Benitez Begins a Greek Chapter: Panathinaikos on the Horizon

Benitez in Greece: A New Coaching Chapter

Rafael Benitez, the veteran Spanish coach, is nearing a return to the dugout, this time with Panathinaikos in the Greek Super League after a long hiatus of about 19 months.

The 65-year-old manager is reportedly close to signing a two-year deal with the Athens club, according to the Daily Mail, which would add another chapter to a career that has taken him to some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Benitez’s most recent job was with Celta Vigo, from which he was dismissed on March 12, 2024, after a run of poor results left the team just two points above the relegation zone, with five wins from 28 La Liga matches.

Since then, he has stayed out of the limelight, watching European football unfold from the sidelines as fans and pundits speculated about his next destination.

Greek media report that Panathinaikos’ leadership has reached a preliminary agreement with Benitez on a two-year contract, signaling a serious bid to restore domestic prestige and European relevance for a club historically among Greece’s giants.

The team currently sits seventh in a 14-team league with nine points from six games and is eight points behind leaders PAOK, though a fixture in hand could offer a chance to climb the table.

Details of the package underline the scale of the project. The Dutch newspaper The Telegraph (?) reported that talks in London last Sunday brought most terms into place, including an annual salary of about £3.47 million, which would make Benitez the highest-paid coach in Greek football history.

Benitez reportedly asked for a short delay to finalize the move to Athens, meaning he will not be on the bench for the upcoming Europa League match against Feyenoord on Thursday.

Robin van Persie, Feyenoord’s former star, breathed a sigh of relief at the postponement, noting that their scouting and plan for facing the temporary coach would stay intact and that Benitez’s absence makes preparation clearer for the Dutch side.

Benitez’s coaching journey stretches over three decades, from Real Madrid’s academy to Valencia, where he won La Liga twice (2002, 2004) and the UEFA Cup, then Liverpool, where he guided the Reds to the 2005 UEFA Champions League title in Istanbul’s famous comeback. He later coached Inter, Chelsea, Napoli, Real Madrid, Newcastle United, and Everton, with a later stint at Celta Vigo blending more ups and downs into a storied résumé.

For Panathinaikos, hiring a manager of Benitez’s stature represents a bold bet on rebuilding the club’s status and returning to Europe’s limelight after years of fluctuations. The club, a European heavyweight alongside Olympiakos and AEK Athens historically, seeks to regain its domestic dominance and re-enter continental competition with renewed momentum.

Contractual details underscore the seriousness of the project. Panathinaikos aims to fuse Benitez’s defensive robustness with his tactical flexibility to strengthen both league performance and European campaigns. Although the agreement appears near completion, the coach’s move to Athens is being finalized, delaying his official on-pitch duties for a short period.

The wider football world will watch closely to see if the veteran can adapt to Greek football and deliver a revival in Athens, a city steeped in football history and a fanbase hungry for European glory.

Benitez’s career, from his early days in Madrid to Valencia, Liverpool, Inter, Chelsea, Napoli, Real Madrid, Newcastle United, and Everton, has left an indelible mark on the sport. Even his less successful later spells have contributed to a legacy that few managers can rival.

Panathinaikos’ supporters hope the appointment will bring a measured blend of solid defense and tactical nuance, echoing the club’s storied past and its ambition to reach European finals, including the 1971 European Cup final.

Punchline 1: If Benitez can turn Panathinaikos into a fortress, the only thing tighter than the defense might be his schedule—he’ll be booked thicker than a Greek tavern menu.

Punchline 2: They say coaching is about timing; with Benitez in Athens, Greek football may finally train its clock to finish games before the referee’s whistle blows.