Former Liverpool and Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez has been sacked by Greek side Panathinaikos after just seven months in the role. The 66-year-old Spaniard, who also coached Real Madrid, Everton, and Newcastle, was appointed in October on a two-and-a-half-year deal but has now left his fourth job in five years.
Performance and Dismissal
Benitez led Panathinaikos to a fourth-place finish in the Greek league and guided the team to the last 16 of the Europa League. However, a 2-0 defeat to arch-rivals Olympiakos in April reportedly left club owner Giannis Alafouzos furious, sealing Benitez's fate. The club will now compete in the Conference League next season. In total, Benitez lost 10 of his 41 games in charge, earning £4.4 million per season.
Club Statement
Panathinaikos announced the departure on their official Instagram account, stating: "Thank you for everything, Rafa Benitez. Best of luck in your future." A club statement added: "Panathinaikos FC announces the completion of its collaboration with coach Rafa Benitez. We thank the Spanish coach and his staff for the professionalism and ethos they brought to our club during their time with the team. We wish Rafa Benitez every success in the rest of his professional career."
Benitez's Reaction and Career
When Benitez took the job, he said: "My idea is to be competitive in every match, but take it game by game. The goal is there, but we will go step by step. The essential thing is to have the right mentality. Our job is to lift every player and to build a connection with the fans." In his prime, Benitez was one of Europe's most highly rated managers, winning the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005, along with two Spanish titles, the Super Cup, the UEFA Cup, and the Europa League with Chelsea in 2013. This dismissal marks his fourth job departure in five years, having previously left Dalian Professional in China (2021), Everton (2022), and Celta Vigo (2024).
