25 years without the great Piru Gainza

On a Three Kings’ Day morning, 25 years ago, Athletic Club were informed of Agustín Gainza’s decease, the best left forward in the history of the club. A group of first-team players, including Muniain, San José, Aduriz and Garitano, together with Sporting Director Rafa Alkorta, have paid a little tribute to the Gamo de Dublín by laying some flowers in front of his statue at Lezama, where he also did a great job as a coach. We must remember he was Javier Clemente’s assistant manager when the team won the last league titles.

Piru, nicknamed after a goalkeeper of Basconia as Gainza played as a goalie when he was a child, has a huge track record. He played with the Lions for 21 seasons since 1940, scoring 152 goals in 494 fixtures. He is the King of Copas, he won no less than seven Copas as well as two league titles (1942-43 and 1955-56). He was the left forward in that magnificent attacking line together with Iriondo, Venancio, Zarra and Panizo. He was Athletic’s manager during three stages between 1965 and 1969 and the Copa title was tantalizingly close in the finals against Valencia and Zaragoza. The main box at Lezama, where Bilbao Athletic play their matches, was named after him in his honour.