Euskaraz irakurri: Iribarrek escultura bat izango du San Mamesen ondoan, Bilbon

He legendary Athletic goalkeeper José Ángel Iribarthat this March 1st he turns 80 years oldwill have a sculpture in Bilbao, next to the San Mamés field, as “very special gift” of the red and white club and of the Bilbao City Hallas the 80th anniversary of the Zarauztarra coincides with the 125th anniversary of the rojiblanca entity, as announced this Wednesday, through a joint letter signed by the president of Athletic Jon Uriarte and by the mayor of Bilbao Juan María Aburto, the Biscayan club and the Consistory. The sculpture will be finished, according to the letter, to “before the end of 2023”.

Bilbao City Council and Athletic stand out from Iribar, who is, with 614, the footballer with the most matches in the history of the rojiblanco team, who marked “an era on the pitch, defending our rojiblancos colours”, but, they emphasize, “above all your matches and saves, the way you got them has remained”.

“You are a benchmark for our Club, for our Villa, for the world and for our people. You did and do a great job every day so that our roots remain alive. Our culture, our traditions, our Basque language… owe you a lot. Mila esker “, they point out.

“We are writing you this letter, Ángel, to tell you that we have another surprise for you. A gift that will last over time, as your example remains perennial. When the City Council and the Club got together, we were clear that there could be no better gift for you than the one who would show all the affection that members and partners profess you, athletes of the world, supporters, and the town that loves you”, explains the letter.

For this reason, both entities want to “extol Bilbao” with the “eternal presence” of José Ángel Iribar in the city: “That you know that before the end of 2023”, continues the letter, addressed to the legendary ex-soccer player, “all that affection will take shape of sculpture next to the San Mamés field. Because there is none like Iribar”, concludes the text.

In parallel, and also on the occasion of Iribar’s 80th birthday, Athletic, “with the referee’s and LaLiga’s approval”, has proposed to all the clubs in the first two categories that their goalkeepers play in black, in homage to the former goalkeeper, who used to wear that color during his time as a professional; In this sense, Real Sociedad has informed this Wednesday that it is going to join the initiative: “It will be a pleasure”, the San Sebastian club has indicated, which will do so “to honor a legend of our football”.

Zorionak, Jose Angel!

It will be a pleasure to join the initiative to honor a legend of our football.#WeareReal | #AurreraReala | #Iribar80 https://t.co/vcjifnknpp pic.twitter.com/ABUH0ZBP9o

– Real Sociedad Soccer (@RealSociedad) March 1, 2023

Source: Eitb

Kingston

Kingston is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.