Athletic Bilbao part company with Marcelo Bielsa
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E-mail Xinhua, June 8, 2013
Athletic Bilbao president, Josu Urrutia announced on Friday that Marcelo Bielsa will not continue as first team coach at the Spanish Primera Liga club next season.
Urrutia gave the news in a press conference called at the club's offices on Friday evening, confirming the news which many had been expecting for several days.
"We think it is in the best interests of the club to make the change," said Urrutia, who added that the decision had been made unanimously at the last meeting of his Board of Directors.
The decision means a goodbye for the popular Argentinean, who in his first season at the club guided Athletic to the final of the Europa League and the Spanish Copa del Rey, although Athletic lost both games 3-0 to Atletico Madrid and 3-0 to FC Barcelona.
The season which has just finished, was, however, a major disappointment as Athletic failed to make it out of the group stage in the Europa League, knocked out of the Copa del Rey by third tier side, Eibar and were not safe from relegation until three games from the end of the season.
The Basque side suffered the loss of midfielder, Javi Martinez and the fact striker Fernando Llorente and defender Fernando Amorebieta both decided against extending their contracts and played little in the season as the club finished the campaign in a discreet 12th position.
The season was also marked by a very public disagreement between Bielsa and the club over the delays in modifications to the club's training ground last summer.
Urrutia thanked Bielsa for his time at the club saying his time as coach had been, "very important and positive."
The Athletic President said the club had still not decided on who would be Bielsa's successor, although there are two main candidates: Ernesto Valverde, who left Valencia a week ago and could return for a second spell at the club, or B-team coach, Cuco Ziganda, whose side are currently looking to win promotion to the Spanish second division.
Friday saw Athletic's close neighbors, Real Sociedad confirm that 34-year-old Jagobo Arrasate will be their coach for next season. Arrasate worked in the club's youth system and for the past two years he worked as assistant to Philippe Montanier, who two weeks ago announced he was leaving the club to return to France.
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