Rangers boss Steven Gerrard feels Newcastle are losing 'one of the best coaches in the world' in Rafa Benitez but he believes there will be a queue of managers lining up to replace him at St James' Park.
Gerrard , arguably, played the best football of his career during Benitez's five seasons in charge of Liverpool, as he captained Liverpool to winning the Champions League and FA Cup under the Spaniard's guidance.
The former England skipper has since made the crossover from player to manager and has enjoyed a successful first season in charge at Ibrox.
Gerrard admitted back in December that he has leaned on Benitez for guidance during his first year in management and he feels Benitez's departure will be keenly felt by Newcastle.
Nonetheless, he doesn't believe they will struggle to appoint a successor at St James' Park because of Newcastle being a 'fantastic club with top support.'
"I am not surprised because I think there has been a lot of noise around his future for quite some time and the closer he got to the end of his contract tells you everything, really," Gerrard told Sky Sports.
"Newcastle are losing a good manager, a great manager. Rafa is one of the best coaches in the world.
"But Newcastle is a fantastic club with top support and I am sure there will be a queue as long as you can imagine to try and take Newcastle forward.
"I suppose it is a bit of a shock but when a manager gets within months and weeks of the end of his contract, it didn't really surprise me at all."
