Athletic Bilbao president Jon Uriarte paid tribute to coach Ernesto Valverde after winning the Copa del Rey final.

Athletic defeated Mallorca on penalties on Saturday night.

Uriarte said: "He is not only a great coach but also a great person. Having him as a coach when we arrived at the club was an impressive help.

"An anecdote: I spoke with him in case he needed reinforcements in the summer, but he told me that he was satisfied with the squad.

"He is a very sensible man who knows how to run the locker room in a magnificent way. I am very happy for him. And he is not so calm because in the penalty shootout he wasn't even looking!"