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José Luis Mendilibar

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José Luis Mendilibar
Mendilibar as manager of Eibar in 2017
Personal information
Full name José Luis Mendilibar Etxebarria
Date of birth (1961-03-14) 14 March 1961 (age 63)
Place of birth Zaldibar, Spain
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Olympiacos (manager)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1979–1982 Bilbao Athletic 106 (14)
1982–1985 Logroñés 88 (11)
1985–1993 Sestao 275 (34)
1993–1994 Lemona 28 (4)
Total 497 (63)
Managerial career
1994–1996 Arratia
1996–1997 Athletic Bilbao (youth)
1997–1999 Basconia
1999–2000 Bilbao Athletic
2000–2001 Basconia
2001–2002 Aurrerá
2002–2004 Lanzarote
2004–2005 Eibar
2005 Athletic Bilbao
2006–2010 Valladolid
2011–2013 Osasuna
2014 Levante
2015–2021 Eibar
2021–2022 Alavés
2023 Sevilla
2024– Olympiacos
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

José Luis Mendilibar Etxebarria (born 14 March 1961) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder, currently manager of Super League Greece club Olympiacos.

He played no higher than Segunda División, making 290 appearances and scoring 34 goals mainly for Sestao. He also represented Logroñés in that league.[1]

Mendilibar managed for over 15 years in La Liga for Athletic Bilbao, Valladolid, Osasuna, Levante, Eibar, Alavés and Sevilla, winning the second division with Valladolid in 2006–07, the Europa League in 2023 with Sevilla and the Conference League in 2024 with Olympiacos.

Playing career

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Mendilibar was born in Zaldibar, Basque Country. He enjoyed an average career as a player, never appearing for a club in La Liga and successively representing Bilbao Athletic, Logroñés, Sestao and Lemona.[2]

Mendilibar was a key player in midfield for Sestao during the side's Segunda División years – playing eight seasons with them in that level and appearing in nearly 300 competitive matches – narrowly missing out on promotion in 1986–87 under Javier Irureta.[3][4][5]

Coaching career

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Early years

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After retiring in 1994, Mendilibar worked in the youth categories of Athletic Bilbao before having spells as head coach at Aurrerá de Vitoria,[6] Lanzarote and Eibar.[7] His success with the latter in the second division, on a very limited budget, translated into a narrow miss on promotion in 2005.[8]

Athletic Bilbao

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Mendilibar returned to Athletic in June 2005.[9] His debut was the first European match of his career, a 1–0 away loss against Romania's CFR Cluj on 2 July in the second round of the UEFA Intertoto Cup (aggregate draw, elimination on penalties).[10][11] His first top-flight game was a 3–0 home win over Real Sociedad in the Basque derby on 27 August.[12]

Having not added any more victories in the ensuing nine games of the season, Mendilibar was its first manager to be sacked. He was replaced by Javier Clemente on 31 October.[13]

Valladolid

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In June 2006, Mendilibar was appointed at Real Valladolid in the second division.[14] His team won promotion as champions in his first season, earning a record 88 points and going on a 29-game unbeaten run to secure their place in the top flight with eight fixtures remaining.[15] In the same campaign, they reached the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey with aggregate victories over Gimnàstic de Tarragona and Villarreal from the league above.[16]

Mendilibar's team retained their league status from 2007 to 2009. On 1 February 2010, after a 1–1 home draw against Almería left them one point above the relegation places, he was dismissed.[17]

Osasuna

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In February 2011, Mendilibar returned to work, replacing the fired José Antonio Camacho at Osasuna on a deal until June of the following year.[18] His first game in charge was a 4–0 home defeat of Espanyol on 20 February,[19] and the Rojillos stayed up on the final day of the campaign with a 1–0 win over Villarreal also at the El Sadar Stadium.[20]

Mendilibar added a further year to his contract in March 2012,[21] and again in May of the following year.[22] On 3 September 2013, he was relieved of his duties after three losses in as many matches to kickstart the new season.[23]

Levante

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On 29 May 2014, Mendilibar was appointed at Levante, signing a one-year contract with an option for a second season.[24] On 20 October, after only one win in eight games, and no goals scored and 14 conceded from four home fixtures, he was dismissed.[25]

