Asmir Begovic interview: Everton optimism, Moyes' influence and ‘icon' Coleman
Asmir Begovic is philosophical about what is to come.
The veteran goalkeeper is soon to be a free agent, his contract with Everton expiring at the end of the month. It has been confirmed that he will not be getting a new deal with them.
Begovic, who turns 38 next week, describes the decision-making process around his Everton exit as 'simple'. Talks were short and succinct.
Advertisement
'They wanted to change direction a bit and bring in new blood,' he tells The Athletic.
'For me, it was easy. No hard feelings. You respect the decision. We gave it everything and shook hands, having done our job. That's what makes it something you look back on with some fondness.'
Begovic's time at Everton was largely challenging, for reasons beyond his control.
His first spell, between 2021 and 2023, saw two relegation battles. Then, after a year with west London-based Queens Park Rangers in the second-tier Championship, he returned to Goodison Park last summer, with Everton still financially stricken and in the midst of a lengthy takeover process.
His role changed slightly last season compared to that first stint. He went from being No 2 'keeper to third-choice, providing able cover for England international Jordan Pickford and backup Joao Virginia — who is leaving too this summer with the expiry of his contract — yet still saw rejoining Everton as a 'no-brainer'.
A call from the Merseyside club's then director of football Kevin Thelwell last summer emphasised that Begovic would play a valuable leadership role with the place still engulfed in uncertainty. Everton wanted to lean on the experience he gained during that tumultuous first spell.
'I don't think anyone would have known what was to happen in those first two years,' Begovic says. 'So it was absolutely nothing new (to me).
'Being able to deal with it in a really calm way was obviously part of the appeal in bringing me back. I knew exactly what to expect, and it was easy to cope with everything.'
Begovic describes his first spell with Everton as more challenging than the second — 'there was a lot of turmoil, probably unexpectedly'. But there is now a sense the club are stronger having come through such adversity, which included two separate points deductions for financial breaches in the 2023-24 season, after the takeover by The Friedkin Group and the move to their new stadium for next season.
'Because of that period, everyone knew what it could be like,' says Begovic, who did not make an appearance last season as Pickford excelled and Virginia played once each in both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup. 'Those past experiences have really helped the team to be calm and deal with certain situations.'
Advertisement
Present during two turbulent chapters in the club's recent history, Begovic ended up playing an admittedly unheralded part in seeing them through unscathed.
He was part of a senior leadership group that also included captain Seamus Coleman, defenders James Tarkowski and Ashley Young and Pickford. Coleman's presence helped ensure all 'egos were left at the door'.
'Seamus is the ultimate leader, the icon of the club,' says the Canada-raised Bosnia-Herzegovina international. 'He sets the tone. He's somebody that you just want to play with and play for. What he represents and what he stands for really epitomise Everton and everything the club can be.
'We had a really good group behind that, trying to set certain standards and keep everyone together. There was some good quality in the squad and we had fantastic support staff, so I felt like it was a really good mix this year. That sort of made us achieve the maximum we could.
'No matter the circumstances, we always stuck together and kept pushing. The fruits of the labour really came through in the second half of the season.'
Everton ended the campaign in fine form under David Moyes, back for a second stint as manager over a decade after leaving for Manchester United, finishing in a comfortable mid-table position. The woes in the first half of the season under the Scot's predecessor Sean Dyche are now a distant memory, but there was always a sense the squad could do better.
'That (early period) probably wasn't a true reflection of us and the quality we had,' Begovic says.
'But even when results weren't where we wanted them to be, I don't think we were a million miles away,' he adds, pointing to games against Bournemouth and Aston Villa where Everton lost after surrendering 2-0 leads. 'After that, we really showed the team we could be with the new manager coming in. We were able to turn it around and made it a lot easier for ourselves.'
Advertisement
So what changed when Moyes arrived in January?
'The funny thing is, when he came in, he said there's not much that needs to change, especially defensively,' he says. 'In possession, he put his touch on certain things and added different details, and that mix worked.'
Another key difference was the shift in atmosphere, with Moyes' return to the club he led for over a decade between 2002 and 2013 providing something of a comfort blanket.
'I don't think you can underestimate the impact that he had,' Begovic says. 'The atmosphere, as soon as he walked in — his legendary status — made a really big difference.
