Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde to leave at end of season

Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde to leave at end of season | iNFOnews.ca
Athletic Bilbao's head coach Ernesto Valverde stands at the sideline during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona in Bilbao, Spain, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)

MADRID (AP) — Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde will leave the club at the end of the season, he said on Friday.

Valverde has coached the most games in the history of Athletic. Sunday’s La Liga game against Real Betis will be No. 495 in charge of the club based in northern Spain.

Valverde, whose contract expires at the end of June, did not give a specific reason for leaving.

“I have been mulling over this decision for some time,” he said in a video posted on the club’s social media channels.

Valverde, a former player, has led Athletic over three different stints: from 2003-05, 2013-17 and since 2022. He steered the club, which only fields players born in or near the Basque Country region, to the 2024 Copa del Rey title.

He also coached Barcelona to two Spanish league titles in 2017 and 2018.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde to leave at end of season | iNFOnews.ca
Athletic Bilbao’s head coach Ernesto Valverde, right, gives instructions during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona in Bilbao, Spain, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

Related Articles