Benitez Confirms Napoli Departure

Rafael Benitez has confirmed that he will be leaving Napoli following the Serie A final match against Lazio on Sunday (24/5). The former coach has been heavily linked with the manager’s job at Real Madrid following
Carlo Ancelloti’s sacking on Monday after his two seasons at Bernabeu. Benitez admitted that it is always sad to leave a place where “people treat you well.”
Benítez, who had a coaching career in Real’s youth setup in the 1990s, made the announcement at a news conference with Napoli’s president, Aurelio De Laurentiis.

“I want to thank the club, its president and the fans for what you have done for me. I want to say goodbye to this club and I want to end my cycle here with a victory and a place in the qualifying round of the Champions League,” stated Benitez after the confirmation of his departure.

Benitez refused to discuss his future and the prospect of taking charge at Real Madrid, where he had stints as a youth coach, Under-19 coach and assistant first-team coach in the 1990s. If Benitez does become Real boss, it means that he will return to manage in his homeland for the first time since leaving Valencia to take responsibility of Liverpool in 2004. With Valencia,
Benitez won two La Liga titles and the UEFA Cup, while led Liverpool to Champions League glory in 2005. While Napoli won the Italian Cup and Italian Super Cup during Benitez’s two years in charge.

Napoli, in fourth, host third-placed Lazio in their last game of the Serie A season with a Champions League place at stake.

The Spaniard claimed being away from his family for two years was a key factor of his departure and that he made the decision together with his wife a few weeks ago. “It was clear that my time here was finished and that I needed to look for something else for the future.”

In the summer, the former Liverpool manager will be out of contract with Napoli and has decided to leave the club despite winning the Italian Super Cup with Napoli last month. He is now tipped to return to Spain as a replacement for Ancelotti, who left the Santiago Bernabéu this week with a year of his contract remaining.

While Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis commented that he was not surprised that Benitez was leaving the club. “Rafa told me immediately after he agreed to stay on last summer that this would be his last campaign because his family wanted him nearby,” he said. “I want to thank Rafa, a coach that I really wanted two years ago.”

Readers Comments (32)

  1. Theboltonnews.co.uk May 30, 2015 @ 8:56 am

    Benitez confirms Napoli departure From The Bolton News. Rafael Benitez announced on Thursday that he will leave Napoli at the end of the season after two years in charge The Spanish coach has been linked with Real Madrid .

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  2. Rafa Bentez confirms Napoli departure VAVELcom. Rafa Bentez confirms Napoli departure 28052015 Napoli manager Rafa Bentez as confirmed hes leaving Napoli seemingly paving the way for a move to Real Madrid.

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  3. Express.co.uk May 31, 2015 @ 1:15 am

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  4. Middleastpost.com May 31, 2015 @ 1:32 am

    Benitez confirms Napoli departure Middle East Post . Rafael Benitez says he will be leaving Napoli following the final game of the Italian clubs season on Sunday The Spaniard 55 is favourite to take over at Real .

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  5. Newsshopper.co.uk May 31, 2015 @ 4:22 am

    Benitez confirms Napoli departure From News Shopper. Rafael Benitez announced on Thursday that he will leave Napoli at the end of the season after two years in charge The Spanish coach has been linked with Real Madrid .

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  6. Bicesteradvertiser.net May 31, 2015 @ 2:30 pm

    Benitez confirms Napoli departure From Bicester Advertiser. Rafael Benitez announced on Thursday that he will leave Napoli at the end of the season after two years in charge The Spanish coach has been linked with Real Madrid .

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  7. Football-italia.net May 31, 2015 @ 6:07 pm

    Benitez confirms Napoli departure Football Italia. Its reported that Rafael Benitez has already told players he plans to leave Napoli with Luciano Spaletti favourite to replace him The Spaniards .

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  8. Kidderminstershuttle.co.uk May 31, 2015 @ 6:14 pm

    Benitez confirms Napoli departure From Kidderminster Shuttle. Rafael Benitez announced on Thursday that he will leave Napoli at the end of the season after two years in charge The Spanish coach has been linked with Real Madrid .

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  9. Celebrity.yahoo.com May 31, 2015 @ 10:51 pm

    Benitez Confirms Napoli Departure Watch the video . Benitez Confirms Napoli Departure Rafael Benitez says he will be leaving Napoli following the final game of the Italian club39s season on Sunday.

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  10. Sport.citifmonline.com June 2, 2015 @ 1:01 am

    Rafael Benitez confirms Napoli departure Citi Sport. Rafael Benitez says he will be leaving Napoli following the final game of the Italian clubs season on Sunday The Spaniard 55 is favourite to take over at Real .

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  11. Uk.eurosport.yahoo.com June 2, 2015 @ 5:18 am

    Football Benitez confirms Napoli departure Yahoo . Football Benitez confirms Napoli departure Rafael Benitez announced on Thursday that he will leave Napoli at the end of the season after two years in charge.