'He's a really experienced, calm manager. He never gets too high or too low, just really believes in what he does. He's got a really good staff and surrounds himself with really good people. He tries to create camaraderie. But at the same time, he'll tell you how it is if he wants certain things done in a better way. He just has a really good mix.'
We talk about Pickford, the team's talisman during those relegation battles and Begovic's long-time training partner.
Despite being the Everton and England No 1, there is still a sense he does not receive the plaudits from some quarters that he deserves.
'He's playing at an incredibly high level,' Begovic says. 'Obviously, he loves being at Everton, and Everton love him. He's doing the business for England, going from strength to strength, and it's great to see.
'We've developed a really big respect and friendship, pushed each other in training and made each other better. You do get better with experience. I've seen a change (in) his maturity, the way he plays the game.
'He's been the best goalkeeper in the Premier League for the last five years.'
Mentorship seems to come naturally to Begovic. He enjoys passing on his experience, gained during stints at Chelsea, Portsmouth and Stoke City among others, and has his own academy, which operates in both the UK and Bosnia.
In his spare time, he is making more media appearances, paving the way for a potential life after professional football. But he remains keen to prolong his playing career.
Advertisement
'You only get one chance at this job,' Begovic says. 'I've looked after myself well over the last few years. In football, I don't look too far ahead. Hopefully, the right situation comes up, and I'd like to keep doing it. I'm really open to all roles. I've done them now, so let's see what happens.'
The end of one chapter, then, and the start of another — for Begovic and the club he is leaving behind.
What comes next may be unclear, but he is optimistic about Everton's future, having played his small part in safeguarding it.
'Hopefully, Everton have weathered the storm and you're looking at brighter times,' Begovic says. 'They deserve nothing but the very best. Ownership, hopefully, can open up more resources and opportunities with the new stadium. It's exciting times and hopefully they can make the most of it.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Why did Liverpool's development teams struggle last season – and does it matter?
Liverpool's first-team took the Premier League by storm under Arne Slot last season, but for the club's development sides it was a different story. The under-21s finished 16th out of 26 in Premier League 2 and lost to Manchester City in the first knock-out round of the play-offs. The under-18s, meanwhile, endured a torrid campaign, finishing 11th out of 13 with just five wins all season and looked like a team drained of confidence since the turn of the year. Both will have new head coaches next season after internal changes. Advertisement By common consent, the current crop of under-18s are not as strong as in previous years and players such as Rio Ngumoha, who started with the group having joined from Chelsea last summer, have been pushed up to the higher age bracket for most of the campaign. Even his return on the final game of the season couldn't spark an uplift, though, as the team lost 3-0 to local rivals Everton in a game that summed up the miserable campaign. Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, the under-18s coach, has left after 10 years at the club and five years in the role, with Liverpool expected to make an external appointment for his replacement. Bridge-Wilkinson returned to his previous club, Huddersfield, this week as an assistant first team coach. It was a disappointing end to his tenure. Asked by The Athletic last month whether the league table was an accurate reflection of the season, he said: 'It probably is because we haven't won enough games. We know improvements have been made and a lot of hard work is going into it but we don't always get to see that on a Saturday. 'There's been improvement within the individuals but we haven't been able to get that into the team setting enough on a matchday. It's been tough, although we've shown as a club and an academy what we can do with players to get them close to their potential.' Under-21 head coach Barry Lewtas is also leaving after 12 years at the club and five in his current role. 'Sometimes you just know the time is right for a new adventure and I really feel the perfect time for me is now,' he told Lewtas hopes to become a head coach at senior level. For Liverpool it is a time to reflect on years of good work and refresh the setup for the future. Results and league positions are not the most important factor to consider when analysing youth football, especially as this was still another season of relative success for the academy with 14 graduates used in first-team games across all competitions and many more sent on loan to gain valuable experience. Advertisement The main objective for staff working at the club's Kirkby base is to prepare players for either a crack at representing the club at senior level in the future, or to succeed elsewhere. If those