Jose Angel Ziganda replaces Ernesto Valverde at Athletic Bilbao
Thursday 25 May 2017 10:45, UK
Athletic Bilbao have named Jose Angel Ziganda as their new head coach following the departure of Ernesto Valverde.
Valverde quit the Basque side after four seasons in charge on Tuesday and looks set to replace Luis Enrique at Barcelona in the summer.
A former Spanish international, Ziganda played for Athletic between 1991 and 1998 and has been promoted from his role in charge of the club's youth team.
"I am very happy and thankful for the chance the club has taken on me," he told the club's website. "For someone so identified with the club, it is the best news I could have had this week."
Ziganda's only previous managerial experience in the top flight came at another of his former clubs Osasuna between 2006 and 2008 before an unsuccessful brief spell at Xerez.
However, he has coached Bilbao Athletic, the club's B team, over the past six seasons and led them to promotion to the second tier in the 2014/15 campaign.
During that time a steady stream of young players graduated from Ziganda's side to the first team, including Spanish international Inaki Williams.
Athletic finished seventh in La Liga this season under Valverde and could still be handed a place in next season's Europa League should Barcelona beat Alaves in Saturday's Copa del Rey final.
