2024-04-24 10:25:23
Iker Muniain informed all his teammates that he will leave at the end of this season. The player stated that it was not an easy decision, but that it was the best for him and the club.
At 10:57 on April 24, Athletic Club de Bilbao posted a farewell video of Iker Muniain on all its social networks. In said video, the player thanks the fans, the club, and comments on how happy he is. departure of the club of his life.
In said video, the first captain of the ship called Athletic explained the following:
“I arrived in Bilbao when I was only 12 years old, as a child, and today, almost two decades later, I come to announce my departure at the end of this season, after 15 years in the first team.”
“I’m leaving happy, with the dream of having won the long-awaited 25th Copa del Rey, and of having won the Gabarra 40 years later.”
“It has been something incredible. The communication we have shown between fans and team shows that we are truly unique in the world.”
“It was a difficult decision, but I think it is the best for me, and for the team. In the last games we have left we will fight for that fourth place together.”
Second with most matches
With his departure, Muniain will not only stop being an Athletic player, but will also end his personal record for the club in terms of matches.
At the moment, and with several league dates still per player, Iker Muniain He will leave being the second player with the most appearances for the club. Only behind the great one from Iribar, and ahead of Chexu Rojo with 557 matches.
The statement does not refer to Muniain leaving football, but only that he will no longer be part of the Athletic squad. It is expected that he will continue playing outside of Spain, since the player will never want to face the team he loves.
Although for the moment, Marcelino García Toral He continues to ask about him, since they established a good relationship at Athletic, and the previous red-and-white coach had already knocked on his door before the announcement. It will be seen that he passes at the end of the season.
Iker Muniain celebrating winning the Copa del Rey through tears / Source: Getty Images
Iker Muniain, that man that every child has wanted to be at some point in their life, a guy who made it to the first team 15 years ago, and who has seen his team lose and lose Cup, European and Super Cup finals along the way.
But he, like a true captain of his ship called Athletic, did not leave here, as others did, and he fought like no one else to give back to his team and his fans all that love and affection shown by lifting “the 25th” Cup of the King finally.
And, after a lost Cup final in 2009 for the team, Iker Muniain He came to the club with one goal, to win the Copa del Rey and everything possible during his time at the club.
Muniain and Óscar de Marcos getting off the plane raising the Copa del Rey / Source: Marca
In 2012 he got his first opportunity, the end of the Europa League, rival, an Atlético de Madrid with Radamel Falcao, the tiger that left the lions with no options in the final, thus losing 3-0.
That same year, after that final, the Copa del Rey final would arrive, rival, “Tito” Vilanova’s Barcelona, a team almost impossible to win, and something that became a reality, since Muniain lost another final with Athletic .
In 2015 Iker had it again to lift that long-awaited Copa del Rey, but of course, Barcelona was once again the rival of the Bilbao team, and once again, they ended up being severely defeated.
2020, coronavirus, Cup final against Real Sociedad, the club’s biggest rival, it was the almost perfect final, the only thing missing was the fans. It was a final where anyone could win, and with a very poor game from both teams, the white and blue were the winners, and Iker Muniain, He left an image that was forever marked, as he touched the cup when jumping onto the field, something that haunted him for a long time.
2021, two weeks after losing the last final, the team, and Iker Muniain, He came into the game with sadness, but with enthusiasm, but nothing and no one could against Barcelona, and everything pointed to Athletic never winning the Copa del Rey again.
Iker Muniain crying inconsolably after losing the UEFA Europa League final against Atlético de Madrid / Source: Sport You
But yes, Athletic once again had another challenge with history, this time facing them, there was an affordable rival, RCD Mallorca, a team that reached the final being 4 points away from relegation.
This time, unlike the other finals, Iker had the role of substitute, the game started badly, but little by little everything worked out, and the game ended up going to penalties. And of course, Iker Muniain He was not going to be left without taking one, and in this way, he scored the second, after one from Mallorca failed, and put his team ahead.
And finally, at one in the morning on April 7, the Athletic Club was proclaimed champion of the Copa del Rey, and Iker Muniain, He stopped receiving “dishes” from the King of Spain, to finally be able to touch the Copa del Rey with his winner’s hands.
Iker Munian lifting the Copa del Rey presented by the King of Spain / Source: Getty Images
And with that, not only did the Cup arrive in Bilbao, but the Gabarra sailed the estuary again 40 years later, and as commander of that ship was Iker Muniain, the “gauchito de la txantrea”, the leader of the leaders, a master of ceremonies celebrating with his people that long-awaited title, an unforgettable moment in the hearts of all the “athleticzale”.
Iker Muniain, Bilbao will always be in your heart, and you will always be in everyone’s hearts.
#Agur #Iker #Muniain #VAVEL #Spain