Celta Vigo has announced the departure of manager Rafael Benitez, ending his tenure with the La Liga club after less than nine months in charge.
Benitez, the former Liverpool and Chelsea boss, took over the managerial reins at Celta Vigo on 23 June last year. However, his tenure proved to be short-lived, with the club deciding to part ways with him following a disappointing run of results.
During his time at Celta, Benitez managed to secure just five wins out of 28 league matches, leaving the team languishing in 17th place in the Spanish top flight. With the club precariously positioned just two points above the relegation zone, the decision to relieve Benitez of his duties was made.
This marks Benitez’s first managerial role since his departure from Premier League side Everton in January 2022. Despite his wealth of experience and illustrious career, Benitez struggled to achieve success with Celta, winning only nine out of 33 games in all competitions. His final match in charge was a 4-0 defeat to Real Madrid, another of his former clubs.
In a statement released by the club, Celta Vigo expressed their gratitude to Benitez and his coaching staff for their dedication and professionalism during their time at the club. Despite the lack of desired results, the club acknowledged the efforts put in by Benitez and wished him and his assistants success in their future endeavors.
Celta Vigo will now turn their attention to their upcoming La Liga fixture against Sevilla on Sunday, hoping to turn their fortunes around under new leadership.
Benitez, renowned for his managerial successes including winning the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005 and the Europa League with Chelsea in 2013, has also managed other top clubs such as Valencia, Inter Milan, and Napoli.