Rafael Benitez has been confirmed as the new manager of Greek heavyweights Panathinaikos.
The Spaniard, 65, steps into the 17th managerial role of an illustrious career which has taken him around Valencia, Liverpool, Inter Milan, and Real Madrid.
He is believed to have penned a two-year deal in Athens and, according to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, will be treated to a record-breaking managerial salary for the division of £3.47million.
They are Greece’s second-most successful club behind Olympiacos, having claimed 20 league titles and 44 trophies in all, and have never been relegated from the top flight.
But the capital club currently sit seventh in the 14-team Super League on nine points after six matches – eight points behind league leaders PAOK but with a game in hand.
He also has a big task on his hand if he isn to regain the league title; they haven’t won it since 2009-10, back when Djibril Cisse was their top scorer.
In a rather excited 714-word statement detailing his career, they wrote: ‘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.’
The Madrid-born tactician will take up his duties immediately and bring along his own coaching staff for the role.
He might have been in charge for their 3-1 Thursday night Europa League defeat to Robin van Persie’s Feyenoord, but he requested to have more time to sort his move.
Benitez has been unemployed since being sacked by LaLiga side Celta Vigo on March 12 last year after just five wins from 28 matches in LaLiga – leaving the club two points above the relegation zone.
His managerial honours include winning two LaLiga titles and a UEFA Cup with Valencia, a FA Cup and Champions League with Liverpool, FIFA Club World Cup at Inter Milan and Europa League during his time at Chelsea.
On October 1 he was pictured in close proximity with Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis during their Champions League fixture at Arsenal, though it is understood Benitez was at Emirates Stadium in his role as a UEFA technical observer.
Speaking in September about management, Benitez spoke of his desire to return – ideally to England or to Europe – and now he has his wish.
‘Sometimes to be described as “a legend” is very nice, but also complicated,’ Benitez told the Telegraph ahead of the Merseyside derby.
‘It is bad for a coach to be seen as retired. People still ask me, “Do you want to coach?” For sure, I do, particularly in England and Europe. I do not want people to think I am finished. I am still evolving.’
