19 months out of work! Benitez finds a new job: coaching a Greek giant with an annual salary of 4 million euros

On October 23, according to the British media "Daily Mail", Benitez, who has been unemployed for 19 months, is about to make a comeback. He will take over the Greek giants Panathinaikos, which is his 17th coaching job since coaching. His annual salary in Greece is as high as 4 million euros, and he will also become the highest-paid coach in the history of the country's league.

The 65-year-old Benitez has been unemployed since being fired by Celta on March 12, 2024. At that time, he had only 5 wins in 28 games in La Liga, and the team was only 2 points above the relegation zone. However, his next stop will be in a league he has never coached in. According to Greek media reports, Benitez is about to sign a two-year contract with Greek giant Panathinaikos to become the team's new coach. Panathinaikos is currently ranked 7th (only 14 teams) in the Greek Super League with 9 points, and is as many as 8 points behind the top team Thessaloniki with one game in hand.

The Dutch "Telegraph" added that after negotiations with club chairman Giannis Alafuzos in London on Sunday night, Benitez will receive a Greek record annual salary of 4 million euros, becoming the highest-paid coach in the history of the Greek league. "The Telegraph" stated that Benitez will not take office immediately. He will first move his family to Greece, so he will not appear on the coaching bench of the team's away game against Feyenoord in the Europa League.

Feyenoord coach Robin Van Persie breathed a sigh of relief after learning that he did not have to face Benitez: "We have deployed everything and have a clear idea of Panathinaikos's style of play because the interim coach has been leading the team for some time. If Benitez arrives now, the situation may become different. Unpredictable. Personally, I'm glad he hasn't come yet, otherwise you have to take all possibilities into consideration." Before taking charge of Panathinaikos, Benitez had coached 16 clubs, including Liverpool, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Naples, Real Madrid and other giants. His honor book includes: leading Valencia to win La Liga and the UEFA Cup twice, leading Liverpool to win the FA Cup and Champions League, leading Inter Milan to win the Club World Cup, and leading Chelsea to win the Europa League.

On October 1, he was photographed in close contact with Olympiacos owner Marinakis at the Emirates Stadium, but it was reported that he was present as a UEFA technical observer at the time. When talking about the future in September, Benitez expressed his desire to return to coaching - the ideal stage is England or continental Europe, and now his wish has come true.

"It's nice to be called a legend sometimes, but it's also complicated," Benitez told The Telegraph in an interview before the Merseyside derby. "It's bad for a coach to be seen as retired. People still ask me: 'Do you still want to coach?' Of course I do. , especially in England and Europe. I don’t want to be thought that it’s over, I’m still evolving.”

Now, Benitez, who has been idle for 19 months, is about to take a new coaching position. I wish the 65-year-old coach all the best.