Rafa Benitez Makes a Triumphant Return to Football Management with Panathinaikos
Rafa Benitez has made a remarkable comeback to football management, landing a landmark deal with Greek football powerhouse Panathinaikos. The 65-year-old Spanish coach has signed a lucrative two-and-a-half-year contract, reportedly worth between £3.5 million and £4.4 million annually, making him the highest-paid manager in the history of Greek football.
Benitez is set to lead his new team in his first match this Sunday at home against Asteras Tripolis. This role marks the 17th managerial position in his illustrious career, which has spanned several top European clubs.
Having previously managed iconic teams like Liverpool, Chelsea, Valencia, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and Napoli, Benitez brings a wealth of experience and a stellar track record to Athens. His impressive resume includes multiple trophies, such as two LaLiga titles, a Champions League victory with Liverpool, and a Europa League title with Chelsea.
Currently, Panathinaikos sits in seventh place in the Greek Super League, trailing leaders PAOK by eight points but holding a game in hand. The team has shown resilience this season, with only one loss in their last six league matches, despite three draws that have hindered their progress. Additionally, they are competing in the Europa League, although they faced a setback with a 3-1 loss to Feyenoord on Thursday night.
Looking ahead, after Sunday’s league match, Benitez will lead the team in a cup fixture away at Atromitos on Wednesday. The club’s leadership, including president Yiannis Alafouzos, has set ambitious goals, particularly with plans for a state-of-the-art new stadium in Votanikos, scheduled to open in 2027. Ending a 15-year league title drought—last achieved in 2010 with Djibril Cisse as the top scorer—is a primary objective for Benitez and the club.
Panathinaikos has a rich European heritage, famously reaching the 1971 European Cup final at Wembley and making it to the Champions League semi-finals in 1996 and the quarter-finals in 2002. Club chairman Franco Baldini and Alafouzos identified Benitez as their top candidate, and he finalized the agreement after flying to Athens via private jet on Thursday.
Benitez had been out of work for over a year after a challenging stint at Celta Vigo, where he managed to secure just nine wins out of 33 matches. His previous tenure in England with Everton was also fraught with difficulties, achieving only seven victories in 22 games.
In a recent interview, Benitez expressed his desire to continue coaching, stating, "Sometimes being called ‘a legend’ is nice, but it can be complicated. It’s not good for a coach to be seen as retired. I want people to know I am not finished; I am still evolving."
With his return to the sidelines, fans and players alike are eager to see how Benitez will elevate Panathinaikos and potentially lead them back to glory.
