- Title: FILE-Valverde leaving Athletic Bilbao amid Barca speculation
- Date: 23rd May 2017
- Summary: BARCELONA, SPAIN (FILE - MAY 29, 2015) (REUTERS) **** WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **** ATHLETIC BILBAO COACH ERNESTO VALVERDE ENTERING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE PHOTOGRAPHER/ VALVERDE BARCELONA, SPAIN (FILE - AUGUST 18, 2015) (REUTERS) VALVERDE AT NEWS CONFERENCE VALVERDE LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - SEPTEMBER 27, 2011) (REUTERS) VALVERDE ON ARSENAL'S PITCH DURING AN OLYMPIAKOS TRAINING SESSION DORTMUND, GERMANY (FILE - OCTOBER 31, 2011) (REUTERS) VALVERDE ON PITCH DURING OLYMPIAKOS TRAINING SESSION OLYMPIAKOS TRAINING SESSION IN PROGRESS VALVERDE TALKING TO ASSISTANT COACH VALENCIA, SPAIN (FEBRUARY 11, 2013) (REUTERS) VALVERDE ARRIVING FOR VALENCIA NEWS CONFERENCE VALVERDE AT NEWS CONFERENCE NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS VALVERDE LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM
- Embargoed: 6th June 2017 20:45
- Keywords: coach Barcelona soccer Athletic Bilbao Alejandro Valverde
- Location: BARCELONA AND VALENCIA, SPAIN / LONDON AND SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM / DORTMUND, GERMANY / TURIN, ITALY / BORISOV, BELARUS
- City: BARCELONA AND VALENCIA, SPAIN / LONDON AND SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM / DORTMUND, GERMANY / TURIN, ITALY / BORISOV, BELARUS
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0016I2AHBZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Ernesto Valverde will not coach Athletic Bilbao next season, the Basque club announced on Tuesday (May 23), amid strong reports in Spain that he will become Barcelona's next manager.
Valverde's contract expires in June, like that of current Barcelona coach Luis Enrique, and most expect Valverde to replace the Asturian, who in March announced he was leaving at the end of the season.
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu will reveal the board's decision over a new coach next Monday (May 29).
Former Barcelona player Valverde, 53, steered Athletic to eighth place in La Liga this season, but has decided to call time on his second managerial stint at the San Mames.
Valverde has coached Bilbao since 2013, previously taking the reins between 2003 and 2005, before being appointed at Barcelona's city rivals Espanyol (2006-08) as well as Olympiakos twice, Villarreal and Valencia. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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