Athletic Bilbao presidential candidate Ricardo Barkala won't rule out rehiring Marcelino if he wins the club's election.
Marcelino resigned from Athletic Club last week with the election to be held.
Barkala said, "We have identified our first option for coach and sports director.
“He (Marcelino) seems to me to be a great coach, he has done things well and seems to me to be a very good person. I will have very good memories of him. The dates were what they were, a candidate cannot commit and tell him what he needs.
"I like Marcelino. In the future he is a very good option, in my opinion. I know that the squad loves him.
“My responsibility was to see the situation, see the options for the sports management and the bench that are in the market. It is my obligation.
“We are not going to go into names. It seems bad to me to bring up those names for the club, the fans and the player himself. I don't think it's the most appropriate and we're not going to do it."