Profile
Ernesto Valverde Tejedor leads Athletic Bilbao as manager, overseeing the Basque club's top-flight campaign. The Spanish tactician has established himself as a steady, methodical presence at San Mamés, implementing a pragmatic approach centred on defensive solidity and efficient counter-attacking football.
Valverde began his managerial career in the Spanish lower divisions before establishing himself as a reliable operator across La Liga and European football. His most prominent role came at Barcelona, where he delivered two La Liga titles and the Copa del Rey during a four-year tenure from 2017 to 2020. He later managed Atlético Madrid briefly before joining Athletic, where he has focused on rebuilding the club's competitive standing whilst respecting their traditional identity. As a player, he enjoyed a journeyman career as a forward across Spanish football, though his playing achievements pale against his subsequent coaching impact.
Background sources include Wikipedia.