Ex-Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is reportedly one game away from the sack at Panathinaikos, who are lining up his former player Igor Biscan as replacement.
Benitez was appointed head coach at Panathinaikos at the end of October, marking his first job since leaving Spanish side Celta Vigo in 2024.
But with only 13 wins from his 25 games in charge so far, leaving the Athens club fifth in the Greek top flight and 16 points off top, the 65-year-old is facing the sack.
According to Greece outlet SPORT24, Benitez is likely to be relieved of his duties if Panathinaikos lose to OFI Crete in their next league game on Sunday.
They further claim that Panathinaikos have already been in contact with former Liverpool midfielder Biscan over replacing him.
Biscan left his role at Qatari side Al-Ahli in November and boasts a strong CV having previously held positions at Rudes, Olimpija Ljubljana, Rijeka, Dinamo Zagreb and Al-Shabab as well as a stint coaching the Croatia U21s.
If he were to take over from Benitez at Panathinaikos it would be a very rare case of a coach succeeding his former manager in the dugout.
Though signed by Gerard Houllier, Biscan went on to play 35 times under Benitez in his final season at Liverpool and was key to the Reds reaching the Champions League final in Istanbul.
He went unused that night as Liverpool overcame the odds to beat AC Milan in one of the most dramatic comebacks in football history – and the Croatian left on a free transfer that summer.
Benitez’s role at Panathinaikos is his 18th as a manager, with Greece the sixth country he has worked in since starting his coaching career with Real Madrid U17s in 1986.
His time at Liverpool was his longest by far, with 350 games over six seasons before departing in 2010 and quickly taking over at Inter Milan.
Spells with Chelsea, Napoli, Real Madrid, Newcastle, Dalian Professional, Everton and Celta Vigo followed before Benitez headed to Greece.
Before their clash with OFI, Panathinaikos will play Viktoria Plzen in the first leg of their Europa League playoff on Thursday night as they bid for a place in the last 16.
