Gaizka Garitano: “It’s a day to say thank you”

The president of Athletic Club, Aitor Elizegi, accompanied by the sports director, Rafa Alkorta, has presented this morning the agreement to renew Gaizka Garitano as coach of the first team until the 30th of June 2020. The presentation took place in the José Iragorri press room in San Mamés and, before the protagonists’ intervention, a moving video was been projected in tribute and recognition to the figure of Garitano, which included images of both his footballer past and his present under the command of the lions. With music by Bruce Springsteen in the background, one of his favorite singers and entitled “Gure ametsak aurrera dirau”. Gaizka Garitano has witnessed the audiovisual summary of his career in which there have been references to his aita, Ángel Garitano “Ondarru”, Ander Garitano and Patxi Ferreira himself, second coach, who along with the rest of his coaching staff, Juan Ángel Iribarren (physical trainer) and Aitor Iru (goalkeeper trainer), have also renewed for a season.

For Derio’s coach, “it’s a day to say thank you” and he has remembered in this moment of happiness, “the Club, who stand up for us at a difficult time, my coaching staff, the players and also the fans”. True to his discreet profile, Garitano has acknowledged that “I’m focused on the match of the day after tomorrow” and has put the emphasis on players “who are good players and people” to explain the spectacular performance of the last three months. “Here everyone puts the interests of the Club before the personal ones and that’s what distinguishes Athletic,” he said.

For his part, Aitor Elizegi has pointed out “that it is a very big day” and is pleased that Gaizka Garitano is responsible for the team next season, as desired by the Board from the beginning, “with the people that I consider to be ours, with their knowledge of the environment and with their respect for what the ecosystem of the Athletic means”.

Finally, Rafa Alkorta stressed that “from the first moment I knew that the bet for this technical body was going to be good and we were looking forward to this day. Now we can start working on other things. He’s a good coach and has a good team.”

At the end of the press conference, in the red area of the technical staff’s dressing room, Aitor Elizegi and Rafa Alkorta gave Gaizka Garitano a small gift consisting of a framed photograph in which the coach, Iñaki Williams and Iker Muniain effusively embrace celebrating the victory against Betis on the 27th of January.