Rafa Benitez has returned to management.
An official announcement (see below) on Friday morning revealing the news.
Rafa Benitez taking the manager’s job at Panathinaikos.
The 65 year old taking on the challenge, after 19 months out of football following Celta Vigo sacking him in March 2024.
Good luck to Rafa, somebody who will always get a warm welcome from Newcastle United fans, having done an outstanding job despite Mike Ashley in control of NUFC at the time.
Panathinaikos official statement – 24 October 2025:
‘Rafa Benitez is the new coach of Panathinaikos
The great Spanish coach takes up his duties immediately
Panathinaikos FC announces the start of its collaboration with one of the most successful coaches in world football and the top coach to ever come to a Greek team, Rafa Benitez!
The countless titles he has won in his long career – including the Champions League, two UEFA Cup/Europa League and a Club World Cup – as well as his overall career in football demonstrate the reach and stature of the Spanish coach. Rafa Benitez immediately assumes his duties at the Clover, along with his staff.
Rafa Benitez was born on April 16, 1960 in Madrid, Spain. His coaching career began at a young age, just 26 years old, at the Real Madrid academy. After staying there for 9 years, in 1995 he decided to try his luck as a first-team coach. He started at Real Valladolid, where he remained for seven months. In the summer of 1996, he took charge of Osasuna for a short period. In 1997, he moved to Extremadura, which he led to promotion to the Primera Division. He stayed for two “full” seasons and in 2000 he took charge of Tenerife, winning promotion to the top division of the Spanish league.
In 2001, the time came for the important leap in the coaching career of the Spanish coach. He took over Valencia after Hector Raul Cuper. Benitez (dis)proved his coaching value in the “bats”. Playing very aggressive football, he led the club in 2002 to win the championship after a 31-year drought! The 2003-04 season was a dream since Valencia won the championship again (something it has not managed to do again since then), but also the UEFA Cup!
In the summer of 2004, he was hired by Liverpool, with Benitez becoming the first Spanish coach in a Premier League team! He left his mark on the history of the top English club, since in his first season, in 2004-05, he won the Champions League in the famous final against Milan that was remembered for Liverpool’s incredible comeback in the match, although they were losing 3-0 at half-time (3-3 final and victory on penalties). He thus became the third coach to win a European competition title in consecutive seasons! The following season, Liverpool won the European Super Cup and the FA Cup. In his third year with the Reds, he again reached the Champions League final without winning it this time. He stayed at Liverpool for six whole years.
In the summer of 2010, Benitez moved to Italy to join Inter Milan. Although he started off well, winning the Club World Cup and the Italian Super Cup, his performance in the league was not what he had expected and thus, at the end of 2010, he “terminated” his partnership with the team.
Two years later, in November 2012, he took over Chelsea, which he led to winning the Europa League, his third European title.
In the summer of 2013, he returned to Italy, this time to Napoli. He stayed for two seasons, winning the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana in 2014.
20 years after his retirement, Rafa Benitez returned to his home in the summer of 2015, to Real Madrid, to take charge of the club’s fortunes. Although Real Madrid had qualified first in the Champions League round of 16 and were in contention for the league title, in January 2016 it was decided to “terminate” the contract with the Spanish coach.
Three months later, Benitez took over Newcastle, who were in a dire position in the standings. Despite a winning streak at the end of the season, the “Miners” were relegated. However, he remained at the helm of the team and a season later Newcastle returned to the top flight, winning the Championship title. The Spanish coach stayed at the English club for three years.
In the summer of 2019, he moved to China for Dalian Professional. He stayed for a year and a half and in the summer of 2021, he returned to his beloved England, this time for Everton. He stayed there for six months. His last team was the Spanish Celta, where he remained for nine months.
On an individual level, he was twice named UEFA Coach of the Year (2004, 2005) and the Spanish La Liga (2002).
We welcome Rafa Benitez to the Panathinaikos family!’
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