BILBAO, SPAIN – Coach Ernesto Valverde has confirmed that he will not continue at the helm of Athletic Club once the current season ends. The decision was made by mutual agreement with the club’s board. Valverde, who holds the record for most matches managed in the club’s history with 494 matches, communicated his decision through a video released on the team’s official channels.
The 62-year-old coach is facing the final stretch of his third spell on the San Mamés bench (2022-2026), totaling ten years in charge of the Bilbao team, including his periods between 2003-2005 and 2013-2017. During his tenure, Athletic won important titles such as the Spanish Super Cup 2015 and the Copa del Rey 2024, this last a significant achievement by ending a 40-year drought without lifting the trophy. Furthermore, under his management, the club qualified for the Champions League twice and maintained a notable consistency in LaLiga. Valverde also left his mark as an Athletic footballer between 1990 and 1996, a period in which he played 188 matches and scored 50 goals, establishing himself as an emblematic figure of the institution. The club announced that Valverde’s official farewell will take place at the end of the season, ending one of the most successful and representative stages in the recent history of the Basque team.I wanted to share that I will not be the coach of Athletic next season. It’s a decision I’ve been considering for some time.
Ernesto Valverde
