Playmaker Iker Muniain announced this Wednesday that he will leave Athletic Club at the end of this season, after 15 seasons in the first team in which he has played 557 games, putting the finishing touch to this stage with the Copa del Rey title conquered less than a month ago in La Cartuja, breaking a 40-year drought in the competition.
“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 separate us,'” said Iker Muniain in the video with which the Bilbao club announced the departure of its captain.
The Athletic playmaker commented that he leaves “happy” and “with the dream of having won” the “much-desired” Cup title, as well as having won “the Barge 40 years later.” “These remaining games, as always, we will fight to reach that dreamed of Champions League position. ¡Aúpa Athletic!” He added.
The club reacted to the news with a statement in which it reported that Muniain decided to leave “by his own decision.” “The moment and the way that the captain has chosen to say goodbye to the team of his life represent a new example of the unconditional love of the red-and-white ’10’ for Athletic,” highlighted the entity, which assured that the player is “deserving of the highest recognition” for the “legacy he leaves behind.
The veteran footballer, 31, says goodbye to the club “of his loves with the indelible memory left by the Cup final and the subsequent party at La Gabarra in Bilbao.” The ’10’ scored one of the penalties of the shootout and lifted the trophy together with De Marcos.
“The waste of energy, attitude and enthusiasm shown leaves the impression of a happy Muniain, proud of Athletic and his teammates. Happiness and pride shared with the fans, with Iker being the perfect promoter of days of glory that are now eternal,” highlighted Athletic, which announced that “in the near future” a farewell event and tribute to Muniain will be held in San Mamés.
The captain of the ‘lions’ leaves Athletic “through the front door” after 15 seasons in the first team and 557 games, so far, the second player in the historical ranking after Iribar’s 614. He arrived in Lezama at the age of 12, in the children’s category, and went through stages until he debuted with the first team at just 16 years old.
It was on July 30, 2009 in San Mamés against Young Boys, and in the second leg tie he became the youngest player to score a goal in an official match with Athletic in its entire history after Txomin Acedo, who scored at a few months old. except in the regional championship in 1914.
Since then, Muniain has scored 75 goals spread across LaLiga, Copa, Champions and Europa League. His record includes two Spanish Super Cups (2014/15 and 2019/20) and the recent Cup title that breaks a 40-year drought in the competition. He has been runner-up in the Cup five times and one more in the Europa League, in the final in Bucharest against Atlético de Madrid in 2012.
“The statistics do not reflect the way in which the Navarrese player has helped to enhance the history of Athletic. As other great red and white legends did in his day, Muniain preferred to stay at home and compete with his team, in the team that formed him. and gave him the opportunity to become a professional, giving up signing for another club that could offer him more money and the promise of more titles,” said the Basque team.
That ‘one club man’ decision has made him an idol in Bilbao and a reference for Athletic’s youth ranks. “Since his appointment as captain he has always been at the height of the institution, showing constant displays of sportsmanship and respect,” thanked the Bilbao club, which also emphasized “the fortitude, dedication and dedication” of the player in his two serious injuries. on your knees.