Sito Alonso and Ernesto Valverde, back together in Barcelona

FC Barcelona’s basketball and football first teams have a new manager for the upcoming season. The two new coaches have known each other for a long time and have a close relationship. They are Sito Alonso and Ernesto Valverde who coincided in Bilbao during the 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons. During those two years, the former coached Bilbao Basket while the later was in charge at Athletic Club.

During his official presentation as FC Barcelona Lassa’s new coach, Sito Alonso discussed the friendship he has with with Valverde: “I have a very good relationship with him as we share a profession, humility and the drive to do things in the right way. That is why I like the idea of sharing a Club with somebody like him.”

While in the Basque country, Valverde’s Athletic Club won the Spanish Super Cup aagainst Barça in 2015 and Sito Alonso’s Bilbao Basket played in the 2014/15 league play-off and reached the semi-final of the Copa the following year. Sito Alonso summed it up well: “When we were both in Bilbao, things went well. Valverde even won a trophy! Hopefully luck will be on our side now that we are back together again.”