Celta Vigo has terminated the contract of manager Rafael Benitez in under nine months.
Former Liverpool and Chelsea manager Benitez, aged 63, joined La Liga’s Celta Vigo on June 23rd last year. He departs the club having secured only five victories in his 28 league matches in charge.
Celta Vigo currently occupies the 17th position in the Spanish top flight, holding a slim two-point margin above the relegation zone.
This stint with Celta marked Benitez’s first managerial role since his dismissal from Everton in January 2022. Throughout his tenure, Celta managed to secure just nine wins in 33 games across all competitions, with three of those victories coming against lower-division teams in the Copa del Rey. His final match in charge was a 4-0 defeat against Real Madrid, another of his former clubs, on Sunday.
A club statement read: “Rafa Benitez and his staff leave RC Celta after eight months of absolute dedication and total commitment, but in which the team has not obtained the results expected by the club.
“The club would like to express to Rafa Benitez and his assistants its most sincere gratitude for the honesty and professionalism they have shown since their arrival and the tireless work they have done. RC Celta would also like to wish them the best of luck and success in the future.”
Celta Vigo’s next La Liga fixture is scheduled for Sunday against Sevilla, with the match set to commence at 13:00 GMT.
Benitez boasts an impressive managerial record, having clinched the 2005 Champions League and 2006 FA Cup with Liverpool, as well as the 2013 Europa League during his interim tenure at Chelsea.
Additionally, he steered Newcastle to promotion from the Championship in the 2016-17 season. Over the course of his career, Benitez has also managed Valencia, Inter Milan, and Napoli.