Eibar

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Mendilibar returned to Eibar on 30 June 2015, replacing Gaizka Garitano.[26] In 2016–17, he led the team to a best-ever quarter-final finish in the domestic cup before an injury-stripped squad lost 5–2 on aggregate to Atlético Madrid;[27] he and Asier Garitano of Leganés were joint recipients of the year's Miguel Muñoz Trophy for best manager.[28] The following year they came ninth in the league, again a club record.[29]

In May 2021, shortly after the team's relegation, Mendilibar announced that he would not renew his contract.[30]

Alavés

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At the turn of the calendar year, Mendilibar returned to the top division at relegation-threatened neighbours Alavés.[31] He was fired less than four months later, with the side in last place.[32]

Sevilla

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On 21 March 2023, Mendilibar replaced Jorge Sampaoli at the helm of Sevilla.[33] In the first European games of his career since Athletic's Intertoto elimination by Cluj in 2005,[34] his team beat Manchester United 5–2 on aggregate in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League;[35] they eventually won the competition, defeating Roma in Budapest 4–1 on penalties following a 1–1 draw.[36]

On 8 October 2023, Mendilibar was dismissed after winning only two of eight league matches of the new season.[37]

Olympiacos

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Mendilibar signed as manager of Olympiacos on 12 February 2024.[38] He made his debut three days later, defeating Ferencváros 1–0 in the play-off round of the UEFA Conference League.[39] The following week, he managed a 4–1 away win against rivals PAOK in the Super League Greece, taking the opposition from the top of the table.[40] He guided the Piraeus-based team to the first UEFA competition semi-final in their history;[41] there, he defeated Aston Villa of compatriot Unai Emery 6–2 on aggregate to qualify a Greek team to a continental final for the first time since Panathinaikos in 1971.[42] He eventually led the club to their first-ever European title by beating Fiorentina 1–0 in the decisive match.[43]

Managerial statistics

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As of match played 24 November 2024
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record Ref
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Arratia Spain 1 July 1994 30 June 1996 76 41 14 21 126 67 +59 053.95 [44]
Basconia Spain 30 June 1997 31 May 1999 82 39 27 16 123 79 +44 047.56 [45]
Athletic Bilbao Β Spain 31 May 1999 1 July 2000 38 15 10 13 45 35 +10 039.47 [46]
Basconia Spain 1 July 2000 30 June 2001 38 16 8 14 65 59 +6 042.11 [47]
Aurrerá Spain 30 June 2001 1 July 2002 38 12 18 8 38 33 +5 031.58 [48]
Lanzarote Spain 1 July 2002 1 July 2004 95 40 25 30 145 110 +35 042.11 [49]
Eibar Spain 1 July 2004 21 June 2005 43 20 14 9 53 39 +14 046.51 [50]
Athletic Bilbao Spain 21 June 2005 31 October 2005 13 3 3 7 12 16 −4 023.08 [51]
Valladolid Spain 20 June 2006 1 February 2010 156 62 43 51 210 206 +4 039.74 [52]
Osasuna Spain 14 February 2011 3 September 2013 102 33 26 43 110 147 −37 032.35 [53]
Levante Spain 29 May 2014 20 October 2014 8 1 2 5 4 20 −16 012.50 [54]
Eibar Spain 30 June 2015 25 May 2021 248 76 66 106 299 353 −54 030.65 [55]
Alavés Spain 28 December 2021 4 April 2022 12 1 4 7 9 23 −14 008.33 [56]
Sevilla Spain 21 March 2023 8 October 2023 28 10 11 7 44 33 +11 035.71 [57]
Olympiacos Greece 12 February 2024 Present 40 26 6 8 77 38 +39 065.00 [58]
Total 1,017 395 277 345 1,370 1,258 +112 038.84

