Newcastle United legend Andy Cole believes Rafa Benitez exceeded expectations during his three years in charge of the Magpies.
Benitez will leave Newcastle on Sunday after United announced on Monday that they had failed to reach an agreement with the Spaniard over a new deal.
The transfer budget and improvements to the club's infrastructure were pivotal demands for Benitez that the club would not match.
The short-termism of a new one year deal was also deemed unsatisfactory and in the end the two sides were poles apart in terms of their ambition.
In his three full seasons in charge, Benitez won the Championship title before following it up with a top half Premier League finish the following campaign.
Newcastle recovered from a dreadful start to finish 13th last season and after a positive 2019 it seemed they were ready, with Benitez, to kick on to brighter things.
It wasn't to be, though, and when asked for his reaction to Benitez's departure, former Magpies goalscorer, Cole, outlined why he believed the Spaniard had done a 'fantastic job'.
"He has done a fantastic job," Cole told Sky Sports.
"He didn't have much money to work with but every season they have done a lot better than everybody expected them to do.
"Last season was a bit of a struggle but they had enough quality to stay up.
"It will be interesting to see who they bring in now and what they try and do as a football club."
When asked who he sees Newcastle targeting as their next manager, Cole added: "I don't know to be honest.
"It will depend on what the football club wants to do. If Mike Ashley tries to sell the football club, the possibility that there is going to be a takeover."
