Rafa Benitez Sacked by Celta Vigo Amid Relegation Struggle
Former Liverpool and Chelsea manager, Rafa Benitez, has once again found himself out of work after being sacked by Celta Vigo. The Spanish club, currently sitting 17th in La Liga and in danger of relegation, made the decision due to the team’s poor performance under Benitez’s leadership.
Benitez, 63, took over as Celta Vigo’s manager in July last year. However, his tenure has been far from successful, with the team winning just nine out of 33 games under his guidance. Only five of those victories came in La Liga, and following a devastating 4-0 defeat to Real Madrid on Sunday, Celta Vigo is now just two points above Cadiz in 18th place.
In a statement released by the club, it was stated that Benitez and his staff have shown “absolute dedication and total commitment.” However, the club expressed their disappointment in the team’s results and decided to part ways with the manager. They thanked Benitez for his professionalism and wished him luck in his future endeavors.
This dismissal marks a disappointing return for Benitez to Spain. Prior to his time at Celta Vigo, he had a short spell in charge of Real Madrid from June 2015 to January 2016. Following his departure from Real Madrid, Benitez had successful stints at Newcastle United from March 2016 to June 2019 and then at Chinese side Dalian Professional and Everton.
Moving forward, Celta Vigo faces a challenging schedule. Their next match is against Sevilla on March 17th, followed by a crucial home game against Rayo Vallecano two weeks later. Rayo Vallecano is currently two points ahead of Celta Vigo in the league table, making the upcoming match a must-win for Benitez’s former team.
It remains to be seen what the future holds for Rafa Benitez. With his vast experience and track record of success, it is likely that he will attract interest from other clubs in need of a new manager. For now, Celta Vigo will continue their search for a new leader to guide them through their relegation battle.
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Disclaimer: This article was written based on available information at the time of writing.