Athletic add Álex Albistegi to Edin Terzic’s staff on two-year deal | OneFootball

Athletic have appointed Álex Albistegi, 38, to Edin Terzic’s backroom staff on a two-year deal. The Burgos B coach will help the German adapt to Spanish football and the club’s distinctive philosophy.

Diario de Burgos had reported he was close to joining earlier in the day. Albistegi chose the move after Burgos asked him to stay on following the B team’s relegation to Tercera RFEF.

Athletic sought a coach with a national licence and strong English, criteria Albistegi meets. The offer arrived a little over a month ago and the scale of the club proved decisive.

After retiring in 2021, he began coaching in Burgos academy. In 2022 he took charge of the reserves and led them from Tercera Federación to Segunda RFEF.

A product of Eibar’s youth system, he debuted in the top flight with Real Sociedad in 2010 under Martín Lasarte, replacing Asier Illarramendi. He later played for UD Logroñés, Real Unión, Toledo, Lleida, Reus, Mirandés, Unionistas, Burgos and Sestao.

Albistegi joins the core around Terzic, who will arrive in Lezama with his assistant Sebastian Geppert, plus an analyst and a fitness coach. The new group are tasked with revitalising an Athletic who underwhelmed last season.

Pre-season will begin in early July at Lezama with a busy friendly schedule. Terzic prefers to base most work at the training ground, adding only short trips for matches, a plan similar to Ernesto Valverde’s recent approach.

Source: El Correo