who do not make it are moved on for sizeable transfer fees, that also represents good business, and with Liverpool's list of talent they are well-positioned to achieve both. Take Trey Nyoni, for example. The 17-year-old is eligible to feature for both the under-21s and under-18s but is recognised as a first-team player as he trains with the seniors and has made five appearances for Slot's team this season across the Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup. He has only played in development games when the schedule allows. Although Tyler Morton, 22, (six appearances) and James McConnell, 20, (four appearances) have not featured as often as either would have hoped, both are set up nicely for the future whether that be at Anfield or beyond. Jarell Quansah's rise is another success story for the academy and helps provide evidence that a pathway is there for the most talented players. Yet there is still a degree of expectation for the club that has just won its 20th English league title to flex their muscles in the older age groups through results on the pitch. Manchester City's under-18s earned 46 more points than Liverpool to finish top of the league with Manchester United and Everton below in second and third. City's under-21s, who also finished top of the pile, recorded 20 points more than Liverpool to further underline their dominance. Aston Villa won the FA Youth Cup, beating City in the final. Liverpool were beaten 4-1 by Preston North End in the third round. City remain strong recruiters at academy level and are often the first choice for players and families who have multiple options to consider, so their success is no surprise. Like Liverpool, City also allowed a number of their most progressive young players to depart on loan while keeping a select group around to use across first-team games and training. Advertisement The difference, however, was in the sheer volume of players who left on a temporary basis. Liverpool sanctioned deals for 13 players to move on loan and that affected the way the under-21 team operated thereafter. In many of the games the team needed a ruthless finisher up front to put away chances. Jayden Danns, 19, who agreed on a loan move to Sunderland but wasn't able to feature due to injury, would have made a huge difference if he had been available, as would Lewis Koumas, 19, who spent the season on loan at Stoke City. Yet both players were at an advanced stage and had outgrown development football. Liverpool place a priority on sending players out to play men's football when the right opportunities arrive and have plans to bulk up the staffing levels around that department following Matt Newberry's promotion from director or loans and pathways to director of global talent. Newberry still oversees the progression of players on loan but will be assisted with more support moving forward. Like the previously successful loan spells of Harvey Elliott (Blackburn Rovers), Conor Bradley (Bolton Wanderers) and Quansah (Bristol Rovers), a number of players have succeeded away from the club this season. Ben Doak was performing well at Middlesbrough before his injury, as was Owen Beck at Blackburn. Calum Scanlon showed signs of promise at Millwall, Stefan Bajcetic built up his durability at Las Palmas and Luca Stephenson featured heavily for Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership. Other players who have spent periods on loan this season include Fabian Mrozek, Luke Chambers, Kaide Gordon and Calvin Ramsay. For most of those players, the experience will benefit the club in the future. Had Liverpool kept some of them around, the development league tables might have looked rather different. But while results need to improve next campaign, nobody at the club is losing sight of the bigger picture.
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Which Tottenham players will suit Frank's football, and which may have to make way?
Thomas Frank has been named Tottenham Hotspur's new head coach, replacing Ange Postecoglou. Under Postecoglou, Tottenham overhauled their squad with a focus on bringing youth to north London. While they finished 17th last season, their worst-ever final league position in the Premier League, many of those young talents flourished under the Australian. Advertisement Now Frank, who has an impressive track record in improving players, is charged with helping these promising stars fulfil their potential while bringing senior players back to form. The Athletic assesses the squad Frank will inherit and who may suit his management style… Guglielmo Vicario is Tottenham's established starter between the sticks, and it would be a surprise to see Frank make an early change in that position. At Brentford, goalkeepers under Frank often played direct and long into the forwards, something Vicario was not typically asked to do under Postecoglou. Last season, only Jordan Pickford (942) played more long passes than Brentford 'keeper Mark Flekken (825), whereas Vicario played the fewest (173) of goalkeepers to make 14 or more Premier League appearances in 2024-25. Should Vicario struggle to adapt to Frank's demands, perhaps it could open a door for Antonin Kinsky, who was not just an efficient distributor at Slavia