(Reuters) -Panathinaikos have appointed former Liverpool and Real Madrid manager Rafael Benitez, the Greek club said on Friday, with the 65-year-old Spaniard replacing Christos Kontis, who was sacked after Thursday's 3-1 Europa League defeat at Feyenoord.

Greek media reported Benitez had signed a two-year contract with the Athens-based club. Benitez was most recently at Celta Vigo, where he was dismissed in March last year after eight months in charge.