MADRID, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Athletic Club Bilbao have confirmed Jose Angel 'Cucu' Ziganda as the new first team coach to replace Ernesto Valverde.
The club confirmed that Valverde would not continue after four years in charge on Monday and the 53-year-old gave an emotional press conference to say 'goodbye' on Tuesday, in which he insisted he has not held talks with any other club.
Athletic have now wasted no time in confirming Ziganda as his successor. The 50-year-old has signed a two-year contract and steps up after six seasons coaching the Athletic B-team, leading them to promotion to the Spanish second division two years ago.
The current first team squad contains a host of former B-team players, such as Yeray Alvarez, Inaki Williams, Aymeric Laporte and Kepa Arrirabalaga and Ziganda's promotion is a natural progression following Valverde's departure.
Ziganda played 255 league games for Athletic, partnering Valverde in attack in many of those matches, and scored 73 goals in a long playing career.
He has also coached Osasuna and Xerez in the Primera Liga, with varying degrees of success, before returning to Athletic as B-team boss in 2011.
