On Monday evening, Edin Terzic took charge of Athletic Club for the first time, leading the team in a friendly against Derio. Played at La Florida, it was the first meeting between the two Basque sides. The German coach's arrival drew large attention as fans and club officials watched his first choices and tactical approach.
Derio came into the match with little preparation, having only recently begun preseason. Managed by Nando Alonso, the squad had also seen a wave of departures over the summer. Basic players Kevin Ríos, Uztaritz Expósito and Iván del Campo have moved to Portugalete, while Jon Etxeandia and Julen Barrón, last season's top scorer, have joined Gernika. Derio's lineup so included several new faces as the club continued its transition.
Nando Alonso announced his starting eleven before kickoff, looking to integrate new signings and make up for the loss of experienced players. Athletic Club's squad list also showed several impressive absences: injuries ruled out Serrano and Gorosabel, while Vesga and Agirrezabala were not included in the matchday squad. Vivian was also left out of the lineup for this opening fixture, prompting questions about their roles in Terzic's plans for the coming season.
Terzic selected Padilla; Rincón, Yeray, Paredes, Yuri; Prados, Jauregizar, Canales; Gift, Berenguer and Guruzeta for his first match. The lineup offered an early indication of his tactical preferences and the players he might rely on as the season progressed. The friendly gave established squad members and emerging talents a chance to impress their new manager.
Athletic's early competitive campaign later offered a measure of Terzić's work in charge. On October 17, 2026, the club drew 0-0 with Valencia at Mestalla in LaLiga's ninth round. Terzić called the result “a well-deserved point for both sides” and said Athletic had “created occasions, but not chances,” distinguishing between building attacking moves and creating clear scoring opportunities. The club's account also noted that fatigue, bookings and injuries in the second half affected the team's plans.
The friendly opened a new chapter for Athletic Club amid changes in Basque football, where player movement between divisions continues to shape team dynamics. It also offered a first glimpse of Terzic's approach to the club. In Spanish football, managerial changes and preseason friendlies can offer early indications of the challenges and opportunities facing top-flight teams.
Later in October, Terzić's tactics came under scrutiny as Athletic continued to seek consistency. El Correo described the coach as still experimenting after eight matches, while Estadio Deportivo characterized the team's start as slow in its October 23 assessment. Those early-season reports put the friendly in context: it was a first chance to see the new manager's choices, followed by the harder test of turning them into effective league performances.
While attention in La Florida centered on Athletic Club's new direction, stories of ability to recover and adaptation remained part of Spanish sports culture. Boris Izaguirre's journey included overcoming adversity and family challenges before he built a prominent media career, and it continues to resonate with many. His experience, detailed in a recent feature, reflects a wider theme of change, also evident as football clubs and individuals handle change.
As preseason continues, Athletic Club supporters will be watching how Terzic's strategies take shape and which players emerge as basic contributors. The historic friendly will not decide the season, but it offers clues about the club's direction and the competitive field in the Basque Country for 2026.
