Rafa Benitez Sacked As Celta Vigo Manager

Rafa Benitez has been sacked as Celta Vigo manager after less than a season in charge.

Celta’s four-goal defeat at Real Madrid on Sunday left the club just one place and two points above the relegation zone in La Liga.

Benitez, 63, won just five of his 28 league matches in charge of Celta — collecting 24 points in the process, having been appointed last summer.

Celta remain 17th in the standings but are just two points above Cadiz, who ended a six-month winless run in La Liga at the weekend by defeating Atletico Madrid 2-0.

Celta thanked Benitez and his departing staff in a statement on Tuesday, highlighting their “honesty and professionalism” during their time at the club.

Benitez was Liverpool manager for six years between 2004 and 2010 and won the Champions League in 2005. He took over at rival club Everton in June 2021 but was sacked in January last year after nine defeats in 13 games.

He also had a three-year spell at Newcastle United, leading the club back to the Premier League in 2016-17 after winning the Championship.

Benitez has also managed Real Madrid, Napoli, Inter Milan and Valencia. He had a brief period as interim coach of Chelsea where he won the Europa League in 2013.