All change at San Mamés
Tuesday, June 24, 2003
Article summary
A new era has begun at Athletic Club Bilbao after the appointment of a new president and coach.
Article body
New men
Ignacio Ugartetxe will replace Javier Uría as the club's president, following the latter's death last week, while Ernesto 'Txingurri' Valverde has been chosen as the successor to Jupp Heynckes, who has returned to Germany to coach FC Schalke 04.
Two-year term
The appointment of Ugartetxe, a 40-year-old economist, will have to be ratified by the club's shareholders in September. "We have decided to put our trust in him after deep reflection," said a statement from Athletic's board of directors. Ugartetxe, who will serve a two-year term, was a close ally of Uría and said there would be no great structural change within the club.
'This is a gamble'
However, he acknowledged that Athletic had taken a gamble with their choice of the 39-year-old Valverde, who up to now has been in charge of the club's reserve side. "This is a gamble but we believe in this project - the one Javier Uría started," said Ugartetxe. "We will finish it as Uría would have wished."
Playing CV
Valverde, who will be presented at a press conference next week, had a long playing career which included spells at RCD Espanyol, FC Barcelona, Athletic and RCD Mallorca. He takes over an Athletic side who finished the season in seventh place, just missing out on a UEFA Cup spot.
