Athletic Bilbao has extended the contract of coach Ernesto Valverde. The 61-year-old Spaniard will remain with the club until 2026.
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Ernesto Valverde’s remarkable journey with Athletic Bilbao will continue through at least the summer of 2026, as the club confirmed on Friday the extension of his contract by one more year.
The decision comes as little surprise given the impressive trajectory the Basque club has followed since Valverde’s return to the helm in 2022. With Athletic now poised to return to the UEFA Champions League for the first time in over a decade, the club’s faith in their experienced coach seems both well-founded and symbolic of a new era of ambition and stability at San Mamés.
Valverde, now 61, is no stranger to the club or its values. A former player and now a multiple-time head coach of Athletic, he has long been regarded as a perfect fit for a team that proudly maintains a unique identity fielding only players of Basque heritage. Since rejoining the club in the summer of 2022, he has steadily rebuilt a competitive and cohesive squad, combining the grit and tradition of Athletic with a tactical maturity drawn from his years coaching at the highest levels, including a successful stint at Barcelona.
His impact has been measurable. In his first season back, Athletic finished eighth in La Liga a respectable position that hinted at greater potential. The following year, the team climbed to fifth, narrowly missing out on Champions League qualification but earning a spot in the Europa League. This season, however, has been the clearest sign of progress. With one league match remaining, Athletic sits in fourth place, having played some of the most consistent and confident football seen in Bilbao in years. Their return to the Champions League, a competition they last graced in the 2014/15 season, is now secured.
That milestone alone represents a major achievement for a club operating under such distinct constraints. While many of Europe’s top sides rely on global scouting networks and massive transfer budgets, Athletic relies on its academy, its philosophy, and its sense of unity. Valverde has embraced that ethos, fostering the development of homegrown talents like Nico Williams, Oihan Sancet, and Dani Vivian, while bringing a calm and strategic edge to matchday decisions.
Speaking to the club’s official channels after the contract renewal was announced, Valverde expressed his pride and sense of purpose in continuing his work. “It’s an important challenge,” he said. “I feel a sense of responsibility here with the team and with the people who work here. If we all pull together, we are a strong team. We’ll see how far we can go.”
He went on to reflect on the culture of resilience that defines Athletic. “We must keep fighting that’s what Athletic is good at. The Champions League is incredibly exciting. It’s a very tough competition, and I hope we all enjoy it. It’s a new level we have to reach.”
Valverde’s words resonate strongly in Bilbao, a city that prides itself on its team as a cultural emblem as much as a sporting force. The upcoming Champions League campaign will be a test not only of the squad’s talent but also of the enduring strength of the club’s identity in the modern game. For Athletic fans, the return to Europe’s elite competition is not just about prestige it’s a statement that their model can still compete at the highest level.
Off the pitch, the renewal of Valverde’s contract also signals stability. With many of Europe’s top clubs frequently cycling through managers, Athletic’s decision to back a coach who understands the club from the inside is a refreshing affirmation of trust and vision. Valverde himself remains grounded. Despite the growing expectations, he remains focused on hard work and unity. “There’s no magic formula,” he once said in a previous interview. “Only work, commitment, and the belief in what we represent.”
With the summer transfer window approaching and Champions League nights returning to San Mamés, the atmosphere in Bilbao is one of anticipation and excitement. Valverde, as ever, will look to maintain balance nurturing new talent, keeping the squad competitive, and above all, ensuring that Athletic remains faithful to its values. If recent seasons are anything to go by, the club is in safe and steady hands.
Updated: 04:57, 23 May 2025
