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Ciaran Kelly

The story behind the absolutely brilliant Rafa Benitez Newcastle text message that went viral

Rafa Benitez knows some of the biggest names in world football so, perhaps, it won't surprise you that there was more than one Simon in his contacts book when the former Newcastle United manager sent a text message intended for goalkeeping coach Simon Smith.

The newly-appointed Benitez got in touch with Smith after Rob Elliot suffered a serious knee injury while on international duty with Ireland.

With Tim Krul also on the sidelines, the Magpies were left with just one senior goalkeeper in the form of Karl Darlow so Benitez needed youngster Freddie Woodman to step up as sub 'keeper for the final eight games of the season.

However, the 'Simon' Benitez had saved in his contacts was actually Simon Clancy, who was the deputy editor of BBC Radio 5 Live Sport at the time, after the former Liverpool and Chelsea manager previously appeared on the station on a number of occasions.

Now, more than five years later, Clancy posted a screengrab of the exchange on Twitter while Woodman played in the Championship play-off final for Swansea against Brentford on Saturday.

"Hi Simon, we need to bring back Woodman. Thanks. Rafa," Benitez messaged at 9pm on March 29, 2016.

"Hello Rafa, as nice as it was to hear from you, I think it was meant for a different Simon. Very best wishes, Simon at the BBC," Clancy replied.

"OK. Thank you," Benitez texted back.

Clancy's throwback tweet has been liked by more than 7,400 people and from 'reading it in Rafa's accent' to noting how Benitez's response was 'probably the most Rafa reply in such a situation as I could imagine', Newcastle supporters certainly loved it.

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