Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez takes his coaching staff on sightseeing tour as they get to grips with the North East

  • Rafa Benitez and his Newcastle coaching staff have been sightseeing 
  • Francisco de Miguel Moreno, Mikel Antia and Antonio Gomez Perez all joined the Spaniard as they took a tour around North East landmarks
  • The group visited the Castle Keep as well as the Angel of the North 
  • Benitez and his team also took a trip to Durham to see the Cathedral 

After leading Newcastle to a five-point lead at the top of the Championship, you would have felt Rafa Benitez had done enough to endear himself to the Geordie faithful.

Not content with delivering top spot and a record-equalling nine wins in a row however — a run of form that has seen West Ham reportedly take an interest in his services — the Spaniard has sought to integrate himself further with life in the North East by taking in some of its most famous sights.

Benitez admitted the warm reception he received at St James' Park was the reason behind his decision to stay at the club, and his desire to discover some of the region's most well-known landmarks will have the Toon Army smiling, and leave London-based suitors in no doubt of his immediate intentions.

Rafa Benitez spent Tuesday taking in some of the North East's most well-known landmarks

Benitez was joined by coaches Mikel Antia (far left)  Francisco de Miguel Moreno (second from left) and Antonio Gomez Perez (right) on his tour whirlwind tour around the region

The Spaniard visited the Angel of the North among other sights on a drizzly day on Tyneside

The Magpies manager and his coaching staff took the chance on their day off to explore the North East and learn about what the region has to offer.

Together with fitness coach Francisco 'Paco' de Miguel Moreno and first team coaches Mikel Antia and Antonio Gomez Perez, they visited the Castle Keep in the city centre - where Rafa and Moreno were met by a member of staff dressed in a full suit of armour.

After hitting the heights of first place in the Championship, the Spaniard is used to lofty vantage points and he visited the top of the castle, which has views across the whole city, enjoy its panoramic views, its bridges and St. James' Park.

Benitez and Moreno are met by a staff member in a full suit of armour outside the Castle Keep

Benitez said he was given a 'feeling for the city and its history' on his trip to the castle

The Newcastle boss takes in the panoramic views, including St James' Park in the distance

WHO MAKES UP RAFA'S TRUSTED BACKROOM TEAM

Mikel Antia (first-team coach): The former defender played under Benitez at Real Madrid B and Rayo Valladolid and has worked at Qatar's Aspire Academy.

Francisco de Miguel Moreno (fitness coach): Moreno had worked with Benitez at Liverpool, Inter, Chelsea and Napoli before joining him on Tyneside.

Ian Cathro (assistant coach): Brought in from Valencia during Steve McClaren's tenure, Benitez has retained the services of the 30-year-old Scotsman.

Antonio Gomez Perez (first-team coach): Like Antia, he played under the Magpies boss at Real Madrid's academy and has followed Benitez to every post since 2009. 

Simon Smith (goalkeeping coach): Returned to Newcastle in 2015 following stints in the same role during the reigns of Ruud Gullit and Sir Bobby Robson.

'It is a wonderful, historic place at the very heart of the 'old' Newcastle which really gave me a feeling for this city and its history and the fact that the city name originated from this Castle in medieval times,' said Rafa.

As well as a trip to Durham University, Castle and Cathedral, the Angel of the North in Gateshead was also on the itinary — the first landmark of the city that Benitez first saw when he arrived on Tyneside earlier this year.

Benitez wanted to see the Angel of the North close up after glimpsing it on his first trip north

The 56-year-old also visited Durham Cathedral, about half an hour from the city of Newcastle

'It is a very impressive sight and up close it really is huge,' he said.

'My staff explained to me how it was constructed and told me it is a symbol showing that from the city's history, the Geordies have created a new future.

'I wanted to see close up this incredible symbol of the city.' 

Benitez and his backroom staff have left no stone unturned in their bid to get to grips with life on Tyneside — with coach Antia pinning a Geordie phrase sheet to the wall of his office.

The coaches will be back on the training ground this week as Newcastle aim for an unprecedented 10th win in succession against Blackburn Rovers at St James' Park on Saturday.

Benitez poses with the stag at Durham University on his trip around North East landmarks

Benitez's team pose outside Durham University with its Govenor Graham Courney (far left)

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now