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Newcastle United are pleased to confirm the appointment of Mikel Antia to Rafa Benitez's coaching team.

 

The 43-year-old Spaniard joins United from the Aspire Academy in Qatar where he has been part of the coaching team tasked with developing young Qatari players.

 

He replaces Fabio Pecchia, who this week joined Serie B side Verona as the Italian side's new manager.

 

Mikel, who hails from San Sebastian in Spain, had spells as a player at the Real Madrid Academy where he played under Rafa Benítez for four seasons, before moving to Real Valladolid in La Liga, also with Benítez. Mikel later moved on to play for Celta Vigo and Real Sociedad.

 

The rest of Rafa Benitez's coaching staff, consisting of Francisco de Míguel Moreno, Antonio Gómez Pérez, Ian Cathro and Simon Smith, will remain at St. James' Park.

 

Rafa Benitez said: "I am delighted that Mikel is joining my staff. He is a very talented coach and I know he will add great expertise to my team.

 

"At the same time I am sad to see Fabio depart as he has been an excellent professional from the first day until the last in the years we have worked together.

 

"He leaves to face these new and exciting challenges, both personally and professionally. I wish him all the best and say thank you."

 

http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20160602/united-appoint-mikel-antia_2281670_5618015

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Amazing how efficient things run with a competent manager at the helm, eh?

 

In seasons gone by this would have dragged on until the season started after being linked with a couple of proper football men, then we would announce that we would be continuing with what we already had for the rest of the season.

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Professional outfit now. Feels very strange.

Professional seems to be the most used word by Rafa and his actions backs that up every time. We really have appointed the best manager that we could have.
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Guest reefatoon

Fabio Pecchia showed real heroism here and has paid the ultimate price by being hired by Verona.

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Always had a soft spot for Antía as a player, one of those working class globetrotter defenders that played for like 20000 La Liga clubs.

 

decent reputation as a coach?

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Always had a soft spot for Antía as a player, one of those working class globetrotter defenders that played for like 20000 La Liga clubs.

 

decent reputation as a coach?

 

Not really to be frank. He only coached in some minor Spanish clubs before going to work in Qatar. I guess Benítez is interested in the methods he may have learnt/applied there. It's supposed to be state-of-the-art stuff.

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