"I am really looking forward to seeing the team away from home against a rival who is doing very well," Arrasate told Relevo in comments translated from Spanish. Osasuna have brought him back to El Sadar after his first spell from 2018 to 2024, and the move feels more like a reset than a gamble. He has signed until summer 2029.
The return is built on familiarity
The club moved on from Luis Miguel Ramis after Osasuna had 8 points in the first 8 matchdays, a start that left them 12th with 11 points after 9 league matches. Arrasate returns with Bittor Alkiza and up to 15 known footballers, which gives him a much quicker route into the group than most new coaches get.
OptaJose, quoted by Relevo, summed up the scale of his first spell with this line: "Only Pedro María Zabalza (277) has managed more LaLiga matches for @Osasuna than Jagoba Arrasate (190)." He left with 256 matches behind him, plus promotion in 2019, the Copa del Rey final in 2023 and Conference League qualification in 2023.
The shape Osasuna are likely to use
The football side of the job points toward a high press and a diamond shape, with a 1-4-4-2 or a 1-4-2-3-1 closer to what is wanted. That is where Ante Budimir and Aimar Oroz come into focus, with the structure expected to put more weight on vertical play, wide areas and set pieces.
Osasuna's recent 2-0 home win over Racing Santander offered a better starting point for the new spell, but it does not change the scale of the rebuild. The early signs are positive, and the next league matches will show whether familiarity at the club turns into something more lasting.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
