Spanish coaching star Rafa Benítez has found a new club in Greece.
Spanish coaching star Rafa Benítez has a new job. The 65-year-old, who won the Champions League with Liverpool FC in 2005, signed a two-year contract with Greek runner-up Panathinaikos Athens.
Benítez is already the fourth coach of the current season at the 20-time champion and succeeds Greek Christos Kontis, who was dismissed after only 36 days.
Great appreciation for Benítez
Panathinaikos praised Benítez in its announcement as “one of the best coaches in the world and the best ever at a Greek club.” After six games in the Super League, Athens is only in seventh place, and the team, including former national player Philipp Max, is already eight points behind league leader PAOK Saloniki.
Benítez made a name for himself primarily during his time as team manager of the Reds. In the dramatic final in Istanbul against AC Milan, he won the Champions League title. Subsequently, he coached, among others, Inter Milan, Chelsea FC, SSC Napoli, his hometown club Real Madrid, as well as Newcastle United and Everton FC. Most recently, he was dismissed in March 2024 after only eight months at Spanish first-division club Celta Vigo.