'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The chance to manage FC Barcelona, his former club, was perhaps the greatest piece of news Ernesto Valverde got this past summer. While the Spaniard possesses a plethora of potential, he has quite a tough task at hand, considering former boss Luis Enrique's successful tenure at the club.
Enrique's stay was short, nonetheless pretty effective. Since taking over in May 2017, Valverde seems to be doing fine, as the Blaugrana sit on top of the league after winning all seven games. There were a lot of doubts on his appointment as the head coach at Nou Camp considering his limited experience with big clubs.
Arriving from Athletic Bilbao, the Spanish tactician had little to boast about the players he had managed in his career. However, Valverde has become adept at managing big players in his current squad.
In this list, we take a look at the top ten players who have played under Ernesto Valverde throughout his career as a manager.
#10: Julen Guerrero
An immense fan favourite and a legend at the club, Julen Guerrero worked with Ernesto Valverde for two years from 2003-2005 at Athletico Bilbao. The Basque legend had a career of fourteen years, being a one-club man at Bilbao and also captaining the team for ten years from 1996.
Guerrero was an extremely talented attacking midfielder in his youth. The likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona tried a number of times to snatch him away from Bilbao. But, Guerrero stayed extremely loyal to his club, signing a ten-year contract and successfully seeing it out until the end of his career. That was the longest contract in the history of Athletic Bilbao.
Guerrero retired as the captain of the club in 2006, a year after Valverde's departure.
#9: Robert Pires
French midfield master Robert Pires was one of the celebrated players in Arsenal's Invincibles era. Ernesto Valverde had a chance to work with the dynamic Frenchman in the 2009-10 season. Pires left the club along with Valverde the following year.
Listed in Pele's FIFA 100, Robert Pires had a big influence on the French national team. The midfielder spent his glory years at Highbury, winning two Premier League titles and two FA cups in his years with Arsenal.
Pires retired a year later with as an Aston Villa player.
#8: Kevin Mirallas
Belgian striker Kevin Mirallas was a pivotal part during Valverde's successful two-year tenure at Olympiacos. Mirallas joined from Belgian outfit Standard Liege and proved to be an instant hit in Greece.
Valverde managed Mirallas for two seasons from 2010 to 2012. The Belgian was the top scorer in the league in season 2011-12 with 20 goals as Olympiacos lifted the league title. Mirallas and Valverde won two league titles and one Greek Cup during their stay with the Greek champions.
Mirallas currently plies his trade for Premier League side Everton since 2012.
#7 Joan Capdevila
Spanish defender Joan Capdevila is another talented player to be managed by Ernesto Valverde during his time at Villarreal. An able wing back who could maraud on the flanks, Capdevila was talented enough to be named in a Spanish national team that was dominated by players from heavyweights Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.
Capdevila established himself as the first-choice centre-back for Villarreal under Valverde. The Spanish defender was an important presence in the 2007-08 season, as Villarreal achieved the Champions League spot after finishing runners-up in the league. Although he continued his exploits under Valverde, Villarreal failed to qualify for the UEFA Europa League after finishing seventh in the league.
#6: Roberto Soldado
A graduate of the Real Madrid youth academy, Roberto Soldado played three seasons for Valencia. He established himself as one of the best strikers behind Ronaldo and Messi in the league during his years at the Mestalla.
Soldado worked with Ernesto Valverde in 2012-13, his third and final season at the club. The Spanish forward notched 30 goals in 46 appearances for the club in season 2012-13, which helped him secure a move to Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur in the following summer.
Soldado was a consistent striker at the Mestalla, scoring 20+ goals in his three seasons at the Mestalla.
#5: Diego Godin
Over the last few years, Diego Simeone has applauded for his excellent management at Atletico Madrid. Diego Godin has been a vital addition to his title-winning team amidst giants Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Like Robert Pires, Valverde worked with the talented defender in his one-year stint at Villarreal. Since joining Atletico Madrid in 2010, the Uruguayan defender has been a part of the unlucky Atletico side that lost the Champions League two times to cross-town rivals Real Madrid in 2014 and 2016. He also scored the only goal for Atletico in the Champions League final against Real Madrid.
Nonetheless, Godin has always been lauded for his rock-solid performances in Atletico's defence. Albeit for a short span of time, Valverde must have been proud to manage a player like Diego Godin in his managerial career.
#4: Gerard Pique
Gerard Pique has been Barcelona's main man in defence since captain Carles Puyol's retirement in 2014. Throughout his return from Manchester United back in 2008, the Spaniard has been a loyal servant to the club and an important presence in the backline.
Along with Sergio Ramos, with whom he has occasional spats, Pique has formed a formidable defensive partnership with the national team.
With the vast experience of playing against European heavyweights, Pique will be another man Valverde will be pleased to have in the squad. Pique also remains one of the seven players who have been a part of both treble-winning seasons at Barcelona.
#3: Luis Suarez
Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez has appeared to be a bit off-colour since the start of this season. Yet, the mercurial striker remains as one of the best alongside Lionel Messi to be managed by Ernesto Valverde.
Luis Suarez became an instant fan-favourite at the Nou Camp, owing to his lethal combination with Messi and Neymar after his arrival from Liverpool in 2014. Suarez has the reputation of one of the best finishers in the world, possessing a knack for scoring jaw-dropping goals.
Although the Uruguayan has had problems with goal-scoring this season, Suarez will definitely be one of the players who can thrive under the leadership of Ernesto Valverde.
#2: Andres Iniesta
Spanish magician Andres Iniesta is one of the ultimate fan-favourites at the Nou Camp. A skilled player, he is known for his vision and defence-splitting passes. The La Masia graduate has been an integral part of every successful Barca team in the last decade.
Along with a host of titles to his name, Iniesta has his name etched in history for scoring the World Cup winner against the Netherlands.
Valverde will certainly relish having a player of Iniesta's calibre on his side, after naming him as the captain of the Blaugrana. As the gaffer plans to match the exploits of former manager Luis Enrique, Iniesta remains an important piece of the jigsaw despite his age.
#1: Lionel Messi
Without a tinge of doubt, Messi had to be on top of the list. The diminutive Argentine has hit top form in Ernesto Valverde's reign this season, ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo for this year's Pichichi and the Golden Boot. Valverde already seems to be in awe of Messi's abilities, praising him for smashing the records.
Widely regarded by many as the best player of the current era, the Spanish tactician has been using Messi to a devastating effect, playing him in a more central role at Nou Camp.
Considering Barcelona's current unbeaten run, they are bound to achieve silverware this season.
