The new era at Panathinaikos has begun. The era with Rafa Benitez at the helm.
The greens solemnly announced the start of their collaboration with the Spanish technician, the coach with the longest record who has ever worked in a Greek club.
Panathinaikos welcomes Rafa Benitez as the club’s new head coach.
This is the beginning of a new era. ??#PAOFC #Panathinaikos pic.twitter.com/hgkRPDGYVH— Panathinaikos FC (@paofc_) October 24, 2025
THE Rafa Benitez who has been in Athens since yesterday afternoon, based on the information available so far, today he will have his first close acquaintance with the team’s players and the It will be presented on Saturday from PAE with all formality, and will prepare the greens for the match with Asteras Aktor in which he will debut of the team bench.
In the announcement of the greens, all his great distinctions in European football are mentioned, which ends with the shamrock welcoming Rafa Benitez to the green family. “We welcome Rafa Benitez to the Panathinaikos family!“, he says.
In detail, Panathinaikos’ announcement on the hiring of the top Spanish technician:
PAE Panathinaikos announces the start of its collaboration with one of the most successful coaches in world football and the best technician who has ever joined 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 – but also his general career in football demonstrate the scope and size of the Spanish coach. Rafa Benitez immediately takes up his duties at Trifylli, together with his staff.
Rafa Benitez was born on April 16, 1960 in Madrid, Spain. His coaching journey started at a young age, just 26, from the Real Madrid academy. After staying there for 9 years, he decided in 1995 to try his luck as a head coach. He started from Real Valladolid, where he stayed for seven months. In the summer of 1996 he took charge of Osasuna on a short 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, winning with this promotion to the top division of the Spanish league.
In 2001, the time came for the important leap in the training path of the Spanish technician. He took over at Valencia after Hector Raul Cooper. In the “bats” Benitez (proved) his coaching value. Playing very attacking football, he led the club in 2002 to win the championship after a drought of 31 years! The 2003-04 season was a dream as Valencia not only won the league again (something they haven’t done since), 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 in the history of the top English club, as in his first season, in 2004-05, he won the Champions League in the famous final against Milan, which was engraved on Liverpool’s improbable comeback in the match, although they were 3-0 down 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 at the Reds, he was again in the final of the Champions League without this time winning it. He stayed in Liverpool for six whole years.
In the summer of 2010, Benitez changed countries, going to Italy on behalf of Inter. Although he started ideally, winning the Club World Cup and the Italian Super Cup, the course in the league was not as expected and thus at the end of 2010 he “dissolved” his collaboration with the team.
Two years later, in November 2012, he took charge of Chelsea, which he led to the Europa League, his third European title.
In the summer of 2013 he returned to Italy, this time for Napoli. He stayed for two seasons, winning the Coppa Italia and the Italian Super Cup in 2014.
20 years after his retirement, Rafa Benitez returned in the summer of 2015… home to Real Madrid to take charge of the club’s fortunes. Although Real qualified first for the “16” of the Champions League and were in contention for the championship, in January 2016 it was decided to “terminate” the contract with the Spanish coach.
Three months later Benitez took charge of Newcastle, who were in dire straits. Despite a winning streak in the season finale, the Miners were relegated. But 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 three years at the English club.
In the summer of 2019 he moved to China for Dalian Professional. He stayed 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 a semester. His last team was the Spanish Celta, where he stayed for nine months.
On an individual level, he was named the best coach of the year twice by UEFA (2004, 2005) and by the Spanish La Liga (2002).
We welcome Rafa Benitez to the Panathinaikos family!
Source: Sport Fm
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