Former Liverpool, Chelsea and Real Madrid manager Rafael Benitez has released from Celta Vigo

Rafael Benitez he had an illustrious career in management, reaching high points with Valencia and Liverpool, but his time at Celtic Vigo he will be remembered with little affection. Benitez was brought in as the star name to take Celta forward last summer as the Galician side celebrated their centenary, but has been sacked with 10 games to go, with the team just two points above the drop zone .

The decision comes as something of a surprise, but the writing has been on the wall for some time. The main thing that kept him in the job was the huge payment that Celta had to undertake by releasing him, reported at around 9 million euros, a great success for Celta.

Clearly, however, the situation has become unsustainable. A disappointing defeat at Real Madrid (4-0) was the final straw as Celta president Marian Mourinho tries to head off a backlash. Celta have won just five league games all season despite a midtable record, and Cadiz's win over Atletico Madrid puts them one result away from slipping into the drop zone.

Ace for Relief, B team manager Claudio Giraldez is a slight favorite to take over from Benitez. The same outlet had reported that there had been disagreements between Benitez and the players in recent weeks over the style of football they were playing, and for months, Balaidos has been chanting for Benitez to leave the club.

There is little doubt that Celta have been a bit unlucky at times this season, conceding late goals and points, but ultimately it has fallen at Benitez's door once it has become not a matter of luck but habit. No team has conceded more goals or points in the last 15 minutes in La Liga, and may still be in the works if it wasn't for a stoppage-time equalizer from Cadiz two weeks ago. In part, those goals were put down to Benitez's consistent habit of putting on extra defenders and trying to keep the lead.