Eibar (Spain), July 1 (IANS): Spanish football club Eibar became the last team in the European country to confirm their coach for next season when Jose Luis Mendilibar was named as the replacement for Gaizka Garitano.

Garitano had said his time at the club had ended after the Basque outfit were relegated following the last game of the season. But the decision by the Spanish Football League to relegate Elche for outstanding debts handed Eibar a quick return to the elite and raised questions over whether or not Garitano would continue at the helm, reports Xinhua.

The situation led to strong debates within the club's boardroom but in the end club chairman Alex Aranzabal won his case and Mendilibar was confirmed late on Tuesday for his second spell at the club.

The coach led Eibar to within a whisker of promotion to La Liga during the 2004-05 season before leaving for a short spell with Athletic Club Bilbao. He later worked with Valladolid and Osasuna and was briefly at Levante last season, being sacked after just three games in-charge.

Elsewhere, the first day of the transfer window saw Athletic Club Bilbao confirm the signing of Gorka Elustondo on a free transfer from Real Sociedad while striker Oriel Riera has joined Deportivo La Coruna on a permanent deal after spending the second half of last season on loan at the club. Defender Victor Ruiz has joined Villarreal from Valencia on a deal worth around $3.3 million.