A Spanish football coach who has managed major clubs such as Liverpool, Real Madrid, Inter, and Chelsea, with his greatest achievement being the Champions League title in 2005 with Liverpool.

Why is Red Star Belgrade looking for a new coach?

Following elimination by Hapoel Be'er Sheva on the European stage, the previous coach Dejan Stanković resigned.

Has Benitez already signed for Red Star Belgrade?

There is no confirmation of an agreement yet. Benitez is just one of the candidates, and negotiations have not been finalized.

When might the decision on the new coach be announced?

The club's management has scheduled an emergency press conference for today, but a specific date for the appointment of the new coach has not been announced.

Football

Rafa Benitez Among Candidates for Red Star Belgrade Bench After Stanković's Departure

N.G. · Prije 7h | 2 min

The celebrated 66-year-old tactician, Champions League winner with Liverpool, has emerged as a potential successor to Dejan Stanković at the Belgrade giants.

Summary

Rafa Benitez, a 66-year-old Spanish coach, is a candidate for the Red Star Belgrade bench.
Benitez has been without a club since May 2026 when he left Panathinaikos.
Red Star Belgrade is urgently seeking a successor to Dejan Stanković after elimination by Hapoel Be'er Sheva.
Benitez's arrival would be one of the most high-profile coaching transfers in the history of regional football.

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Red Star Belgrade is intensively searching for a new head coach following Dejan Stanković's departure, and according to information reported by MaxBet Sport, one exceptionally high-profile name has appeared among the candidates, Rafa Benitez.

The Spanish tactician is currently without a club, which could significantly ease potential negotiations for the Belgrade side. Benitez left Panathinaikos in May 2026 and has been a free agent since then.

A Resume That Commands Respect

Simply listing the clubs that the 66-year-old Benitez has managed speaks volumes about his coaching pedigree. Throughout his illustrious career, he has sat on the benches of Valencia, Liverpool, Inter, Chelsea, Napoli, Real Madrid, Newcastle United, and Everton.

His greatest achievement came in 2005 when he led Liverpool to Champions League glory, following the legendary final against Milan in Istanbul. In Spain, he won two league titles and the UEFA Cup with Valencia, while at Chelsea he lifted the Europa League trophy.

A Swift Decision Under Pressure

The situation at the stadium on Ljutice Bogdana Street is developing rapidly. Less than 24 hours after a heavy defeat on the European stage, where Hapoel Be'er Sheva triumphed in both legs, Stanković informed the players of his decision to step down.

The club's management is under immense pressure and cannot afford to wait. An emergency press conference has been scheduled for today, where the main question will be who takes over the team. The red-and-whites soon face commitments in the Europa League, so the leadership must act without delay.

For now, there is no confirmation that an agreement has been reached between the two parties, but the mere fact that the name of a Champions League-winning coach has appeared among the candidates shows that Red Star Belgrade is considering very ambitious solutions for a new era on its bench.