Newcastle United staff profiles
Written by Simon Austin — December 2, 2017
Pen pics of Newcastle United's coaching, science, medicine and analytics staff. To see staff profiles for other clubs, click here.
MANAGER & COACHES
MANAGER
RAFA BENITEZ
Nationality: Spanish
Made his name at Valencia, winning two Liga titles. Followed this up with a remarkable Champions League triumph with Liverpool in 2005. Took over at Newcastle in March 2016, which proved too late to save them from relegation, but took them up as champions last season.
ASSISTANT
PACO DE MIGUEL
Nationality: Spanish
Assistant manager and fitness coach. Monitors loading during training sessions and helps Benitez design his famous rotation strategy. Has occasionally stood in for the manager in press conferences.
ASSISTANT
MIKEL ANTIA
Nationality: Spanish
Played under Benitez at both Real Madrid B and Valladolid. Joined Newcastle from the Aspire Academy in Doha in 2016 following the departure of former assistant manager Fabio Pecchia to Verona.
FIRST TEAM COACH
ANTONIO GOMEZ PEREZ
Nationality: Spanish
Played six times in midfield for Real Madrid, where he first worked with Benitez. Has been a manager in his own right (of Real Valladolid) but has spent most of his time as Benitez's assistant, at Liverpool, Real Madrid, Napoli and now Newcastle.
GOALKEEPER COACH
SIMON SMITH
Nationality: English
Was a youth player for Newcastle before becoming a coach for them, first in the Academy and then with the first team. Left for 11 years to work for teams including the Canadian Soccer Association and LA Galaxy, before returning in 2015.
MEDICAL & SCIENCE
HEAD OF MEDICAL
DR PAUL CATTERSON
Nationality: English
Heads up the medical department, which includes sport scientists, masseurs and physios. Has worked for Newcastle since 2009.
HEAD OF SPORT SCIENCE
DR JAMIE HARLEY
Nationality: English
Joined Newcastle in July 2010 and was promoted to Head of Sport Science in 2017.
HEAD PHYSIO
DEREK WRIGHT
Nationality: English
A Newcastle United institution, having worked for the club for more than 30 years.
SPORT SCIENTISTS
JOHN FITZPATRICK
Nationality: English
Joined as an intern in February 2013, before joining the staff a year later.
SPORT SCIENCE ASSISTANT
JAKE KEMP
Nationality: English
Awarded a PhD by Northumbria University. Joined the Magpies from Exeter City in 2015.
SENIOR FITNESS COACH
SIMON TWEDDLE
Nationality: English
Another graduate of Northumbria University. Joined the Academy in 2006 and was promoted to first team in 2009.
REHAB FITNESS COACH
CRISTIAN FERNANDEZ
Nationality: Spanish
Worked for Northampton Town and Hull City before joining Newcastle in 2016. Oversees the rehab of injured players.
PHYSIO
DANIEL MARTI
Nationality: Spanish
Ran his own clinic, as well as consulting with West Ham and Tottenham, before joining the Magpies in 2016.
