Athletic part with Clemente
Friday, July 7, 2006
Article summary
Athletic Club Bilbao have ended former Spain coach Javier Clemente's third spell in charge following a meeting with club president Fernando Lamikiz.
Article body
Athletic Club Bilbao have sacked coach Javier Clemente following a late-night meeting with president Fernando Lamikiz.
High hopes
The 56-year-old, who led Spain to the 1994 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals and had agreed a new one-year contract in May, had this week questioned the Basque club's transfer policy, but that was not said to be behind the decision. "The club has signed every player that they wanted, not the ones that I asked for," Clemente had said. "Nevertheless, I was looking forward to making a strong start in the league and being near the top."
Third stint
Clemente replaced José Luis Mendilibar in October last year after Athletic had made an awful start to the season. He kept the never-relegated team in the Spanish top flight. It was his third stint in charge at San Mamés, with a previous spell bringing back-to-back league titles in 1983 and 1984. Athletic have also allowed 22-year-old left-back Francisco Javier Tarantino to join CD Numancia on a one-year loan.
