 For the 2006–07 season, Mendilibar moved to Real Valladolid, achieving top-flight promotion (with 88 points) and retaining league status from 2007 to 2009.On 1 February 2010, after a 1–1 home draw against UD Almería, he was dismissed.Slightly less than one year later, Mendilibar returned to active, replacing the fired José Antonio Camacho at CA Osasuna.