Death of Former player

This past Sunday, 3 June, former rojiblanco player Imanol Viar Bilbao passed away in Bilbao. He was the brother of Nikol Viar, a former Athletic Club secretary and vice-president in the 80s.

Imanol Viar arrived in Athletic during one of the most difficult times of our club’s history. When the premier team was dismantled because of the civil war, Athletic Club organised a Tournament to lure new footballers. Imanol Viar, along with his brother Nikol, was selected during this tourney.

Even during the war he played with Athletic the return to the playing fields, both in friendly matches (24 April 1938, Burgos Selection 1-Athletic Club 6), and in official matches (15 January 1939, Regional Championship, Athletic Club 3-Erandio 1).

After his debut, he remained in Athletic for 5 seasons, during which he played a total of 49 official matches: 37 in Liga, 2 in Copa, 10 in Regional Championship.

His last match as a lion took place on 27 September 1942, in a Liga match (Athletic Club 5-Betis 0), in which Imanol scored the fifth goal.

After the 1942-43 season, in which they won the Liga and Copa titles, he abandoned Athletic Club.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, 4 June, at 19:30 hours, at Nuestra Señora del Carmen Church in Indautxu.