Athletic Bilbao announced this Monday that midfielder Raúl García, 37, will retire at the end of the European season. The statement came a week after winning the Copa del Rey, on penalties, against Mallorca, the Spaniard’s main title for the club.
ℹ️ Raúl García will hang up his boots at the end of the season.
The unforgettable Navarrese footballer will leave Athletic Club with a Cup and a Super Cup under his arm and some spectacular numbers. #AthleticClub 🦁
— Athletic Club (@AthleticClub) April 15, 2024
In the Basque team, Raúl García played 356 games, scored 83 goals, distributed 40 assists and ended his time as a club legend. In addition to the Copa del Rey, which Bilbao had not won in 40 years, he also won the Spanish Super Cup in 2021 against Barcelona.
“For Athletic Club it is a true honor that a football player of his enormous caliber has completed almost a decade with our colors,” said Athletic Bilbao in an official statement.
Raúl García was also a big name at Atlético de Madrid, where he won a Europa League (2009/10), two European Super Cups (2010/11 and 2012/13), a Copa del Rey (2012/13) and a Spanish Championship, in 2013/14. The athlete was an important part of the team led by Argentine coach Diego Simeone and was a starter during the victories. For the Colchoneros, he played 325 matches in total, scored 45 times and made 23 passes.
The Spaniard also played for Osasuna, the club where he was revealed. There, he made more than 100 appearances and became one of the biggest revelations in the team’s history.
Raúl García ends his career as the third player with the most games played in LaLiga, with 602 games, behind only Andoni Zubizarreta and Joaquín Sánchez, both with 622.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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