Rafa Benitez takes his Newcastle coaches on sightseeing tour of the North East – showing why Georgie fans love him

RAFA BENITEZ has taken a trip back hundreds of years – to help him make his own history.

The Newcastle boss took three of the Championship leaders’ coaches on a sightseeing tour of the North East.

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The former Liverpool and Real Madrid chief’s  impressive rapport with Toon fans will surely be cemented by his expedition to landmarks like the church, cathedral and Durham University.

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Benitez took fellow Spaniards – fitness coach Francisco de Miguel Moreno  and first-team coaches Mikel Antia and Antonio Gomez Perez – for a bracing tour on a day off.

And at the castle keep in the city centre they were greeted by a member of staff wearing full armour.

Benitez looked out upon sweeping views of Newcastle and said: “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.”

The Toon foursome also visited the 20-metre tall Angel of the North – the first thing most visitors see as they enter Tyneside along the A1 or A167.

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Benitez said: “It is a very impressive sight and up close it really is huge.

“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 will now target another huge landmark – a club record 10th win in a row, at home to Blackburn on Saturday.

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