From Player to Coach: A Young Manager’s Story at Leioa

Have you ever wondered what it feels like to stop playing football and start coaching the very team you were playing for just a few weeks ago? Let’s break it down in a super simple way!

Becoming the Coach of Your Old Team

Imagine you were playing for a local team, and less than a month later, you’re the boss (the coach) of that same team. Weird, right?

• The coach says it feels natural.
• He had already been working at Leioa as both a player and a coach.
• Step by step, he climbed the ladder as a coach.
• The club trusted him enough to put him in charge of the main team.
• He didn’t want to stop playing, but in the end, he chose coaching because that’s what he wants to do for a living.

Important: He picked coaching as his dream job, even though he loved playing!

Does He Have the Right Papers?

To be a coach, you need a special license (like a permission slip that says you’re allowed to coach).

• When he was young playing for Athletic’s youth teams, he didn’t study too much.
• At Lezama (Athletic’s training place), they made him get his coaching certificates at Kirolene.
• Now he has all the papers he needs.
• The only thing he can’t do yet is coach in another country. But he says “all in good time.”

A Dream Debut Against Athletic

Right after he decided to coach Leioa’s first team, he found out his first match would be a friendly (a non-competition game) against Athletic.

• He’s been an Athletic fan (socio) since he was 6 years old.
• He played 3 years at Lezama, Athletic’s home base.
• The bond with Athletic is huge.
• This game is super special for him and the players.

A Generation 2000 Guy

He was born around the year 2000.

• That means at Lezama, he trained with some Athletic players of today.
• He played with: Paredes, Beñat Prados, Agirrezabala, and even Nico Williams!

Did He Dream of Playing for Athletic?

• He had teammates way better than him.
• Every kid hopes to move up, but Lezama is tough.
• You need a very high level and to act like a pro.

How Long Was He at Leioa?

Here’s a simple timeline:

1. Started at Leioa super young (pre-benjamin or benjamin age).
2. Stayed until his last youth year, then went to Lezama.
3. After Athletic, played 3 years at Sestao River.
4. Then played at Portu.
5. Then 2 more years back at Leioa.
6. Total: about 14–15 years linked to Leioa.

Why Stop Playing?

• It wasn’t that he felt he couldn’t play.
• In the last 2 years, he had bad luck with injuries.
• He was injured more than he played.
• The chance to coach the first team appeared.
• He had a big internal debate: play or coach?
• He chose coaching — his dream.

Coaching Former Friends

What’s it like to boss around your friends?

• It’s more natural than he expected.
• They’re still friends and can hang out.
• But during training, it’s all business.
• He pushes them just as hard as anyone.

Some players are older than him!

• Example: Ander Gayoso is 32, but they get along great.

Cutting Friends from the Team

• The sports director builds the squad, not just the coach.
• He’s happy with how it turned out.

What About the Match vs Athletic?

He was asked about a rival coach (Terzic) and his German team (Borussia Dortmund).

• He didn’t study Terzic.
• He watches little German football.
• He didn’t see Terzic’s debut match due to lack of time.

With only 4 training sessions before playing Athletic:

1. Pre-season started July 14 — early for a Third Division team.
2. Almost full squad available (only 3 missing).
3. Hope: players are fit and no one gets hurt.

One of the Youngest Coaches in Spain?

• He is 26 years old.
• He didn’t check if he’s the youngest, but it’s rare at this level.
• Leioa is a demanding club.

Is he ready?

• The club trusts him, so he must be doing something right.
• He had doubts but also lots of excitement.
• His step-by-step coaching path:
  1. Age 15: coached a kids’ 7-a-side team.
  2. Later: youth teams, moving up yearly.
  3. Paused when at Portu (too busy).
  4. Back at Leioa: took B youth team to National League, then kept them in Honor Division.

His Coaching Heroes

People he looks up to:

• Valverde (clear reference)
• Pep Guardiola (watched and listened a lot)
• Mikel Arteta
• Unai Emery
• Bittor Llopis (current Bilbao Athletic coach, was his coach too)

The Team’s Goal This Year

Last year Leioa fought hard for promotion.

• This project is brand new: only 4 of 24 players renewed.
• 5 players came up from the A youth team.
• Rest are new signings.

The objective:

1. First, a good pre-season.
2. The squad is strong and competitive.
3. If you don’t work hard, you won’t play.
4. Leioa’s standard: be at the top of the table.

Important: Leioa always aims to be near the top — that’s the expectation!

Summary

A 26-year-old former player became the head coach of Leioa, the team he just played for. He grew up at Leioa, trained at Athletic’s Lezama, got his coaching license, and chose coaching over playing due to injuries and passion. His first big game is against his beloved Athletic. He coaches his friends strictly, trusts the club’s plan, and aims to keep Leioa at the top with a fresh, competitive squad.

FAQ

Q: How did he become Leioa’s coach so fast?
A: He had already helped as a player-coach, climbed the coaching levels, and the club gave him the top job.

Q: Can he coach anywhere now?
A: He has all licenses for Spain, but cannot coach outside the country yet.

Q: Is it awkward coaching his old friends?
A: Not really — they’re friends off the field, but he acts like a strict boss during training.

Q: Who are his coaching role models?
A: Valverde, Guardiola, Arteta, Emery, and Bittor Llopis.

Q: What does Leioa want this season?
A: A good pre-season and to finish near the top of the table with a new, strong team.