Rafa Benitez has taken his first job since being sacked by Everton 17 months ago and will be in charge of a former Liverpool striker next season.
Benitez has been out of work since his sacking at Goodison Park at the start of 2022, having recorded 10 defeats in his side’s previous 15 games.
The Spaniard deliberately took time off, revealing in an interview with the BBC Football Daily podcast in February that he had turned down “almost 20 offers from national teams and countries”.
His preference was to stay in the Premier League, although it has now been confirmed that the 63-year-old will take over at Celta Vigo after they announced agreement in principle.
Instead, he will return to Spain for the first time since 2016, when his short spell in charge of Real Madrid ended.
?? Principle of consent so ???? ???????? be the coach of @RCCelta100 ?#100AnosdeAfoutezaeCorazón
— RC Celta (@RCCelta) June 23, 2023
Celta Vigo finished 13th in La Liga last season, with Carlos Carvalhal leaving the club at the end of the campaign by mutual consent.
Benitez’s squad will include former Liverpool striker Iago Aspas, who has enjoyed the last eight years with his boyhood club after spending two seasons away from Anfield and then Sevilla.
Aspas is regarded as a legend at the Estadio Municipal de Balaidos, a stark contrast to the reputation forged in his only campaign on Merseyside.
Among his team-mates, at least at the moment, is Spain Under-21 midfielder Gabry Veiga, although he is expected to leave this summer with Liverpool among his suitors.
Celta Vigo’s highest finish in La Liga in recent years is sixth, which they achieved in 2015/16 to repeat their success in 1970/71.
Their most notable honors are three Segunda Division titles and the Intertoto Cup, which they beat Zenit St Petersburg to win in 2000 – after pipping Aston Villa along the way.