Former Athletic Bilbao boss Luis Fernandez says he would love to return to coach the club one day.
Spanish-born Fernandez, who as a player represented France 60 times, was in charge of Los Leones for four years between 1996 and 2000 and spoke to Radio Marca before the Group I Europa League game against Lyon at San Mames.
“I have a lot of friends in Bilbao and have great affection for the club,” said the 53-year-old, currently out of work after leaving his last post with the Israeli national side.
“If one day the opportunity arose then I would love to return there. It is a great club that deserves all the respect in the world.”
Fernandez led the Basques to their highest placing in the last two decades – second in the 1997-98 season – and praised the good work done recently by both Marcelo Bielsa and Joaquin Caparros.
“I like Bielsa’s philosophy because there was some good football played last year, but we shouldn’t forget the good work done by Caparros, who got a lot of football out of a team with little experience.”
He also believes that despite Athletic facing an uphill task to qualify from the group, having taken just one point from the first three games, they can still qualify for the next round.
“Athletic need to win all three of their remaining games to get through, but two are at home and one is in Israel, where they can also get something,” said Fernandez.
