Tribute to the winners of the 69th Cup

Seven representatives of the Athletic Club team that won the 1969 Cup, Iribar, Igartua, Zorriketa, Argoitia, Rojo, Lavín and Ormaza, have received a tribute in San Mamés on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the red-and-white team’s triumph by a one goal against Elche CF, a match that took place on 15th June of 1969. To the tribute to the winning lions, have joined the current president of Elche, Diego García, and two prominent representatives of that team from Elche, specifically, Juan Manuel Asensi and Josetxo Arakistain, who have thanked the invitation by the Club to participate in this commemorative act of that memorable final of 69, the only one that has played Elche and probably the most important milestone in its history. President Elizegi and Iribar presented Asensi and Arikistain with two dedicated paintings as a sign of gratitude for their attendance. The president of Elche, for his part, has brought for the occasion the ball with which the final was disputed.

During the ceremony, the honorees watched a video made for the occasion with images of the time that recalled the long awaited victory, the first after the Cup conquered in 1958, that of the ‘once aldeanos’ (eleven villagers ), and achieved after having lost two finals in between in 1966 and 1967. Iribar and Argoitia, who had already received their gifts on the occasion of a previous tribute, have on this occasion been responsible for giving their teammates the customized bracelets with which the Club has wanted to congratulate the lions who won the 22nd title of our history in this competition, another reason for them to know us then as the Rey de Copas (King of Cups).