Because Of Covid-19, Rafael Benitez Leaves The Chinese Club Of Dalian Pro

Illustration (Wesley Tingey / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Rafael Benitez left Chinese Super League club Dalian Pro. The main factor in the departure of the Spanish coach is the COVID-19 pandemic.

The former Liverpool and Real Madrid head coach is reportedly awarded a lucrative contract worth 12 million pounds ($ 16 million) per year after he left Newcastle United in 2019.

"Unfortunately, like many things in the past year, COVID-19 has changed our lives and our project. From today, both my coaching staff and I will no longer be coach of Dalian," Benitez said. .

"The pandemic is still here, for all of us, and supporting families has been our priority when making this decision."

Dalian failed to qualify for the Super League's Championship last season which was affected by the pandemic, finishing seventh out of the eight teams in their group. But Dalian secured top-flight relegation playoff status.

Benitez said he had abandoned the vision of building a club.

"I believe we have abandoned the structure and methodology that allowed the project to run successfully," said the 60-year-old.

"The first team has been rejuvenated and the foundations have been laid for the future, from the grassroots to the top."