{"id":7549,"date":"2026-06-21T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-21T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buber.net\/Basque\/?p=7549"},"modified":"2026-06-20T20:53:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-20T20:53:00","slug":"basque-fact-of-the-week-the-ubiquitousness-of-basque-soccer-coaches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buber.net\/Basque\/2026\/06\/21\/basque-fact-of-the-week-the-ubiquitousness-of-basque-soccer-coaches\/","title":{"rendered":"Basque Fact of the Week: The Ubiquitousness of Basque Soccer Coaches"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\">With the World Cup, the world is ablaze with soccer fever. With several premier teams, the Basque Country has a strong association with soccer. There are a number of Basque players participating in the World Cup as part of the national teams of Spain, Ghana, Mexico, and Japan &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/euskalkazeta.com\/basque-soccer-stars-of-world-cup-2026\/?mc_cid=b4beac95e8&amp;mc_eid=9f5f39b8c1\">Euskal Kazeta has a nice writeup about them<\/a>. Here, we&#8217;ll look beyond players and instead at managers and coaches, not just at the World Cup but around the world. There are an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/soccer\/story\/_\/id\/39293565\/from-arteta-alonso-why-many-top-managers-basque\">inordinate number of premier coaches<\/a> around the world that are from the Basque Country. Many of them are from Gipuzkoa. It is a remarkable moment in soccer. Here are a few of those coaches.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-medium\"><a href=\"https:\/\/buber.net\/Basque\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/basque-coaches-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/buber.net\/Basque\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/basque-coaches-1-215x300.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7553\" srcset=\"https:\/\/buber.net\/Basque\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/basque-coaches-1-215x300.png 215w, https:\/\/buber.net\/Basque\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/basque-coaches-1.png 417w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 215px) 100vw, 215px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A number of Basques have had major success coaching soccer at the international level. Photos from the respective Wikipedia articles.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Imanol_Alguacil\">Imanol Alguacil Barrenetxea<\/a><\/strong> was born in Orio, Gipuzkoa, in 1971. He played professionally from 1989 to 2003, primarily with <a href=\"https:\/\/buber.net\/Basque\/2026\/04\/19\/basque-fact-of-the-week-real-sociedad-copa-del-rey-champions\/\">Real Sociedad<\/a>. His career was plagued by injuries and he retired from playing in 2003 to coach, first to the youth team of Real Sociedad before eventually becoming the manager of Real Sociedad from 2018-2025, whom he led to a <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Copa_del_Rey\">Copa del<\/a> Rey win over <a href=\"https:\/\/buber.net\/Basque\/2024\/04\/14\/basque-fact-of-the-week-la-gabarra-a-victory-parade-like-no-other\/\">Athletic Bilbao<\/a> in 2020, the first win for the club since 1987. In 2025, it was announced that he would become the manager of the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Al_Shabab_Club\">Al Shabab Club<\/a> in Saudi Arabia.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Xabi_Alonso\">Xabier Alonso Olano<\/a><\/strong> has had an outstanding playing career, often considered one of the best midfielders of his generation. He was born in 1981 in Tolosa, Gipuzkoa, and played for multiple top teams, including Real Sociedad, <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Liverpool_F.C.\">Liverpool<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Real_Madrid_CF\">Real Madrid<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/FC_Bayern_Munich\">Bayern Munich<\/a>. Over his career he was part of teams that won the Spanish La Liga and Copa del Rey, the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/UEFA_Champions_League\">Champions League<\/a>, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bundesliga\">Bundesliga<\/a>. In 2017, he retired from playing and began coaching, starting with Real Madrid&#8217;s youth team. He was named the head coach of Real Madrid in 2025 but left after a year and was just named the new manager of the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Premier_League\">Premier League<\/a> team <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Chelsea_F.C.\">Chelsea<\/a>. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jagoba_Arrasate\">Jagoba Arrasate Elustondo<\/a><\/strong> played professionally for 10 years but only made 10 appearances during that time, mostly for second tier or lower teams. In 2007, he switched to coaching, with stints at Real Sociedad and <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/RCD_Mallorca\">Mallorca<\/a>, though his longest tenure was with <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/CA_Osasuna\">Osasuna<\/a>. He lead Real Sociedad to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, where they lost to <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/FC_Barcelona\">Barcelona<\/a>. He led Osasuna to the Spanish Cup final which they lost to Real Madrid. But the team qualified for the Europa League championship. He was born in 1978 in Berriatua, Bizkaia. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mikel_Arteta\">Mikel Arteta Amatriain<\/a><\/strong> is the manager for the English Premier League club <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Arsenal_F.C.\">Arsenal<\/a>. Born in 1982 in Donostia, Arteta played professionally for several teams, including Real Sociedad, though he played most of his matches in <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Everton_F.C.\">Everton<\/a> and Arsenal in England, winning several awards. In 2016, he moved to coaching, starting at <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Manchester_City_F.C.\">Manchester City<\/a>. In 2019, he moved back to Arsenal and has since led the team to winning the Premier League and coming in second in the Champions League.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Unai_Emery\">Unai Emery Etxegoien<\/a><\/strong> is considered one of the most successful managers in the history of Europe. He began coaching in 2004 after a relatively unremarkable playing career and has coached for teams including <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Valencia_CF\">Valencia<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/FC_Spartak_Moscow\">Spartak Moscow<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sevilla_FC\">Sevilla<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Paris_Saint-Germain_FC\">Paris Saint-Germain<\/a>, Arsenal, and most recently <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Aston_Villa_F.C.