LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, February 26, 2025: Former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Newcastle United FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, February 26, 2025: Former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Newcastle United FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Rafael Benitez has said he is “ready” to return to management in the Premier League, after being sacked by Panathinaikos.
Former Liverpool manager Benitez has just concluded the 17th managerial job of his career, having been dismissed by Greek club Panathinaikos after just seven months.
The Spaniard, who was on a salary of £4.4 million per season, departed due to finishing fourth in the Greek top-flight, winning 20 of his 41 matches in all competitions.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, September 13, 2021: Everton's manager Rafael Benítez after the FA Premier League match between Everton FC and Burnley FC at Goodison Park. Everton won 3-1. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, September 13, 2021: Everton's manager Rafael Benítez after the FA Premier League match between Everton FC and Burnley FC at Goodison Park. Everton won 3-1. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Speaking to talkSPORT, Benitez has opened the door to a return to the Premier League:
“Remember, I was in Liverpool for six years, Newcastle three years and Chelsea seven/eight months, and we were successful in all these projects, but it seems that people have no patience now.
“And there are not too many teams in England, in the Premier League, that will say, ‘OK, we’ll go for him’.
“Because now they go for the young coaches that play progressive football, these kind of things, but we are ready. We are ready for another challenge.
“And then we are considering not just the Premier League but Serie A – any league that if you can stay around Europe will be fine.
“If not, you have to think about maybe a national team or maybe another project, but to be fair, we are ready again because we have been working on football all our lives and we enjoy that.”
Why was Rafa Benitez sacked by Panathinaikos?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Boxing Day, Wednesday, December 26, 2018: Newcastle United's manager Rafael Benitez waves as the Liverpool supporters sing his name after during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Newcastle United FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 4-0. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Boxing Day, Wednesday, December 26, 2018: Newcastle United's manager Rafael Benitez waves as the Liverpool supporters sing his name after during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Newcastle United FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 4-0. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Benitez may not be at the top of the managerial tree anymore, but there will no doubt be clubs willing to take on the experienced coach.
His latest job didn’t go to plan, though, as he was sacked despite reaching the last 16 of the Europa League with Panathinaikos.
Benitez explained: “The target was to finish in the top four, and then we started – we were seventh and then we started doing well.
“They told us, ‘Forget about Europa League‘.
“We finished in the Europa League (last 16) – that was the best result in the last 16 years. We were in the semi-final of the [domestic] cup and we finished fourth.
“But we were doing so well. We were the best team in the second part of the league. We were doing so well that they changed the targets.
“So, when we went to the play-offs, you start the play-offs with the point that you have in the league – that was -11, respecting of the other teams – and then they wanted to win or they wanted to finish second.
“And as soon as we lost the derby – normally the derby against Olympiacos is massive – we lost the derby and they panicked and they changed their minds.
“And even if we signed five young players in January, they changed everything.
“And then they started the new project like every year, so they have around eight coaches in the last three years or something like that, so it’s quite complicated.”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, March 3, 2018: Liverpool's supporters' banner "Ta Rafa La" thanking former boss Rafael Benitez before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Newcastle United FC at Anfield. (Pic by Peter Powell/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, March 3, 2018: Liverpool's supporters' banner "Ta Rafa La" thanking former boss Rafael Benitez before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Newcastle United FC at Anfield. (Pic by Peter Powell/Propaganda)
Given the constant rotation of managers in the Premier League, too, a job will likely come up if Benitez wanted it.
It would mean being closer to his family, who still live on the Wirral, and give him another chance to prove his worth at 66 years old, not that he needs to for Liverpool supporters.
Newcastle could be an interesting prospect. He clearly liked the club and the fans during his time there, but he was hamstrung by Mike Ashley’s ownership.
If Eddie Howe were to leave, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Benitez throw his hat in the ring. He just loves the game.
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