Ernesto Valverde on Friday has signed an extension to his contract at Athletic Bilbao in a move that sees him commit his future to the San Mames club until at least June 2024.
“Ernesto Valverde will keep making history at Athletic Club, where no other coach has managed the first team on more occasions – his record currently at 332.” Bilbao said in a statement.
“The head coach, in his third spell in charge at Athletic, will stay in Bilbao for at least another season after extending his deal to June 30, 2024.” the club added.
Valverde returned to Athletic at the beginning of this season, following the election of the new president, Jon Uriarte and is fulfilling his seventh campaign at the service of the main team of the Bilbaos, which he had already led between 2003 and 2005, and from 2013 to 2017.
“It is a source of pride that the club thinks that I am the ideal person to be one more year in charge of Athletic.” Valverde said.
“I work very well with the team and I see that we have possibilities to improve. I will continue trying to make our fans happy,” he added.
Under Valverde’s management the Lions qualified for Europe five times in six seasons, once reaching the Champions League, while he also led Athletic to a Spanish Super Cup triumph in 2015.
The Zurigorri are currently seventh in LaLiga. They have also made it to the Copa semi-finals and will face CA Osasuna across two legs for a place in the final.
Valverde is the coach with the most appearances ahead of Athletic Bilbao, with 332, and also has spells at Espanyol, Olympiacos, Villarreal, Valencia and FC Barcelona on his resume, and led this last to the title of Spanish champion in 2017/18 and 2018/19.
