Celta Vigo has terminated the contract of manager Rafa Benitez after a tenure of less than nine months.
Benitez, a former manager at Liverpool and Chelsea and aged 63, took the helm at the La Liga club on June 23 of the previous year and has been let go after securing only five victories in 28 league games with Celta.
He departs with the team positioned 17th in the top division of Spanish football, merely two points clear of the relegation zone.
Rafa Benitez sacked by Celta Vigo after 4-0 thumping to Real Madrid
This role at Celta was Benitez’s first since his dismissal from Premier League team Everton in January 2022.
Throughout his stint with Celta, the team won only nine of its 33 matches across all competitions, with three victories coming against teams from lower divisions in the Copa del Rey. His last match in charge was a 4-0 loss to Real Madrid, one of his ex-clubs, on the preceding Sunday.
A statement from the club mentioned: “After eight months of complete dedication and unwavering commitment, Rafa Benitez and his coaching team are parting ways with RC Celta, as the squad did not achieve the outcomes anticipated by the club.
“RC Celta extends its deepest thanks to Rafa Benitez and his staff for their professionalism and integrity shown since they came on board and for their exhaustive efforts. The club also extends its best wishes for their future success and endeavors.”
Celta Vigo’s upcoming match in La Liga is on Sunday against Sevilla, with a start time of 13:00 GMT.
Benitez’s career highlights include winning the Champions League in 2005 and the FA Cup in 2006 with Liverpool, the Europa League in 2013 with Chelsea, securing promotion to the Premier League with Newcastle in the 2016-17 season, and managing other top clubs such as Valencia, Inter Milan, and Napoli.
