Valverde to step down as Athletic head coach at the end of the season
Valverde to step down as Athletic head coach at the end of the season
The head coach, a living legend at Athletic, has publicly announced this decision, which was spoken about with the club, whilst turning his attention to our last 10 LaLiga matches of the season
Ernesto Valverde, an Athletic Club legend, has announced that he will not continue as the club's head coach next season via a short video posted on Athletic's official channels on Friday morning.
This decision had already been agreed with the club and is being made public now as we enter the final stretch of the season final stretch, with the team focusing on these last 10 LaLiga matches.
This is the message the gaffer shared in the video:
“Hello everyone. I’m here today to announce that I won’t be Athletic’s head coach next season. This is a decision I’ve come to over time, one that I’ve discussed with the club, and I wanted to share it with you.
“At the same time, it’s worth noting that we have ten crucial league matches left, starting this Sunday against Betis. Ten matches in which we aim to achieve our goals, in which we have a lot to gain, in which we’re going to give it our all and which, without a doubt, we can win if we all stick together.”
ℹ️ Ernesto Valverde will step down as Athletic head coach at the end of the season.
— Athletic Club (@Athletic_en) March 20, 2026
"It’s a decision which I’ve come to over time and which has been agreed with the club."
"There are ten games left and we have a lot to gain."
We'll give you a proper send-off soon, Gaffer!
A farewell at the end of the season
Ernesto Valverde is the head coach with most matches on the Athletic Club bench in history and he will reach 495 matches this Sunday against Real Betis.
This is Ernesto's third spell in charge of the team (2003–05, 2013–17, 2022–26) and his tenth year coaching Athletic in total, rounding off a career brimming with successes, notably including two trophies: the 2015/16 Spanish Super Cup and the 2023/24 Copa, the latter giving the Athletic family the chance to take out La Gabarra for the first time in 40 years.
In addition to this outstanding coaching career, he also enjoyed a successful playing career with the Lions, one spanning six seasons between 1990 and 1996, during which he made 188 appearances and scored 50 goals.
Following this announcement, we will give Ernesto a proper send-off befitting an Athletic Club legend at the end of the season.
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