OFFICIAL: Rafa Benítez becomes Panathinaikos head coach

On 24 October, Panathinaikos officially announced that Benítez will be the team's new head coach.

Club Statement:

PAE Panathinaikos announces the start of its collaboration with one of the most successful coaches in world football and the top technical director who has ever come to a Greek team, Rafa Benítez!

The countless titles he has won throughout his long career - including the Champions League, two UEFA Cup/Europa League titles, and one FIFA Club World Cup - as well as his overall trajectory in football, demonstrate the scope and magnitude of the Spanish coach. Rafa Benítez will immediately assume his duties at the Trifylle, along with his staff. 

Raúl Benítez was born on April 16, 1960, in Madrid, Spain. His coaching career began at a young age, just 26 years old, from the Real Madrid academy. After staying there for 9 years, he decided in 1995 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 over Osasuna for a brief stint. 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 over Tenerife, also winning promotion to the top tier of the Spanish league with them.

In 2001, it was time for a significant leap in the coaching career of the Spanish coach. He took over Valencia after Hector Raul Cooper. At the "Nights," Benitez (un)demonstrated his coaching worth. Playing very attacking football, he led the club to win the championship in 2002 after 31 years of drought! The 2003-04 season was a dream as Valencia won the championship again (something it has not managed to do since), but also the UEFA Cup! 

In the summer of 2004, he was hired by Liverpool, with Benítez becoming the first Spanish manager in a Premier League club! He left his mark on the history of the top English club, as in his first season, 2004-05, he won the Champions League in the famous final against Milan that remained engraved for Liverpool's incredible comeback in the match, although they were losing 3-0 at half-time (3-3 final and victory on penalties). Thus, he became the third manager to win a European tournament 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 was again in the Champions League final without winning it this time. He stayed at Liverpool for a full six years. 

In the summer of 2010, Benítez changed countries, moving to Italy on behalf of Inter. Although he started ideally, winning the FIFA Club World Cup and the Italian Super Cup, his performance in the league was not as expected, and so, at the end of 2010, he "ended" his collaboration 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 the Supercoppa Italiana in 2014. 

20 years after his departure, Rafa Benítez returned in the summer of 2015... to his home, Real Madrid, to take charge of the fortunes of the top club. Although Real qualified first in the "Round of 16" of the Champions League and was in contention in the league, in January 2016 it was decided to "terminate" the contract with the Spanish coach.

Three months later, Benítez took over Newcastle, which was in a dire position in the league table. Despite a winning streak at the end of the season, the "Magpies" were relegated. However, he remained at the helm of the team, and a season later, Newcastle returned to the top flight, winning the title in the Championship. The Spanish manager stayed with 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. There, he stayed for a semester. His last club was the Spanish Celta, where he remained for nine months. 

On an individual level, he was twice named Coach of the Year by UEFA (2004, 2005) and by the Spanish La Liga (2002).

Welcome Rafa Benítez to the Panathinaikos family!