Prague in his native Czech Republic but also an extremely varied one. Still, given Vicario has been a guaranteed starter since signing from Empoli in 2023, it would be a surprise to see Frank move on from the Italian before handing him ample opportunity to prove his capabilities in the Premier League. At Tottenham, Frank will inherit one of the best central defensive partnerships in the Premier League with plenty of cover behind them. Under Postecoglou, Micky van de Ven's world-class recovery pace was arguably his most important attribute in an aggressively high line. But with Frank, who is unashamedly more pragmatic than the Australian, Spurs may not be quite so front-footed. Van de Ven may have to be more precise and patient with his defensive decisions. While patience isn't always Cristian Romero's strong suit, his ability to defend the box aerially and progress the ball with incisive line-splitting passes will be valued under Frank as he adapts his tactics to suit a club of Spurs' talent. He may not be relied on to progress the ball as much as he was under Postecoglou, but it would be remiss of Frank not to use Romero's unique passing ability from central defence. Advertisement Given that Spurs hope to compete well in the Champions League and Premier League next season, there should be plenty of opportunities for Kevin Danso to play a significant number of minutes. Danso's ability to drive the ball forward is an attribute Frank likes from central defenders, and his tendency to play on the front foot and engage with attackers complements Van de Ven's preference to play a covering role. Radu Dragusin, who has occasionally looked uncomfortable on the ball in defence, is not a perfect fit for Frank, who may be looking for someone to help break lines from the back. However, the Romanian is an accomplished defender with the athleticism to be a rotational option for Van de Ven. Slightly lower down the pecking order, Ben Davies may not play significant minutes under Frank but can perform a similar role to Ben Mee and Mathias 'Zanka' Jorgensen at Brentford over the last few years. Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro were often used as inverted full-backs under Postecoglou, coming into midfield and helping to create an overload in central areas to control possession. Frank has generally asked his full-backs to play in a more orthodox fashion and help with attacks by providing width. Porro appears to be an outstanding fit in this regard, as his ability to create chances from wide areas is one of his standout attributes. Should Frank also find a way to maximise his creative talents from inside half-space positions and goalscoring qualities, Porro looks set to be an integral player under the Dane. Udogie, an intelligent defender, also appears a good fit for Frank as he attempts to carry over his impressive defensive record from Brentford to Spurs. Frank's tactical outlook and personal qualities should also be a boost for Djed Spence, who starred for Spurs over the winter period before losing his starting place in the season's final months. Under Frank, who boosts confidence with day-to-day interactions with players, it would not be surprising to see Spence reach new levels at Tottenham next season. One of the big winners of Frank's appointment could be Archie Gray, a player Frank was desperate to sign at Brentford before the 19-year-old left Leeds United for Tottenham last summer. Gray was considered a 'generational talent' in defensive midfield by Brentford's recruitment department before the transfer, so it would make sense for Frank to emphasise his development in that position. While it may be a big ask to expect him to star in that role immediately next season, given how highly Frank's previous club rated him, his long-term development could be geared towards settling as a No 6. Advertisement Frank constructed his midfield trio at Brentford similarly to Postecoglou: one destructive defensive midfielder, an energetic box-to-box No 8 and an advanced playmaker. Currently, the box-to-box role is most likely to be occupied by Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma, Pape Matar Sarr or Lucas Bergvall, though they are all capable of playing deeper or more advanced. Vitaly Janelt's industry in midfield was an essential part of Brentford's success under Frank, and he shares similar characteristics to Sarr, who demonstrated his energy and quality in the Europa League final win against Manchester United. Frank, who started his career in Denmark's youth teams, is a developer of young talent, and he will surely see Sarr, 22, as a project with the potential to become an elite player in his position. The same can be said for Bergvall, who was arguably Tottenham's outstanding player of 2025 before suffering an ankle injury ahead of the Europa League semi-final. Frank may see Bergvall's development as an attacking midfielder, but his physical capabilities and quality are ideal for the No 8 position as the incoming coach looks to develop his style with more technically gifted players. Bissouma's energy should also suit this position nicely, though he has a year left on his contract with an uncertain future. Bentancur, Bissouma's midfield partner in the