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Ernesto Valverde is back at Athletic Club as Basque club looks for comfort zone again

Few know Athletic Club as well as Ernesto Valverde. Not only did the 58-year-old make over 200 appearances as a player for the Basque club, he has just returned to San Mames for his third spell as manager. But rather than looking to the past, Athletic Club need Valverde to take them into a new age.

Athletic Club is a behemoth of Spanish soccer. Only three clubs – Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid – have won more La Liga titles than them, but they have not finished top of the pile in Spain since 1984. Valverde, however, understands the idiosyncrasies and traditions of Athletic and has achieved success there in the past.

It was through a successful spell as Athletic Club manager between 2013 and 2017 that Valverde earned himself the Barcelona job in 2017. The former forward became a Spanish champion during his time at the Camp Nou, but was forced out by fans who didn’t realise what they had until it was gone. 

Indeed, the subsequent stints of Quique Setien and Ronald Koeman made Valverde look good. There may have been some complaints over Barcelona’s playing style under the 58-year-old, but they still won titles and trophies. Now back at Athletic Club, Valverde has a point to prove to those who have unfairly doubted him.

Athletic Club found themselves at a potentially tumultuous juncture this summer. The club’s presidential election saw various candidates propose their own way forward, with eventual winner Jon Uriarte vowing to appoint Valverde. Had Inaki Arechabaleta won, Marcelo Bielsa, another former Athletic manager, would have been hired in his place. Mauricio Pochettino had also been mentioned as an option.

The presidential election was fuelled by a general malaise that has built at San Mames over the last few years. Athletic Club has a rich tradition inherently tied to the Basque Country and its people, but the fanbase is increasingly detached from the team on the pitch, even if the players are still sourced from the local region.

Much of the disillusionment is down to underachievement on the pitch. While Valverde took Athletic Club into the Champions League in his last spell as manager, they have struggled to even make the top half of the La Liga table in the period since. Last season, Athletic Club charted their joint-best finish for five years, yet they still only made it as high as eighth. Fans want better.

They are entitled to expect more. In Unai Simon, Athletic Club boast Spain’s number one goalkeeper. Yeray Alvarez, as well as Oscar de Marcos and Mikel Balenziaga have the potential to forge one of the strongest defensive units in La Liga while 22-year-old attacker Oihan Sancet continues to improve. Asier Villalibre is also a threat.

Unai Vencedor, Nico Williams and Oier Zarraga, Mikel Vesga, Alex Berenguer, Yuri Berchiche and Inigo Lukue will give Valverde plenty to work with in midfield while Iker Muniain enjoyed a resurgent season last term. Marcelino didn’t make the most of all this talent, but his successor might.

Valverde should give Athletic Club a stronger structure as a team. He likes his teams to control the ball and stay patient as they look for a way through opposition defences, but it’s the 58-year-old’s character and demeanour that could make him the perfect figure for these fractious times at San Mames.

Under Bielsa, Athletic Club played some wonderful soccer, reaching the final of the Europa League in 2012, but the Argentine left behind a dressing room full of tension. It was only through the appointment of Valverde that Athletic were able to neutralise that tension and use the foundations put in place by Bielsa to build something new.

This lack of ego and lack of fuss will help Valverde in his third stint as Athletic Club manager. There is talent in the squad at San Mames, but the club needs someone to bring everyone together, and not just in the dressing room. Valverde rejected bigger jobs because they didn’t excite him, or they didn’t feel right, but the opportunity to revive Athletic Club was one he embraced.

Sometimes it feels as if Valverde is only truly understood in Bilbao. In Barcelona, his soft voice and determination to avoid drama didn’t exactly fit with a club that likes to make as much noise as possible. Athletic Club, on the other hand, operate differently, and in the end it should be no surprise that Valverde inevitably has returned once again. The Spaniard aligns with so much of what the club stands for; it will only appear natural to see him steadfastly occupy the San Mames sideline this season.

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