Athletic Club has officially confirmed the latest adjustments to its coaching staff as new manager Edin Terzic prepares for his first season in charge. The Basque club announced on Wednesday that assistants Luis Prieto and Alberto Iglesias will not continue in their roles from July, joining the previously announced departures of legendary duo Ernesto Valverde and his long-time deputy Jon Aspiazu. The clear-out marks a definitive end to the Valverde era and the beginning of a new chapter under the German tactician.
Prieto and Iglesias are the latest casualties in a sweeping restructuring of the backroom team. Luis Prieto was a relatively recent addition, having joined the first-team setup last summer to reinforce Valverde’s group after the exit of fitness coach Jose Antonio Pozanco. Prieto had previously worked in Lezama’s youth categories and later alongside Joseba Etxeberria at Mirandés and Eibar, bringing a blend of internal knowledge and external experience. Alberto Iglesias, meanwhile, had been an integral part of the club’s analytical department since 2016, later expanding his responsibilities to on-field tasks. Their departures underline the new head coach’s desire to surround himself with a hand-picked team aligned with his philosophy.
The exits of Prieto and Iglesias follow the emotional farewells of Ernesto Valverde and Jon Aspiazu, whose partnership spanned 504 matches at the helm of Athletic’s first team. Valverde’s second stint ended amid gratitude for his service, but the club made it clear that the transition to Terzic would involve a complete overhaul. Terzic, who signed a two-year contract, wasted no time in defining his technical staff, which will be formally unveiled at his official presentation. The announcement did not mention Pablo Orbaiz, the former midfielder who joined the first-team coaching staff this season with dual duties as assistant coach and individual development specialist. Orbaiz’s omission from the list of departures suggests he could remain, providing a vital link to the club’s renowned Lezama academy and its philosophy.
Terzic’s appointment was designed to inject fresh ideas into a squad that, under Valverde, consistently punched above its weight but occasionally lacked a cutting edge in Europe. The German, known for his tactical acumen and modern approach, faces the delicate task of evolving Athletic’s style while respecting the unique identity of a club that fields only Basque players. The decision to retain at least one home-grown assistant like Orbaiz would balance radical change with institutional continuity, a strategy that echoes successful transitions at other clubs with strong local identities.
The clear-out of trusted lieutenants sends a powerful message: Terzic is not merely a caretaker but an empowered leader tasked with building a project. By discarding virtually all of Valverde’s immediate support network, the club’s hierarchy is signaling full backing for the new manager’s vision. This level of autonomy is rarely given lightly, especially at a historic institution like Athletic, where tradition often governs decision-making. The moves also reflect a broader trend in modern football where a head coach’s success is increasingly tied to the seamless integration of his personal staff.
From a squad perspective, the changes carry significant implications. Valverde’s era was defined by a tight-knit coaching group that fostered a resilient collective spirit, often extracting maximum performance from a limited talent pool. Terzic’s challenge will be to maintain that cohesion while implementing the tactical flexibility that made his name at Borussia Dortmund. His Dortmund side was renowned for aggressive pressing, quick transitions, and a willingness to trust young players—all qualities that could galvanize an Athletic squad brimming with emerging Lezama graduates like Oihan Sancet and Nico Williams.
The timing of the announcement, just as the summer break approaches, ensures that Terzic and his new staff have a clear runway to prepare for pre-season. With the core squad set to report for duty in early July, the new coaching team will have limited time to instill their methods. The fact that the backroom setup is already defined suggests meticulous planning behind the scenes, likely involving director of football Mikel González, who has been instrumental in reshaping the club’s sporting structure since assuming his role.
For Athletic, the stakes could not be higher. The club is determined to regain consistent European qualification, and Terzic’s arrival represents a calculated gamble on a coach who rebuilt his reputation after a challenging end at Dortmund. The overhaul of the coaching staff is a clear statement of intent, but it also carries risk: dismantling an established system too quickly can backfire if results falter. However, the retention of Orbaiz offers a subtle safety net, blending the new with a trusted insider who knows the dressing room dynamics.
In the wider context of La Liga, Athletic’s bold moves trace a path similar to that of other historic clubs embracing modernisation without losing their soul. If Terzic can replicate his Dortmund blueprint—where he nurtured young talents and competed for titles—the Basque side could become a formidable force capable of disrupting the established hierarchy. The next two seasons will reveal whether this coaching exodus was the catalyst for a new golden era or a risky rupture with a successful past.
Based on reporting from Marca.