latter stages of the Europa League, appears a safe bet to start the season's opening weeks in defensive midfield or at No 8 as Frank will look to lean on experienced heads, subject to transfer activity. While Frank has placed significant emphasis on structure in developing Brentford into a stable top-flight outfit, he has made concessions for outstanding creative talents. This season, he has gifted Mikkel Damsgaard the freedom to roam from his position and create opportunities for attackers, leading to comfortably his best season since signing for the west London club in 2022. Should he offer the same privileges to James Maddison, the 28-year-old has the talent to be a constant match-winner for Spurs from that position and produce the level of performance he did in the early months of Postecoglou's reign. Still, while Maddison has the quality to be the best player on a Premier League pitch on any given weekend, his form at Spurs and Leicester City previously has been streaky. But Frank, who dropped Toney towards the end of the 2023-24 season for poor form, is unafraid to bench underperforming stars. Dejan Kulusevski, who starred in place of Maddison in attacking midfield before the turn of the year, will provide tough competition for the England international in that spot. The Sweden international can play on the right wing, but given Frank's previous affection for Brennan Johnson and the development of Bryan Mbeumo into a goalscoring forward from that position, we may be more likely to see him as a No 10 moving forward. Frank has an impressive track record in improving wingers at Brentford, with Said Benrahma, Yoane Wissa, Kevin Schade, and Mbeumo all reaching new levels under the Dane. Tottenham have an exciting young core of wide attackers, and under Frank's guidance, Wilson Odobert, Mikey Moore and Mathys Tel, who is contracted to Bayern Munich but could move permanently to Tottenham this summer, could all make significant strides towards reaching their potential. Advertisement Brennan Johnson could be another player who kicks on under Frank after a strong season in north London, where he finished as the club's top scorer and grabbed the winner in the Europa League final. Frank courted Johnson heavily over several transfer windows, though he saw the Welsh forward as more of a 1v1 winger, as opposed to the goalscorer-type winger he developed into under Postecoglou. Mbeumo followed a similar arc, so Frank may continue developing him as a goalscorer rather than the traditional winger he previously envisioned. Club captain Son Heung-min is arguably the most interesting player in the group, with his long-term future uncertain. Son has one year left on his contract and, after an indifferent season in north London last term, there is speculation that he may be on the move this summer. If he stays in north London, it will be interesting to see if he retains the armband handed to him by Postecoglou, particularly if his on-the-pitch role is diminished. At Brentford, Christian Norgaard and Pontus Jansson wore the armband under Frank, traditional heart-on-the-sleeve 'leader' types. Son, however, is more mild-mannered and leads by example. Still, as well as developing young talents, Frank has improved more senior players at Brentford. Should Son remain in north London, his new coach will look to station him in goalscoring positions where he can maximise his world-class finishing ability. The South Korean may not have the blistering pace he had three or four years ago, but given his experience and quality in the box, there could still be a prominent role for him. Dominic Solanke will enter his second season as Tottenham's primary striker, and fans should be encouraged about his potential fit under Frank. Solanke profiles as a combination of England team-mates Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins, who both improved considerably as centre-forwards under their previous Brentford coach. Like Toney, Solanke is a perfect outlet for the long balls Frank likes his goalkeeper to play. The 27-year-old is not just physically capable of competing with centre-backs on duels, but he has the technical quality to keep the ball and bring team-mates into play. Similarly to Watkins, Solanke can also run the channels and occupy defenders with his energy and incessant running. Given his proven track record at improving strikers, Solanke could be the biggest winner of all from Frank's appointment. While he has not reached his potential consistently in north London, Richarlison has many of the same qualities out of possession. He ended the 2024-25 season well, scoring two goals from his final six league appearances (one start) and could be in line for a breakout season as Spurs look to compete in the Premier League and Europe. Like Solanke, Frank may advise Richarlison to be more selfish and concentrate on getting into the box and letting others create. Top photo:
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Pako Ayestaran: Unai Emery's Aston Villa No 2 who loves pressing – and protecting the planet
