Panathinaikos and manager Rafael Benitez terminate contract

On Friday, May 22, Panathinaikos FC officially announced the departure of head coach Rafael Benitez. The Spanish manager, who was appointed on October 21, oversaw 41 matches with a record of 20 wins, 11 draws, and 10 losses. The decision to part ways follows a series of poor performances during the Stoiximan Super League playoffs, where the team finished in 4th place. Under the terms of the agreement, Panathinaikos will pay Benitez a severance package exceeding 5.5 million euros, which includes the remainder of his contract and a buyout clause for an unexercised option year. The club has expressed gratitude to the coach and his staff for their professionalism. Panathinaikos is now seeking a new manager to lead the team into the upcoming Conference League qualification rounds scheduled to begin on June 23.