Terzic plans Bilbao-based pre-season to settle quickly and learn Lezama | OneFootball

Edin Terzic plans to base his first Athletic pre-season at Lezama to speed integration and handle a large squad, according to El Correo.

He is weighing a model similar to Ernesto Valverde’s recent summers, with daily work at the training ground and short trips for friendlies, starting in early July.

With close to 40 players expected at the outset, staying at home is seen as the most practical route to shape the squad and organise groups for sessions.

A demanding schedule is planned to accelerate decisions. Athletic played seven friendlies in each of the past two summers, eight the year before, and six in Valverde’s first. Terzic aims to increase that, the total could be around 10.

The approach would mix nearby fixtures, like those staged in Amorebieta, Laguardia and Muriedas, with express overseas outings such as PSV in Eindhoven, Liverpool and Arsenal, enabling rotation and parallel plans.

It also fits a recent trend of staying local, as Athletic have not staged an external camp since 2022, when Marcelino took the squad to Switzerland and later Germany.

Pre-season is expected to last six weeks, potentially seven if Spain reach at least the World Cup quarter-finals. LaLiga is set to begin on 14 August, with affected clubs possibly starting later. Terzic is already working on trimming numbers, with LaLiga allowing 25 senior registrations and Athletic already on 29 for 2026-27, pending calls on Yuri Berchiche, Padilla, Selton, Rego, Agirrezabala, Hugo Rincón, Canales, Gerenabarrena, Manex Lozano, Varela and Olabarrieta.

Source: El Correo