There has been a lot of chatter in La Liga surrounding various elections. The likes of Barcelona and Valencia have been experiencing a lot of friction regarding their hierarchy. Talking of the Blaugrana, a former Barcelona manager has been named as the next man in charge of Athletic Club.
🤝 Bienvenido de nuevo a tu casa, Ernesto.
Valverde 🔴⚪ Athletic Club #OngiEtorriValverde #AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/nSZK6S0MNy
— Athletic Club (@AthleticClub) June 30, 2022
Athletic Club Announce a Former Barcelona Manager
Why Valverde?
Athletic Club’s new managerial appointment came down to the outcome of the presidential election. Jon Uriarte ran for the role with his selling point that he would bring former Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde back into the picture. Not only did Valverde previously manage at the Nou Camp but he has also been in charge at San Mames before too.
Valverde “has managed Bilbao for more games than any other coach, initially between 2003 and 2005, and then between 2013 and 2017.” He is somewhat of a club legend in the Basque region and they are of course famed for their unique method of signing players. One can only represent Athletic Club if they are from that area of Spain- which makes the major sales of players like Ander Herrera, Aymeric Laporte and Kepa Arrizabalaga all the more impressive.
Read More: Ernesto Valverde Has Cost Himself at Barcelona
The former Barcelona manager was looked on quite negatively during his time in Catalonia but his period there has aged well. Wider issues surrounding the club have emerged and so Valverde is being viewed in a better light now.
Official, confirmed. Ernesto Valverde has been announced as new Athletic Club manager following the result of the elections, as expected. ⚪️🔴 #AthleticClub
Former Barcelona manager has now signed his contract. pic.twitter.com/6btO5OmxyL
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 30, 2022
Who Did the Former Barcelona Manager Beat in This Race?
The biggest opponent to former Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde was Marcelo Bielsa. It was Valverde versus Bielsa and by proxy, Uriarte versus Inaki Arechabeleta. The former prevailed and it goes without saying that the two managers would have brought very different things to the table.
Bielsa is known for his chaotic and energetic football that led to Leeds United’s famous return to the Premier League. Meanwhile, Valverde adopts a more pragmatic style of play, as do most managers in the world when compared to El Loco.
It would have been fascinating to see how Bielsa would have bounced back from his dismissal from Elland Road. At the same time, Valverde is a much-beloved figure in Bilbao and could usher in this new presidential era in the best way possible.
