overachieving One - Rafa Benitez, Newcastle United

Benitez has put on a managerial masterclass this season

In terms of doing the absolute best with whatever he has, Rafa Benitez is one of the best managers in world football. Now, his achievement with Newcastle United this season is up there with his best ones. The Magpies were staring at a swift return to the Championship after only one season but things look pretty rosy at the moment.

Benitez's side coasted their way to a Championship win in the 2016/17 season, clinching promotion to the Premier League. After an unspectacular start, things started falling apart as a lack of quality players, bad form and injuries derailed the side. Benitez's repeated requests for club owners Mike Ashley to loosen their purse strings were unanswered in January as well and the Spaniard was forced to look for budget options.

The loan signings of goalkeeper Martin Dubravka from Sparta Prague and attacking full-back Kenedy from Chelsea have reinvigorated the side. This has added to an upturn in form and the Magpies registered their first home win since October against Manchester United in February. Newcastle currently sits in 9th place, a point behind Everton and three points behind Leicester City, albeit with a game in hand.

This is a remarkable achievement with a shoe-string budget considering there are several teams around and below Newcastle who have spent more to strengthen their squad. Thus, Benitez presents a pretty good case for winning the Manager of the Season.