Honours

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Basconia

Valladolid

Sevilla

Olympiacos

Individual

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Miñón, Iñigo (23 November 2019). "Mendilibar y Garitano, futbolistas modestos, se asientan como entrenadores de élite" [Mendilibar and Garitano, modest footballers, settle as elite managers]. El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  2. ^ Rodrigálvarez, Eduardo (24 June 2005). "Futbolista blando, entrenador duro" [Soft player, hard manager]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  3. ^ Alcaide, Jesús (16 February 1986). "3–2: Amarró los dos puntos el Castilla" [3–2: Castilla bagged two points]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  4. ^ Soler, Jaume (22 October 1990). "Palamós dió por bueno el punto" [Palamós happy with point]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  5. ^ Hoyos, Javier (22 November 1992). "El Mallorca sentencia al final" [Mallorca decider in the end]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  6. ^ Hurtado, José Luis (29 May 2023). "Mendilibar, el genio normal: "Nunca le vi vestido con un traje"; "me decía 'pichafría' por hacer sólo un cañito"" [Mendilibar, the normal genius: "I never saw him wearing a suit"; "he called me 'yellow' for performing just one nutmeg"]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  7. ^ Lorenzo, José Luis (1 July 2004). "Me costó mucho llegar y no quiero defraudar" [It was very hard for me to get here, i don't want to disappoint] (PDF). Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  8. ^ "Mendilibar ha dirigido 300 partidos entre Primera y Segunda" [Mendilibar has coached 300 matches between Primera and Segunda]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 20 October 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  9. ^ "Mendilibar gets Athletic chance". UEFA. 21 June 2005. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  10. ^ "El Athletic se olvida de Europa por la vía rápida" [Athletic forget about Europe on the fast track]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 10 July 2005. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  11. ^ Gil del Pozo, Gema (5 August 2015). "Ecomax, el rival que acabó con el sueño del Athletic" [Ecomax, the opponent that ended Athletic’s dream] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  12. ^ "Los 400 partidos de Mendilibar en Primera División" [Mendilibar's 400 games in Primera División]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 20 September 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  13. ^ "Clemente vuelve al Athletic" [Clemente returns to Athletic]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 31 October 2005. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  14. ^ "El Valladolid confirma a José Luis Mendilibar como nuevo técnico para la próxima temporada" [Valladolid confirm José Luis Mendilibar as new manager for next season]. Super Deporte (in Spanish). 20 June 2006. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  15. ^ a b Ortega, José Miguel (10 November 2018). "El día en el que Mendilibar jugó contra el Real Valladolid" [The day Mendilibar played against Real Valladolid]. El Norte de Castilla (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  16. ^ Posada, Artuto (25 January 2021). "El Real Valladolid no alcanza los cuartos de Copa desde hace 14 años" [Real Valladolid have not reached the Cup quarter-finals for 14 years]. El Norte de Castilla (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  17. ^ "Onesimo takes reins from Mandilibar [sic] at Valladolid". ESPN Soccernet. 2 February 2010. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  18. ^ "Mendilibar sustituye a Camacho" [Mendilibar replaces Camacho]. El País (in Spanish). 14 February 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  19. ^ "Nekounam at the double". ESPN Soccernet. 20 February 2011. Archived from the original on 28 June 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  20. ^ Zariquiegui, F. (22 May 2011). "Osasuna respira con su victoria ante el Villarreal" [Osasuna breathe with their victory against Villarreal]. Diario de Sevilla (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  21. ^ "Mendilibar renueva con Osasuna para una temporada más" [Mendilibar renews with Osasuna for one more season]. Super Deporte (in Spanish). 30 March 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  22. ^ "Mendilibar renueva una temporada con Osasuna" [Mendilibar renews for a season with Osasuna]. Hoy (in Spanish). 4 June 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  23. ^ "La Liga: Osasuna name former Almeria boss Javi Gracia as their new coach". Sky Sports. 4 September 2013. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  24. ^ "Levante appoint Mendilibar as new coach". FIFA. 29 May 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.[dead link]
