Ernesto Valverde will leave Athletic Bilbao at the end of the season.

Coach Ernesto Valverde announced this Friday that he will leave his position as manager of Athletic Bilbao at the end of the season.

Hello everyone. This announcement is to let you know that I will not be the coach of Athletic next season, a decision I have been considering for some time and which was also discussed with the club. I wanted to share it with you, Valverde began, in a video addressed to the rojiblancos fans. At the same time, I would like to emphasize that we still have ten important league games, starting this Sunday against Betis. Ten games in which we want to achieve our objectives, in which we have a lot to gain, in which we will give everything.

Currently in his third spell as manager of the Basque team, Valverde is, in fact, the manager with the most games in the club’s history. Next Sunday, against Betis, he will reach 495 matches.

While managing Athletic Bilbao, the 62-year-old coach won the Spanish Super Cup in 2015/16 and the Spanish Cup in 2023/24.

Athletic have promised that, at the end of the season, they will give a fitting send=off to a living legend of the club. After finishing fourth last season, which earned them a place in this season’s Champions League, where they even faced Sporting, the 2025/26 season has been a rollercoaster for Athletic Bilbao. The Bilbao team is currently 10th in the Spanish League, although they are still fighting for a place in European competitions.