Rafa Benitez has left Newcastle United – the club have confirmed.
The Spaniard will not continue as boss next season, when his contract expires on June 30.
Benitez has walked away from a £6m one year extension, and a transfer budget of £50m a season, after losing patience with owner Mike Ashley.
He led Newcastle back to the Premier League during his three seasons in charge, and established the club solidly in mid-table for the past two years.
But to commit long term the ex Liverpool, Chelsea and real Madrid boss wanted big changes in the way the club does its transfer business, and improvements to infrastructure.