  25. ^ "El Levante rescinde el contrato a Mendilibar" [Levante terminate Mendilibar contract] (in Spanish). Levante UD. 20 October 2014. Archived from the original on 23 October 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  26. ^ "José Luis Mendilibar nuevo entrenador de SD Eibar" [José Luis Mendilibar new manager of SD Eibar] (in Spanish). SD Eibar. 30 June 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  27. ^ "Atletico Madrid reaches final 4 of Copa del Rey". EFE. 25 January 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  28. ^ a b "Mendilibar y Garitano reciben el premio Miguel Muñoz: "Muchas gracias a MARCA"" [Mendilibar and Garitano receive the Miguel Muñoz Trophy: "Thank you so much MARCA"]. Marca (in Spanish). 18 December 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  29. ^ "Eibar sign off for season with terrific point following 2–2 draw at Atlético". SD Eibar. 20 May 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  30. ^ "Mendilibar no seguirá en el Eibar tras el descenso a Segunda" [Mendilibar will not continue at Eibar after relegation to Segunda] (in Spanish). RTVE. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  31. ^ Rivas, Jon (27 December 2021). "Mendilibar reemplaza a Calleja en el Alavés" [Mendilibar replaces Calleja at Alavés]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  32. ^ Lekuona, Javier (4 April 2022). "Mendilibar, destituido; Velázquez, nuevo entrenador del Alavés" [Mendilibar, dismissed; Velázquez, new manager of Alavés]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  33. ^ "José Luis Mendilibar, nuevo entrenador del Sevilla FC" [José Luis Mendilibar, new manager of Sevilla FC] (in Spanish). Sevilla FC. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  34. ^ "Sevilla manager Jose Luis Mendilibar relishing prospect of facing Manchester United". RTÉ. 12 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  35. ^ "Ten Hag blasts Man United players after Sevilla thrashing". France 24. 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  36. ^ a b Lowe, Sid (31 May 2023). "Montiel edges Sevilla to seventh Europa League triumph with win over Roma". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  37. ^ "Mendilibar deja de ser entrenador del Sevilla FC" [Mendilibar is no longer manager of Sevilla FC] (in Spanish). Sevilla FC. 8 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  38. ^ "José Luis Mendilibar is the new coach of Olympiacos". Olympiacos F.C. 12 February 2024. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  39. ^ Augustakis, Kostas (15 February 2024). "Ολυμπιακός – Φερεντσβάρος 1–0: Ένα και να καίει, ο Ελ Κααμπί έδωσε προβάδισμα πρόκρισης στους ερυθρόλευκους" [Olympiakos – Ferencvaros 1–0: In spite of heat, El Kaabi gave red-and-whites the lead in tie] (in Greek). Sport 24. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  40. ^ "ΠΑΟΚ – Ολυμπιακός 1–4: Η μεγαλύτερη εντός έδρας ήττα του Λουτσέσκου στην Ελλάδα" [PAOK – Olympiacos 1–4: Lucescu's biggest home loss in Greece] (in Greek). Gazzetta. 18 February 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  41. ^ "Batalla española en las semifinales: Mendilibar vs Emery" [Spanish battle in the semi-finals: Mendilibar vs Emery] (in Spanish). Onda Cero. 2 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  42. ^ "Olympiakos make history by reaching Europa Conference League final". France 24. 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  43. ^ "Olympiacos 1–0 Fiorentina (aet): El Kaabi swoops to secure Greece's first major European trophy". UEFA. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
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    "Regional Preferente Vizcaína 1995–96" [Regional Preferente Vizcaína 1995–96] (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  45. ^ "Tercera División (Grupo 4) 1997–98" [Tercera División (Group 4) 1997–98] (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
    "Fase de ascenso a Segunda División 1997–98 (Grupo B3)" [Promotion phase to Segunda División B (Group B3) 1997–98] (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
    "Tercera División (Grupo 4) 1998–99" [Tercera División (Group 4) 1998–99] (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  46. ^ "Mendilibar: José Luis Mendilibar Etxebarria". BDFutbol. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  47. ^ "Tercera División (Grupo 4) 2000–01" [Tercera División (Group 4) 2000–01] (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
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  58. ^ "Olympiakos CFP: Matches". Soccerway. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  59. ^ Oyarzabal, Eduardo (1 June 2023). "Mendilibar y la bendita tómbola para el sevillismo" [Mendilibar and the holy bingo for Sevilla]. Deia (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  60. ^ Fitzpatrick, Peter (29 May 2024). "Olympiacos defeat Fiorentina to win Europa Conference League". OneFootball. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  61. ^ "Jose Luis Mendilibar named LaLiga Santander Manager of the Month for February". La Liga. 10 March 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
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