Rafa Benitez admits “loyalty to the fans” once again played a key role in convincing him to stay at Newcastle United.
The 57-year-old former Real Madrid boss held positive talks with owner Mike Ashley this week and received promises that he would be backed financially this summer, which provided the final confirmation he needed to announce he was remaining at the club.
However, Benitez insists that hearing Newcastle fans sing his name all season helped remind him of the final-day 5-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
United had already been relegated, but St James’ Park implored Benitez to stay - and he will forever feel fealty towards United fans as a result.
“It was loyalty to the fans,” Benitez told BBC World Service’s ‘World Football’ programme when asked why he decided to stay on at St James’ Park once more.
“The way that they were supporting us from the first day, even with the relegation.
“The last game against Tottenham, we were already relegated, but then you have 52,000 fans turn up signing my name and supporting the team.
“So it was like: ‘Oh, we have to do it, they deserve something more, and then we will try out best from day one to do our best to go back straight to the Premier League.’”