Basque language irakurri: Iker Muniainek ez du Athleticen jarraituko

The captain of Athletic, Iker Muniainannounced this Wednesday “his goodbye at the end of the season” after 15 seasons in the first team rojiblanco, as reported by the rojiblanca entity.

“It has been something incredible, the communion that the fans and the team have shown shows that we are truly unique in the world. It has been a very difficult decision, but I think it is the best for both Athletic and for me. As the song says ‘I confess that you have been the best thing in my life. But now, my love, the time has come to part‘, he claimed Iker Muniain referring to the song Aitormena from the band Hertzinak in the video with which the Bilbao club announced the departure of its captain.

With 557 matches (at the moment) behind him, he is the second player in the historical ranking after the 614 of Iribar. He arrived in Lezama at just 12 years old, in the children’s category, and went through stages in a dazzling way until he made his debut with the first team at just 16 years old, at the level of another Athletic Club myth, Piru Gainza. It was on July 30, 2009 in San Mamés in front of the Young Boysand in the second leg he became the youngest player to score a goal in an official match with the Athletic throughout its history after Txomin Acedo, who scored with a few months less in the regional championship in 1914.

15 seasons have passed since then and Muniain He has scored 75 goals spread across the League, Cup, Champions League and Europa League. The rojilanco captain has won two Super Cups (2014/15 and 2019/20) and the long-awaited 25th Copa del Rey title of Athletic Club, which breaks a 40-year drought. He has been runner-up in the Cup on 5 occasions and one more in the Europa League. In the collective memory of the Zurigorri family, emblematic goals will remain to be remembered, such as the one he scored against De Gea in Manchester, arriving like a plane to a loose ball in the area, or the one he scored in the first leg of the Champions League qualifier in Naples.

Lastly, the Athletic announces that in the near future a farewell event and tribute to the captain will be held in San Mamés itself, which will be open to the general public.

“You have been the best of my life,

but now, my love,

“The time has come for us to part.”

© The captain announces his goodbye after 15 seasons in the first team.#AthleticClub ¿ pic.twitter.com/YwiV6kP4S3

— Athletic Club (@AthleticClub) April 24, 2024

Source: Eitb

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