Fabian Schar and Florian Lejeune were two cracking Rafa Benitez signings for Newcastle United.
Mike Ashley making life so difficult after promotion, refusing to honour promises made to Rafa that he would be properly supported in the transfer market.
Working to a tight budget when returning to the top tier, we saw Joselu and others arrive at St James’ Park.
Rafa Benitez realising that with not having realistic funds, he had to make the Newcastle United defence key to his survival plan.
So it came to pass that Rafa Benitez’ Newcastle United had the seventh best defensive record in each of his two Premier League seasons (2017/18 and 2018/19).
Florian Lejeune proved to be a key figure across the two seasons in that excellent backline organised by Rafa Benitez, Fabian Schar the same when he arrived ahead of the second of those seasons.
The French defender actually had to recover from an injury only minutes into his debut, after a disgraceful challenge from Harry Kane left Florian Lejuene in agony. It should have been an automatic red card for Kane but of course he stayed on the pitch, whilst Lejeune didn’t. Anyway, Florian Lejeune eventually recovered and played a significant part in those two Rafa Premier League campaigns.
Mike Ashley then forced out Rafa Benitez and further tormented Newcastle United fans by bringing in Steve Bruce.
If you ever wanted any specific proof of how clueless Steve Bruce was, look at his treatment of Fabian Schar and Florian Lejuene.
Two excellent defenders and classy on the ball, yet Steve Bruce didn’t rate them. He preferred the likes of Ciaran Clark and Jamaal Lascelles, even at times playing midfielder Isaac Hayden as a centre-back ahead of Schar and Lejeune.
If not for Eddie Howe coming in to rescue us, Fabian Schar was for sure going to be one of Ashley and Bruce’s many casualties. Just think of what Fabian Schar has contributed these past four and a half years under Eddie Howe, yet Bruce would have got rid of him as the classy Swiss defender got fewer and fewer chances under our previous manager.
It was too late for the Frenchman though, Florian Lejeune go only four Premier League starts for United under Steve Bruce before sent to Alaves on loan for the 2020/21 season, then less than three months before the new owners came in and replaced Mike Ashley we saw a permanent move agreed to Alaves for a token transfer fee.
The classy Florian Lejeune declaring this via his Twitter account after leaving Newcastle United – 22 July 2021:
“I wanted to thank Newcastle United for all the time spent at the club. I met wonderful people who always have been there for me. I’m facing a new challenge and I couldn’t be more thankful to all the [Newcastle United] fans, teammates and club’s staff. I wish you all the best for the upcoming season.”
A year after joining Alaves in that permanent move, Florian Lejeune moved to La Liga minnows Rayo Vallecano.
Now aged 35, the central defender is now in his fourth season at the club.
An astonishing story has developed with Florian Lejeune and Rayo Vallecano.
The last two seasons they have spent a total of £6m in the transfer market and had a turnover last season of £51m. A club that has crowds of only 12,000 on average.
Yet with Florian Lejuene a key figure, Rayo Vallecano somehow finished eighth in La Liga last season and that qualified them for the UEFA Conference League.
Florian Lejeune has started 36 of his club’s 37 La Liga matches this season, playing a total of 53 games in all competitions with two matches remaining.
Astonishingly, Rayo Vallecano are guaranteed to finish at least eighth if winning tonight in their final La Liga match of the season away at Alaves, it will be seventh if Getafe fail to win their final game.
Even more remarkably, Florian Lejeune and Rayo Vallecano have also reached the final of the UEFA Conference League, playing Crystal Palace (who had a turnover almost four times higher than the La Liga minnows last season) on Wednesday night. Best of luck to Florian Lejeune.
I was even more interested to see the Spanish football experts at The Athletic name their La Liga team of the year, the eleven best performing players of the 2025/26 season.
J Garcia, E Garcia, Martin, Lejeune, Alonso, Fornals, Milla, Moleiro, Mbappe, Yamal, Muriqi
I wonder what Steve Bruce would make of it all…?