Celta Vigo has announced the departure of manager Rafael Benitez, terminating his contract less than nine months after his appointment.
The 63-year-old, renowned for his stints with Liverpool and Chelsea, took charge of the La Liga outfit on June 23 last year. However, his tenure saw limited success, with just five wins recorded in 28 league matches under his leadership.
Benitez exits Celta Vigo with the team positioned 17th in the Spanish top flight, narrowly avoiding relegation by a mere two points.
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His appointment at Celta marked his return to managerial duties following his dismissal from Premier League club Everton in January 2022.
During his brief tenure, Celta managed nine victories in 33 games across all competitions, with three wins achieved against lower-division opponents in the Copa del Rey. His final match in charge resulted in a 4-0 defeat to Real Madrid, another of his former clubs, on Sunday.
In a club statement, Celta Vigo expressed gratitude to Benitez and his coaching staff for their dedication and professionalism, despite falling short of anticipated results. The club wished them success in their future endeavors.
Celta Vigo’s next La Liga fixture is scheduled for Sunday against Sevilla, with kickoff at 13:00 GMT.
Benitez boasts an illustrious managerial career, highlighted by Champions League and FA Cup triumphs with Liverpool in 2005 and 2006, respectively. He also secured the Europa League title during his interim tenure at Chelsea in 2013.
Notably, Benitez guided Newcastle United to promotion from the Championship in the 2016-17 season and has managed esteemed clubs such as Valencia, Inter Milan, and Napoli.
