A bonafide legend in Anfield circles, Rafael Benitez's 19-month wait to return to the dugout is set to end in the near future. The seasoned 65-year-old last managed Celta Vigo in Spain's top flight but was sacked and replaced by Claudio Giraldez in March 2024 but is now in line to take on his 17th job in management, all while becoming the highest-paid boss in the league's history.
Hailed as a Spanish messiah, Benitez – who has also managed the likes of Valencia, Napoli and Newcastle United in stints across the continent – is largely remembered for being the mastermind on the touchline as Liverpool beat a star-studded AC Milan in that 2005 Champions League final.
The wily gaffer, widely regarded as one of the best managers in Premier League history, was in charge of the Merseysiders for 350 matches (the longest stint of his career) and saw all manner of talent come and go. His dismissal last March led many supporters to believe that he would call time on his managerial career – but that is reportedly not the case with his next venture on the horizon.
Benitez Set to Become Highest-Paid Manager with Panathinaikos in Greece
rafael benitez
Last year, Madrid-born Benitez left Celta Vigo fighting a relegation battle as he managed to accrue just five wins from 28 matches in La Liga – and giving him his marching order was the only option for the club's boardroom bosses. At that time, they were just two points above the drop zone; but they did manage to secure a 13th-placed finish under the guidance of Giraldez in 2023/24.
According to reports in Greece, as relayed by the Daily Mail, Benitez is set to become the new Panathinaikos manager on a two-year basis. At the time of writing, having picked up just nine points from their opening six matches, the Greek giants are seventh in the Super League Greece – and the likelihood of catching table-topping PAOK is somewhat slipping away.
As reported by Dutch publication De Telegraaf, following negotiations with Panathinaikos president Giannis Alafouzos in London on Sunday evening, Benitez is set to pocket an eye-catching £3.47 million per year upon putting pen to paper. In turn, he will become the highest-paid manager in the history of the division.
De Telegraaf states that Benitez, so that he can sort out his move to Athens properly, has asked club higher-ups if he could not kickstart his new tenure straightaway. That, of course, meant that he could not be in the dugout for their Europa League match against Feyenoord, whose manager Robin van Persie spoke about his arrival ahead of the encounter in the Netherlands. He said:
"We've mapped everything out and have a good idea how Panathinaikos plays, because the interim coach has been in place for a while. If Benitez had taken over now, things could have gone either way. Personally, I'm glad Benitez isn't here yet; otherwise, you have to take everything into account."
rafael benitez manager
The last time Benitez got his hands on silverware was back in 2014, when his Napoli side beat Fiorentina 3-1 in the final of the Coppa Italia – but he'll be hoping that a change of scenery could change his fortunes. His impressive resume began in his hometown as he was involved with Real Madrid B between 1993 and 1995.
Benitez then made a name for himself in Spain, plying his trade in the dugout for the likes of Real Valladolid, Osasuna and CD Tenerife. It was his 160-match spell in charge of Valencia which caught the eye of Liverpool chiefs in 2004, however, and the rest is history. He also managed Real Madrid for 25 matches between 2015 and 2016.