Valverde's legend at Athletic keeps growing
Valverde's legend at Athletic keeps growing
Twenty years ago today, Txingurri oversaw his first match as Los Leones' head coach
Ernesto Valverde's legend grows ever stronger. Today marks the 20th anniversary of his debut as first team coach. It came in a match against FC Barcelona at San Mamés, a fixture which also saw Zurigorri legend Andoni Iraola make his senior debut.
A goal by Phillip Cocu saw Barça win 1-0, but Athletic's brave and determined performance offered a glimpse of what was to come under Txingurri. Few people, however, would have expected Ernesto to eventually become the head coach with most games in Athletic history.
Ernesto has now spent eight seasons in charge of the first team, adding up to no less than 354 games across his three stints in the dugout, with a record of 161 wins, 78 draws and 115 defeats.
He has pulled away from second-placed Javier Clemente (289), the man who coached Valverde during his playing days at RCD Espanyol and then signed him for Athletic in 1990.
This season Txingurri is going for his seventh European qualification with Los Leones, having previously taken the side to one Champions League, five Europa Leagues and one Intertoto Cup.
Valverde has given Athletic Club debuts to 33 players, some of whom had been coached by him in the youth ranks. Of these, 27 are from Lezama. In 2003/04, in addition to Iraola, Jonan García and Endika Bordas stepped up to the first team.
The following year, Javier Casas, Gorka Azkorra, Aritz Solabarrieta, Roberto Pampín, Jon Moya and Fernando Llorente made their debuts.
Valverde's second spell with the club saw even more footballers become Lions. 2013/14: Iago Herrerín, Enric Saborit, Unai Albizua and Guillermo Fernández; 2014/15: Unai López, Ager Aketxe, Unai Bustinza and Iñaki Williams; 2015/16: Javier Eraso, Sabin Merino and Iñigo Lekue; 2016/17: Mikel Vesga, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Asier Villalibre.
In Ernesto's third stint back in Bilbao, Adu Ares and Aitor Paredes their debuts last season, joining Unai Gómez, Imanol García de Albeniz and Beñat Prados, who got their first senior run-outs this term.
On our English-language twitter account we took a deep dive into Ernesto's Athletic career as both a player and manager. Take a look here:
🔙 Ernesto Valverde made his #AthleticClub managerial debut 2️⃣0️⃣ years ago today.
— Athletic Club (@Athletic_en) August 30, 2023
🔴⚪ 354 matches and 161 victories over three stints in the Zurigorri dugout
🦁 We take a look at his Athletic career as a player and manager 👇#ACMuseoa pic.twitter.com/mjXJj3Atya