Credit: Imago

Jack Dawson

Wed 22 April 2026 17:22, UK

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Rafa Benitez is set to leave Panathinaikos at the end of the season, which could open the door to a shock Celtic appointment.

The former Liverpool and Real Madrid boss took over the Greek side in October and has overseen a 52.8 per cent win rate so far.

This helped the club reach the Europa League round of 16, before they were knocked out by Real Betis.

However, their recent form has been poor, and after just one win in five matches in all competitions, he is now set to depart according to Giannis Chorianopoulos on 22 April, with an annoucement due.

Now, this could lead to a managerial opportunity for Celtic, as they hunt for Martin O’Neill’s successor.

Rafa Benitez would be an excellent appointment for Celtic

While Benitez is no longer getting many top jobs, he is still clearly a top manager.

At Newcastle United, he guided the Magpies back into the Premier League and managed to keep them there despite the difficult ownership of Mike Ashley.

On top of this, many of his signings proved to be fantastic long-term additions.

Fabian Schar and Jacob Murphy are prime examples of this, with the duo still being key players at Newcastle to this day.

❗ Panathinaikos are about to part ways officially with Rafa Benítez in the end of the season. He will be in the club for the last 4 matches of Greek Super League 1 🟢#Panathinaikos #PAOFC

— Giannis Chorianopoulos (@choria80) April 22, 2026

Therefore, with Celtic currently in a difficult ownership situation and with the squad in need of a rebuild, these skills could be vital and help the Old Firm club become the dominant power in Scotland once again.

Who else could become the next Celtic manager?

Football Insider has recently revealed that Celtic need to offer a sizeable contract to Roberto Martinez if they want him to take over in the summer.

The current Portugal manager has been heavily linked to the club since Wilfred Nancy’s sacking back in January.

However, considering the reputation of the coach, they could face a battle to bring him in, especially if he oversees a successful 2026 World Cup and brings the trophy home.

Several other clubs are also likely to be interested in his services once the tournament ends.

Nevertheless, it remains to be seen who Celtic look to bring in during the summer as they look to bounce back from what is likely to be an underwhelming campaign.