Athletic Bilbao manager Ernesto Valverde said on Friday he will leave the club at the end of the season, having coached the LaLiga side for 10 seasons in three spells and overseeing more games and wins than any other coach in the club’s history.
Valverde, who led Bilbao to its first Copa del Rey title in four decades in 2023-24, announced his decision to leave in a video on the club’s YouTube channel nsaj.
«I am here today to announce that I will not be manager of Athletic next season. This is a decision that I have been thinking about for some time and have discussed with the club,» said the 62-year-old, who also led Bilbao to the Spanish Super Cup title in 2015.
«At the same time, I would like to emphasize that we still have ten important league matches to go… in which we have a lot to play for.»
Valverde, who also managed Barcelona, Olympiacos, Villarreal, Valencia and Espanyol, coached Bilbao between 2003-2005 and 2013-2017 before returning to the club in June 2022.
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Sunday’s LaLiga match against Real Betis will be Valverde’s 495th game in Bilbao.
Former striker Valverde had also spent six seasons at Bilbao, appearing in 188 games and scoring 50 goals between 1990 and 1996.
“The farewell to this living legend of Athletic Club will take place later, at the end of the season,” the club said in a statement.
Published on March 20, 2026
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