Rafa Benitez is on the brink of the sack as Panathinaikos manager after a disastrous first few months in charge, according to reports in Greece.
The former Liverpool boss, 65, was appointed in October on a lucrative two-and-a-half-year contract worth around £3.5million per year – a deal said to have made him the highest-paid head coach in the history of the Super League Greece.
However, Benitez has managed just 13 wins from his first 25 matches in charge, losing six across all competitions.
Panathinaikos – second only to Olympiacos in all-time domestic league titles – currently sit fifth in the top flight.
Although they were seventh when Benitez took over, the gap to the top two and the Champions League qualification places has widened during his tenure.
Panathinaikos have not finished below fifth since the 2018-19 campaign, when they ended the season in eighth place.
Rafa Benitez is on the brink of the sack as Panathinaikos manager after four months in charge
Some members of the squad have reportedly grown frustrated with Benitez’s methods, with complaints over a perceived lack of detailed tactical analysis in match preparation
Reports claim that Benitez has just two games to save his job, with the club having contacted former player Igor Biscan (above) to replace him if results do not improve
According to a report in The Sun, some members of the squad have grown frustrated with his methods, with complaints over a perceived lack of detailed tactical analysis in match preparation.
Reports claim the Spaniard has just two matches to save his job, with upcoming fixtures against Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League and OFI Crete in the league.
Should the Athens-based club decide to part ways with Benitez, a replacement is reportedly already lined up.
Greek outlet Sport24 claims contact has been made with former Panathinaikos player Igor Biscan.
Biscan, 47, most recently managed Qatari side Al-Ahli, leaving the club in November.
He is no stranger to the Benitez either, having played him Benitez at Liverpool and was part of the squad that famously came from 3-0 down to defeat AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League Final – though he was an unused substitute in that match.
If dismissed, Benitez could reportedly be entitled to compensation of around £4.4million.
Biscan played under Benitez at Liverpool, including during the side’s 2005 Champions League-winning campaign – although was an unused substitute in the final
The Panathinaikos job is the 15th managerial role of Benitez’s career. His previous post was at Spanish club Celta Vigo, but he was sacked in March 2024 after less than nine months in charge.
That was his first managerial role since being sacked by Premier League side Everton in January 2022.
Alongside the 2005 Champions League, Benitez also won 2006 FA Cup with Liverpool as well as the 2013 Europa League during an interim spell at Chelsea.
He helped guide Newcastle to promotion from the Championship in the 2016-17 season, and has also managed Valencia, where he won two La Liga titles and the Europa League, plus Inter Milan, Napoli and Real Madrid.