Unai Emery did not want to repeat the mistakes of his first crack at managing in England. For his second shot in October 2022, nearly three years on from being fired by Arsenal after just 16 months, he wanted an experienced coach alongside him who knew the Premier League well. A call was made to Pako Ayestaran, a fellow Spaniard who had worked under Emery as La Liga side Valencia's fitness coach in the 2009-10 season, having previously been on Rafa Benitez's staff at Liverpool for three years, including for their Champions League triumph of 2005. Advertisement Ayestaran, now 62, came in as a fresh voice alongside Emery's tried and trusted aides. 'I've seen Villa close up,' former England international Stephen Warnock, who worked with Ayestaran at Liverpool, tells The Athletic. 'Their ideas are very similar. The coaching is very technical; the body movements and the defensive positions are very specific.' 'Every player will have something to improve on,' young Villa defender Sil Swinkels says. 'I did a lot with Pako after training, focusing on recognising where the pressure comes from in possession before passing into mini goals, positioned where the No 10, the left-back or the No 6 would be. Pako would press me from one angle and I would get the ball, take it into the space and find the spare mini-goal and pass through. 'Suddenly, I'd have two coaches pressing me. I then played a couple of games and realised I was just doing a simulation of Pako's drill on the pitch.' Even though they had not worked with each other for more than a decade before reuniting at Villa Park, Emery and Ayestaran share the same overarching principles about the game, centred on control and an emphasis on playing between the lines by overloading central areas. 'It is vital he has the ear of Unai,' says Warnock. 'I spoke to Austin MacPhee (Villa's set-pieces coach) and he was telling me how the coaching staff constantly challenge and push each other. 'Pako told me one of Emery's biggest strengths is that he doesn't dwell on things. They'll make mistakes, but they'll move on and work through it.' Ayestaran was born in the Basque region of Gipuzkoa, the same province in northern Spain Emery hails from. They both came through the ranks locally at Real Sociedad, although Ayestaran is nearly a decade older and had a shorter playing stint there than his future boss, as a central defender, before transitioning into the fitness and conditioning field at age 21. Advertisement A nomadic career ensued, precipitated by Benitez's influence. In 1996, Ayestaran was promoted from fitness coach to be an assistant under Benitez at fellow Spanish sides Osasuna, Extremadura and Tenerife, before joining him at Valencia and then Liverpool. Now close to entering his fourth decade in various coaching positions, the 62-year-old has held 14 different roles at 11 clubs and in six countries. 'There was an element of good cop, bad cop with (him and) Rafa,' Warnock says. 'But Pako had a steely side, too. If he wasn't happy, he'd tell you. But he would try to keep you upbeat. If you weren't in the squad, he'd chat to you to make things easier. Those players would train early on Saturday (before the weekend's first-team game) and he would join in the session. 'I once had issues with cramp and he organised a programme to get rid of it by working on strength exercises.' Ayestaran had a transformative effect on squad availability at Anfield. He implemented modern sports science, creating data that showed the precise number of minutes an individual had played. This helped design a rotation policy to ensure Liverpool peaked during a season's defining period. He also had three man-made 'Pako hills' constructed along the perimeter of Melwood, Liverpool's training complex at the time, in 2006 for running exercises. They were of different gradients, sculpted to improve players' endurance. 'When Rafa would be coaching the technical elements, Pako would stand on a different side of the pitch saying, 'Do you understand what he's after?',' Warnock says. ''This is what we're trying to achieve'. He wouldn't put on many sessions (himself) as Rafa was very hands-on, but colder in his manner.' Ayestaran and Benitez fitted one another nicely for more than a decade. In that time, they won promotion to La Liga with Tenerife, two Spanish league titles and a UEFA Cup (today's Europa League) at Valencia, then an FA Cup and that Champions League (while also getting to another final of the latter competition) on Merseyside. Advertisement An 11-year partnership spanning five clubs collapsed at the start of the 2007-08 season, with Benitez failing to hide his disappointment. He accused Ayestaran of 'betrayal', asserting he had discreetly contacted other clubs about jobs. His long-time lieutenant was placed on gardening leave. 'I worked with him for 11 years,' Benitez later told UK newspaper The Times. 'It's a wound that still hurts. Liverpool gave him autonomy and power, and that changed him a lot — he wanted more and more. One day, I found out he had serious contacts with other teams, and that seemed to me a betrayal towards me and the club that I couldn't accept.' 'That's not true. I never looked at any jobs behind his back,' Ayestaran responded in an interview with the Liverpool Echo newspaper in 2015. 'It's true I had offers from Spain, but Rafa knew about them.' In his autobiography published in that same year, Liverpool's captain of that era, Steven Gerrard, acknowledged the team missed Ayestaran's 'stabilising presence' after his exit. 