Jagoba Arrasate has returned to occupy the Osasuna red bench, two years after leaving the club after a period of six seasons that left an indelible mark on Sadar. The Basque coach returned to the city of Pamplona with the mission of reviving the enthusiasm that he brought to the fans when he arrived in 2018, when the team was still playing in the Second Division.
In his first incursion, Arrasate achieved promotion as champion of the category, adding 87 points and ending his stay in the second. Since then, Osasuna has consolidated itself in the First Division, avoiding relegation in each campaign and reaching tenth position in 2019-20 and 2021-22. The highlight came in 2022-23, when the Navarrese team reached the final of the Copa del Rey, something they had not achieved since 2005, and lost 2-1 to Real Madrid in La Cartuja. That same year, Osasuna finished seventh in LaLiga with 53 points, which earned them qualification for the qualifying phase of the Conference League and ended a 16-year absence from European competitions.
The success of the 2022-23 season also allowed Osasuna to compete in the first Spanish Super Cup in its history, held in Saudi Arabia in January 2024. The team led by Arrasate faced FC Barcelona in the semifinals, although they lost 2-0. Throughout his management, the coach won the affection of the fans for his closeness and identification with the club, becoming one of the most beloved coaches in Osasuna's recent history.
In 2024, after 256 games, Arrasate left the club, leaving behind a consolidated squad in the elite and one of the most successful stages in recent decades. Now, upon returning to the red bench, the Basque coach faces the challenge of recovering the sensations of his first stage and of leading the team to glory again both in the league and in international competitions. Osasuna's future will depend on how it manages to combine Arrasate's experience with the new generation of players who aspire to follow in the footsteps of the achievements of recent years.