Gaizka Garitano turns 45 today. The Athletic coach, surely, hopes to celebrate this very special day with a victory against Sevilla in San Mamés. Three points that would leave his team only two from sixth in the table, Getafe, and in the continental plaza, at the expense of what Real will do tomorrow.
The deriotarra coach arrived at the Atletico bench in a critical situation. The lions were in the relegation zone after Berizzo's disappointing start. Garitano, after passing through the benches of Eibar, Valladolid and Deportivo, accepted the offer of the board of the then President Urrutia to serve on the Bilbao Athletic bench.
A year and a half later, with the club in the midst of the electoral process, Garitano took on the challenge of taking the Bilbao first team for the last four games of 2018 and from there, with the continuity of the position granted by the new Elizegi board, renewed last season and just did it this season.
He Athletic went from fighting to leave the area below to being one step away from entering Europe. This campaign has already qualified for the Cup final and maintains its continental aspirations in the absence of four days. Garitano, despite everything, remains faithful to his discreet and very professional coach profile.