\">Aston Villa<\/a>. As a manager, he has led his teams to <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/UEFA_Europa_League\">Europa League<\/a> championships and the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Troph%C3%A9e_des_Champions\">Troph\u00e9e des Champions<\/a>. He was born in Hondarribia, Gizpuzkoa, in 1971.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Luis_de_la_Fuente_(footballer,_born_1961)\">Luis de la Fuente Castillo<\/a><\/strong> is the current manager of the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Spain_national_football_team\">Spanish national team<\/a>. Though not ethnically Basque, he was born nearby in Haro, La Rioja, in 1961, and qualified to play for Athletic Bilbao, for whom he played a total 168 games, since he was raised in the Basque Country. He began coaching in 1997 and has been the manager of the national team since 2022. He has guided Spain to win the European Championship and the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/UEFA_Nations_League\">Nations League<\/a>. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Andoni_Iraola\">Andoni Iraola Sagarna<\/a><\/strong> was born in 1982 in Usurbil, Gipuzkoa. Currently the manager for the English Premier League club Liverpool, the bulk of his playing career was with Athletic Bilbao, though he played a few games with <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/New_York_City_FC\">New York City FC<\/a>. In 2018 he made the move to coaching, starting at <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/AEK_Larnaca_FC\">AEK Larnaca FC<\/a> in Cyprus. Earlier this month (June, 2026) he was named manager of Liverpool.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Julen_Lopetegui\">Julen Lopetegui Argote<\/a><\/strong> is currently manager of the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Qatar_national_football_team\">Qatar national team<\/a>. Born in Asteasu, Gipuzkoa, in 1966, the majority of his playing career saw him with <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/CD_Logro%C3%B1%C3%A9s\">Logro\u00f1\u00e9s<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rayo_Vallecano\">Rayo Vallecano<\/a>. In 2003 he retired and became a manager, leading Sevilla to a Europa League championship in the 2019-2020 season. In 2025, he was named manager of the Qatar team, and helped them secure a berth in the 2026 World Cup, only the second time for Qatar.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jos\u00e9_Luis_Mendilibar\">Jos\u00e9 Luis Mendilibar Etxebarria<\/a><\/strong>, born in 1961 in Zaldibar, Bizkaia, is currently manager of the Greek club <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Olympiacos_F.C.\">Olympiacos<\/a>. Professionally, he never made it out of the second division of Spanish soccer and after about 15 years he switched to coaching in 1994. His longest managerial stint was with<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/SD_Eibar\"> Eibar<\/a>. While they had been promoted to the first division before Mendilibar was named manager, he guided them to be the highest-ranked Basque team in La Liga in 2016-17. He guided Olympiacos to a European title, the first time a Greek club ever won. He also led them to win the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Super_League_Greece\">Greek league<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ernesto_Valverde\">Ernesto Valverde Tejedor<\/a><\/strong>, though not ethnically Basque, grew up in the Basque Country since he was an infant and has long been associated with Basque soccer, playing almost half of his professional career with Athletic Bilbao. Born in 1964 in Extremadura, he played for Barcelona as well when the team won the Copa del Rey. He began coaching in 2001, first as an assistant at Athletic Bilbao. He has jumped back and forth during his managerial career, with three different stints with Athletic Bilbao, including from 2022-2026 when he became the winningest manager in the club&#8217;s history.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\">A full list of all of Buber&#8217;s Basque Facts of the Week can be found in the <a href=\"https:\/\/buber.net\/Basque\/basque-fact-of-the-week-archive\/\">Archive<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Primary sources: <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With the World Cup, the world is ablaze with soccer fever. With several premier teams, the Basque Country has a strong association with soccer. There are a number of Basque players participating in the World Cup as part of the national teams of Spain, Ghana, Mexico, and Japan &#8211; Euskal Kazeta has a nice writeup [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7553,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[836,19,9],"tags":[4103,4106,4096,4097,4099,4105,4104,4102,4100,771,4101,4098],"class_list":["post-7549","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basque-fact-of-the-week","category-people","category-sports","tag-andoni-iraolo-sagarna","tag-ernesto-valverde-tejedor","tag-futbol","tag-imanol-alguacil-barrentexea","tag-jagoba-arrasate-elustondo","tag-jose-luis-mendilibar-etxebarria","tag-julen-lopetegui-argote","tag-luis-de-la-fuente-castillo","tag-mikel-arteta-amatriain","tag-soccer","tag-unai-emery-etxegoien","tag-xabier-alonso-olano"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/buber.net\/Basque\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/basque-coaches-1.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2sYNu-1XL","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buber.net\/Basque\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7549","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buber.net\/Basque\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buber.net\/Basque\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buber.net\/Basque\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buber.net\/Basque\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7549"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/buber.net\/Basque\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7549\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7558,"href":"https:\/\/buber.net\/Basque\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7549\/revisions\/7558"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buber.net\/Basque\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7553"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buber.net\/Basque\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7549"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buber.net\/Basque\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7549"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buber.net\/Basque\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7549"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}