Former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has been appointed head coach of Greek side Panathinaikos, the 15th club of his managerial career.

The 65-year-old succeeds Christos Kontis, who was sacked by the Athens-based club after Thursday’s 3-1 Europa League defeat by Feyenoord.

The 20-time Greek champions are seventh in the Super League and have suffered back-to-back Europa League defeats.

Greek media have reported Benitez has signed a two-year deal worth around four million euros (£3.5m) a year.

Benitez’s last job was at Spanish club Celta Vigo, but he was sacked in March 2024 after less than nine months in charge.

That was his first managerial role since being sacked by Premier League side Everton in January 2022.

The Spaniard won the 2005 Champions League and 2006 FA Cup with Liverpool and the 2013 Europa League during his interim spell at Chelsea.

He guided Newcastle to promotion from the Championship in the 2016-17 season, and has also managed Valencia, where he won two La Liga titles and the Uefa Cup, plus Inter Milan, Napoli and Real Madrid.

Benitez started his managerial career at Real’s under-17 team in 1986, taking over the club’s reserve side – Real Madrid Castilla – and having a brief spell as Real’s first-team assistant.

He moved to Valladolid in 1995 and had stints at Osasuna, Extremadura, Tenerife and Valencia before he joined Liverpool in 2004.