Newcastle United managing director Lee Charnley has said that he is "delighted" to have secured a deal to keep Rafael Benitez at the club.

The Spaniard, who has won two league titles, the Champions League and the Europa League during his managerial career, was initially drafted in on a temporary basis to help Newcastle avoid relegation from the Premier League.

He was unable to do that, but the former Real Madrid boss decided to stick with the club anyway, signing a three-year deal with the new Championship outfit today, and Charnley is confident of an immediate return to the top flight.

"When we brought Rafa to the club in March, we knew he was a phenomenal manager and everything we have seen from him since has only served to reinforce that," he told the club's official website.

"We are therefore delighted to have secured his services for the next three years and I believe with Rafa as manager it gives us the best possible chance of returning to the Premier League at the first time of asking and delivering success for this football club beyond that.

"It is clear that Rafa has connected deeply with the club's supporters and we do not underestimate the role they have played in his decision to stay. He has captured the hearts and minds not just of the fans, but of everyone who has had the pleasure of working with him at the club thus far. As a world-class manager we had no doubt in our minds as to the importance of retaining him at Newcastle United."

Benitez won 13 points from his 10 games in charge of the Magpies at the tail end of the season.