Rafa Benitez faces sack after turbulent six months in charge of club

Rafa Benitez is set to be sacked as Panathinaikos manager after only six months in charge, having lost the support of the club’s ownership.

The former Liverpool manager took over the Greek giants in October, signing a two-and-a-half-year deal worth approximately £4.4million per season.

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The 66-year-old has lost eight of his 37 matches in charge, leaving senior representatives dissatisfied, despite leading the Shamrocks to the Round of 16 of the Europa League.

Giannis Alafouzos, owner of the Athens-based outfit, decided that the defeat in their final-ever derby at their home ground, before the club moves to a new stadium, was the final straw.

For the fans, this match, known as the “Derby of the Eternal Enemies,” is about far more than football.

The result effectively condemns the club to a fourth-placed finish, meaning they will be forced into Conference League qualifiers next season rather than the Europa League play-offs.

Alafouzos has already communicated that he will part ways with the former Champions League-winning manager at the end of the season.

When he first took the role in October, the Spaniard remained cautious and said: “My idea is to be competitive in every match, but take it game by game.

“The goal is there, but we will go step by step. The essential thing is to have the right mentality.

“Our job is to lift every player and to build a connection with the fans.”

Search for a successor

The Greek businessman’s chief advisor, Franco Baldini, is currently looking for the former Chelsea boss’ successor.

He has stated the club ‘can’t continue’ with the 66-year-old, noting that their fresh start at their new stadium in Votanikos ‘won’t be as he envisions’ with Benitez in the dugout.

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Baldini, an Italian official who previously worked as an assistant manager for England, reportedly regrets his role in suggesting the former Everton coach for the position.

The club intends to allow Benítez to complete the remainder of the season, despite the decision.

At the start of his tenure, Benitez set out his plan with the Greek club and said: “Hopefully, we can play nice football, keep the ball and play with high tempo, as it will give us more chances to win.

“Do I have a magic wand? No chance but what I can guarantee is that the team is competitive and the fans can be proud.”

Panathinaikos has a history of high managerial turnover, having previously sacked notable head coaches such as Fatih Terim and Rui Vitória.

This will mark the club’s search for its sixth manager in five years.

For Benítez, the departure highlights a difficult period in his career. The last time the Spaniard won a professional trophy was the 2014 Coppa Italia with Napoli.