5 things about new Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde

Coach Ernesto Valverde is the new appointed Barcelona manager. The Catalans have hired the Spanish taskmaster who resigned from his post at Athletic
Bilbao last week so that he could make the switch to the Camp Nou.

Who is Ernesto Valverde? who will be taking over one of the world's biggest clubs?

1. He played for Barcelona

Though Barcelona does not insist on appointing people who know the club, they always want to keep things in the family when possible. Ernesto Valverde is from the Barcelona family, having played for the club from the year 1988- 90, when he won the Spanish Copa del Rey and European Cup Winners Cup. 

2. He has plenty of experience 

Ernesto Valverde has been in the coaching business since 2001 when he joined the Bilbao coaching staff. A year later, he was in charge of the reserves and by the year 2003, he became the first team manager. He has managed in all but one season since.

Most of Valverde's coaching career has been in Spanish La Liga spending some time at Athletic Bilbao, Valencia, Espanyol, Villarreal, and totaling 10 years. 

Valverde also had two stints at Olympiakos football club, where he assisted to the Greek club to 3 league titles and two cups.

3. His last 4 seasons at Athletic Bilbao have been tremendous

Though Valverde took Espanyol Fc to the UEFA Cup final and picked up some trophies at Olympiakos, His last spell at Athletic Bilbao will be his most impressive in coaching.

In His last 4 years at Athletic Bilbao, Ernesto Valverde never finished worse than a 7th position on the league table. That has taken the club into European competition every season, and that run included a 4th place finish that saw Athletic Bilbao make the Uefa Champions League.

 That spot in Europe's glamor competition was Athletic Bilbao's first in the last16 years.

4. He has never managed on this big stage before

This happens to be the first time Ernesto Valverde has been on the biggest stage and there are two new challenges that Valverde should be prepared to face: firstly, the egos of the world best players and secondly the constant media scrutiny and criticisms.

He is also said to be a private, introvert type of person, which could impair his dealings with the media.

5. He's very good with young players

Fc Barcelona hasn't promoted many young players into their senior team of late, and Ernesto Valverde will be charged with changing the trend. Bilbao always brings through young guys and Valverde turned most of these young chaps into very good players.

Players like Aymeric Laporte and Inaki Williams both got their debuts under Ernesto Valverde before gradually becoming La Liga stars and earning big money transfers to England. Inigo Lekueis also another young player that Valverde debuted.