Ernesto Valverde: Ex-Barca coach named new manager of La Liga Giants

Former Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde has been named new Athletic Bilbao manager ahead of next season. The Spanish coach is making a return to the San Mames after leaving the club to join Barcelona in 2017.

Since he was sacked by Barcelona in 2020, the Spanish manager has been without any club, but he is making a return to management next season with Bilbao.

Athletic Bilbao released an official statement on their website to announce the return of Ernesto Valverde to the club.

“Ernesto Valverde is set to officially take over as head coach of Athletic Club. The man with most matches (306) as manager in Athletic history will hold a press conference at 18:00 CEST this evening, in what will also be Jon Uriarte’s first public appearance as club president,” the club stated.

“Valverde is embarking upon a third spell in charge of the Lions. During his previous stints in the San Mamés dugout, Athletic qualified for Europe five times in six seasons, one of those occasion being Champions League qualification. Valverde also broke the Club’s 31-year title drought when he led the side to a 5-1 aggregate win over FC Barcelona in the 2015 Spanish Super Cup.