FC Panathinaikos announces the beginning of its collaboration with Portuguese coach Rui Vitoria, who signed a contract until June 2026 and takes up his duties immediately.

Rui Carlos Pino Da Vitoria, as his full name is, was born on April 16, 1970 in Alverca, Portugal. His coaching journey began at a fairly young age, after he took over Villafrances, a third division team, at the age of 32. He stayed for a year and a half and then, in summer 2004, he joined the coaching staff of Benfica’s academy, taking the charge of the U19s. He remained in this position for two years, until he returned to the professional categories, on behalf of Fatima, a third category team. With this team he won promotion to the second division twice.

After four years there, it was time for the next step. So, in 2010 he was hired by Pasos Ferreira, leading a team in the top division of Portuguese football for the first time. The team’s course was very good, as they finished seventh in the Championship, while in the Cup they reached the final where they were defeated by Benfica. Continuing to gradually climb the ladder, Rui Vitoria was signed by Vitoria Guimaraes in 2011. He stayed for four years, during which Guimaraes won a Cup, participated in a Europa League group stage and reached the 5th place in the table.

2015 was the time for the big step. He returned to Benfica, but this time as the first coach of the top Portuguese team. His first season was almost a dream. He did a double with a series of club history records (consecutive wins, away wins) and a Cup final triumph (6-2 Maritimo), while reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League (eliminated by Bayern Munich). In the second season he achieved a treble, again winning the Championship and the Cup, only this time he also won the Super Cup, which made him the second coach in the history of the club to achieve such a success! His third year did not have as many titles. Benfica won the Super Cup again, but not the other domestic titles. The 2018-19 season started on a positive note for Benfica and Rui Vitoria, but the rest was not the same. In January 2019, the cooperation between the two sides was interrupted, with the Portuguese technician remaining in the history of the club as one of the most successful coaches.

A week later Vitoria started a partnership with Al Nasr. A few months later, the Saudi Arabian team celebrated winning the championship! The following season he reached the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League. At the end of December 2020, the collaboration with Al Nasr was terminated by mutual consent.

In May 2021 Vitoria went to Russia on behalf of Spartak Moscow. He made an impressive run in the Europa League group, finishing above Napoli and Leicester, but in the league the path was not as expected. In December 2021 he dissolved his partnership.

His last stop before Panathinaikos was the Egyptian national team, which he took over in the summer of 2022. The collaboration ended in February 2024, after being eliminated in the round of the 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations.

We welcome Rui Vitoria to Panathinaikos!