'We lost a lot when Rafa fell out with Pako,' he wrote. 'We all loved his training and his methods. I always felt so fresh and fired up when going out to play a match under Pako. The communication had been perfect under Ayestaran, and when he left, it declined. I felt Rafa had changed and had no confidence in his new staff. For me, he's the perfect No 2.' 'Pako's English is great,' Warnock says. 'Rafa's wasn't very good at the beginning, so Pako would do a lot of the explaining.' Ayestaran headed home for Real Sociedad to become sporting director, albeit that only lasted for a matter of weeks due to a hierarchical conflict. Having reverted to being a fitness coach at Benfica in Portugal and then back with Valencia, he returned as a No 2 at Al Ahli in Dubai. However, it felt a natural step for Ayestaran, by now in his fifties and with ample experience, to make a go of it in the most senior role. He was appointed manager of a second-tier Mexican side, Estudiantes Tecos, in 2013, but left at the end of that season after failing to win promotion. This was the first of his three coaching roles in Mexico. After resigning at Maccabi Tel Aviv — despite winning the Israeli club's first-ever treble in 2015 — he returned that same year with Santos Laguna. A pattern emerged of Ayestaran returning to clubs back home he'd worked for previously after more far-flung jobs and, in most cases, challenging environments with unstable boards. But in his third spell with Valencia, after lasting only three months at Santos Laguna, he had both. In February 2016, a then clubless Ayestaran received a call from their new manager, Gary Neville — on the advice of his Sky Sports punditry colleague Jamie Carragher, who was coached by the Spaniard at Liverpool — asking him to return to the Mestalla stadium once more. Neville felt he needed more Spanish-speaking staff to get through to the players and Ayestaran was parachuted in, serving as a final attempt to arrest the team's decline. Ayestaran took over when Neville was fired the following month, though he had been in two minds about accepting the job. He felt a sense of loyalty, later admitting he put a clause in his initial contract that stated 'if Gary went, I would go, too', yet it was Neville who convinced him to take the role. Ayestaran was appointed on an interim basis at first, before signing a two-year deal that summer. Advertisement He lasted only another couple of months — not helped by fan protests towards Peter Lim's unpopular ownership, Valencia lost their first four matches of the 2016-17 season and he too was sacked. His reputation further diminished in Spain as he left Las Palmas early the following season, having survived just seven league matches after his September appointment — without winning any of them. So Ayestaran went to manage in Mexico again, at top-tier team Pachuca, in May 2018. 'He was very methodical,' says Pachuca's head physiotherapist, Pedro Joel Robelo. 'He was charismatic and observant. His fitness background meant he paid close attention to preventive work against injuries.' He and Pachuca parted ways the following January. In August 2020, Ayesteran was appointed manager at Tondela of the Portuguese Primeira Liga. 'Pako cycled to the stadium every day,' says Francisco Favinha, the club's director of communications. 'He was mid-fifties but ran on the stadium's pitch and swam. He was very concerned about the environment, like recycling, reducing waste and saving water. He was a man of principle and very affable.' Ayestaran had a keen eye for internal processes and, upon joining Tondela, became fixated on the club's structure from top to bottom, intending to further professionalise operations. On his first day, he met Tondela's academy staff to make his youth policy known. Monchi, Damian Vidagany, Unai Emery and his backroom team have worked tirelessly to deliver history in their first full season at Villa Park. 🤝 🇪🇸 Pako Ayestarán 🇪🇸 Pablo Villanueva 🇪🇸 Javi García 🇪🇸 Rodri 🏴 Austin MacPhee 🇪🇸 Moisés De Hoyo 🇪🇸 Víctor Mañas — Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) May 15, 2024 'Pako had a good first season, but the second didn't go well,' Favinha says. 'He was fired in the final stretch and Tondela were relegated. At the same time, he was responsible for Tondela reaching the (2021-22) Portuguese Cup final.' 'He had his own style and was very professional,' says Jose Alves, Tondela's sports therapist. 'The most negative aspect was his very long training sessions. But he was accessible and focused on social causes, such as recycling and waste.' Advertisement Once Ayestaran received the call to reunite with Emery at Villa in late 2022, there was little hesitation. His career had come full circle and having managed, directed and assisted at unstable clubs — to varying degrees of success — the experience he could impart on the Birmingham-based side's coaching team felt integral. Ayestaran may be an overlooked cog in Villa's broader functions, but his importance cannot be understated. The knowledge from a unique career in football has contributed to him becoming the perfect foil to Emery.