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  12. Managingmadrid.com June 2, 2015 @ 8:00 am

    Napoli President all but confirms Rafa Bentez departure . Napoli have a very tough game ahead that will define their 20142015 season The Italian side will host Lazio on Sunday and they need to get the three points to earn .

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  13. Insidefutbol.com June 2, 2015 @ 10:22 am

    Rafael Benitez Confirms Napoli Departure Inside Futbol. Real Madrid managerial target Rafael Benitez has announced his departure from Napoli.

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  14. Benitez confirms Napoli departure BT. Benitez confirms Napoli departure Rafael Benitez announced on Thursday that he will leave Napoli at the end of the season after two years in charge.

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  15. Theargus.co.uk June 2, 2015 @ 8:12 pm

    Benitez confirms Napoli departure From The Argus. Rafael Benitez announced on Thursday that he will leave Napoli at the end of the season after two years in charge The Spanish coach has been linked with Real Madrid .

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  16. Shieldsgazette.com June 2, 2015 @ 8:32 pm

    Benitez confirms Napoli departure Shields Gazette. Madridborn Benitez spoke in a press conference alongside Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis and said My contract with Napoli was a twoyear deal.

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  17. Football.co.uk June 2, 2015 @ 9:56 pm

    Benitez confirms Napoli departure Footballcouk. Rafael Benitez announced on Thursday that he will leave Napoli at the end of the season after two years in charge The Spanish coach has been linked with Real Madrid .

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  18. Rafa Benitez confirms Napoli departure as Spaniard takes . Rafa Benitez has announced he will leave Napoli at the end of the season The former Liverpool boss is widely expected to replace Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid .

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  19. Rafa Benitez confirms Napoli departure RT Sport. Rafa Benitez is rumoured to be heading for Madrid Napoli coach Rafa Benitez has announced he is leaving after two years with the Serie A club amid .

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  20. Benitez confirms Napoli departure FIFAcom. Rafa Benitez has announced that he will leave Napoli at the end of the season after two years in charge The Spanish coach has been linked with Real Madrid who .

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  21. Managingmadrid.com June 4, 2015 @ 2:07 am

    OFFICIAL Rafa Bentez confirms Napoli departure . Rafa Bentez will coach his last game for SSC Napoli this next Sunday when his team host Lazio in a decisive match that will decide which team earns a spot in next .

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  22. BBC Sport Rafael Benitez confirms Napoli departure. Rafael Benitez says he will be leaving Napoli following the final game of the Italian clubs season on Sunday The Spaniard 55 is favourite to take over .

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  23. Socceramerica.com June 4, 2015 @ 3:25 am

    Benitez Confirms Napoli Departure Soccer America. Napoli coach Rafael Benitez on Thursday confirmed that he would be leaving the Italian club following the final game of the Serie A season on Sunday.

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  24. Screen.yahoo.com June 4, 2015 @ 9:08 am

    Benitez Confirms Napoli Departure Wochit Yahoo Screen. Rafael Benitez says he will be leaving Napoli following the final game of the Italian clubs season on Sunday The Spaniard 55 is favourite to take over at Real .

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  25. BBC Sport Rafael Benitez confirms Napoli departure. Rafael Benitez says he will be leaving Napoli following the final game of the Italian clubs season on Sunday The Spaniard 55 is favourite to take over at Real .

    Reply
  26. Thedailystar.net June 5, 2015 @ 4:17 am

    Rafael Benitez confirms Napoli departure The Daily Star. Rafael Benitez says he will be leaving Napoli following the final game of the Italian clubs season on Sunday The Spaniard 55 is favourite to take over at Real .

    Reply
  27. Eurosport.com June 5, 2015 @ 5:43 am

    Benitez confirms Napoli departure Football Eurosport. Rafael Benitez announced on Thursday that he will leave Napoli at the end of the season after two years in charge Madridborn Benitez spoke in a press conference .

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  28. Burnleyexpress.net June 5, 2015 @ 9:33 am

    Benitez confirms Napoli departure Burnley Express. Madridborn Benitez spoke in a press conference alongside Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis and said My contract with Napoli was a twoyear deal.

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  29. Forzaitalianfootball.com June 5, 2015 @ 3:25 pm

    Benitez confirms Napoli departure Forza Italian Football. Napoli coach Rafael Benitez has confirmed he will leave the club at the end of the season The Partenopei boss who will now have one game left against .

    Reply
  30. Realmadridnews.com June 5, 2015 @ 6:54 pm

    Rafa Benitez confirms Napoli departure Realmadridnewscom. Rafa Benitez confirms Napoli departure In a press conference at Napoli offices Benitez thanked everyone for their support I want to thank the president .

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  31. Harrowtimes.co.uk June 5, 2015 @ 10:29 pm

    Benitez confirms Napoli departure From Harrow Times. Rafael Benitez announced on Thursday that he will leave Napoli at the end of the season after two years in charge The Spanish coach has been linked with Real Madrid .

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  32. Rafael Benitez confirms Napoli departure Squawka News. Rafael Benitez is closing in on becoming the new manager of Real Madrid after announcing today that he is to leave Napoli Benitez who won the Champions League .

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