Benitez sacked after seven months
Rafa Benítez is out. Panathinaikos confirmed the end of his tenure on Tuesday, just seven months after he took over. "Panathinaikos FC announces the termination of its collaboration with coach Rafa Benítez," the club said in an official statement (3). No successor has been named yet. The timing is brutal, your season hangs in the balance and now there's no one in the dugout.
Nêsrup signs two-year deal
Meanwhile, the club has tied down a different key figure. Nêsrup has signed a two-year contract, with his salary now putting him in the same bracket as what Benítez was earning, plus a championship bonus baked into the terms (1). It signals that even with the coaching chaos, the front office is locking in pieces they view as part of the long-term project.
Fan reactions
The mood on Reddit is raw and immediate. The top post translates simply to "Ounai, come back", a plea for a familiar face to return and steady the ship. Fans are not debating the decision, they are already looking past it, desperate for the next chapter to start now. See the full discussion here.
