Athletic Club manager Ernesto Valverde announced on Friday that he will step down from his position at the conclusion of the current season.
Valverde holds the record for the most games managed in Athletic’s history. The upcoming LaLiga match against Real Betis will mark his 495th game in charge of the northern Spanish club.
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Valverde’s contract is set to expire at the end of June, and he did not elaborate on the reasons for his departure.
“I’ve been contemplating this decision for some time,” he shared in a video released on the club’s social media platforms.
Valverde, who is also a former player for the club, has managed Athletic during three separate periods: from 2003 to 2005, then from 2013 to 2017, and most recently since 2022.
Under his leadership, the club, which exclusively fields players from the Basque Country and nearby regions, claimed the title at the 2024 Copa del Rey.
Additionally, he has guided Barcelona to two Spanish league championships in 2017 and 2018.