Izan zirelako, gara

Only two players have achieved the sum of many more than a thousand matches on their credit. Such a milestone, is a number within the reach of very few football professionals. But speaking about Jose Angel Iribar and Luis Arconada, numbers or achievements transcend beyond their trajectory or their figures under the goal.

Iribar and Arconada coincided this Monday in the beginning of “Korner Festibala”, an event that combines football and culture, sponsored by the Real Sociedad Foundation and with the participation in the inauguration of the Athletic Club Foundation.

In a conversation with Aitor Lagunas both goalkeepers made clear why they are unavoidable references to explain the recent history of Athletic Club and Real Sociedad, as they talked about their vision of the evolution of football and the goalkeeper position.

Mirror in which the past, present and future generations were looked, are looked and will continue to be looked, never better than with Iribar and Arconada the phrase “izan zirelako gara, garelako izango dira” makes sense.

Football is still in constant development and, as they recognize, the current obligations that seek for a superlative physique and outstanding conditions for playing would probably leave them out of the fame in today’s football. However, the reality is that the prestancy and sobriety of one of them and the character and explosiveness of the other would still be highly coveted qualities in this business where money surpasses talent.