Muniain’s gift in tribute to Canito

Iker Muniain has paid tribute to Nicanor Sagarduy “Canito” after reaching the same number of Athletic Club appearances as the legendary defender from the 50s.

On December 22, 2021, the current captain lined up against Villarreal CF to make his 437th appearance for Athletic, the same number of games Canito played in during his 16 seasons at the Club. Iker gave his armband from that match to the left-back’s widow and children.

Until being overtaken by Muniain, Canito was ninth in Athletic’s list of record appearance makers.

Muniain handed over the armband in a ceremony at the Athletic Club Museum. Canito’s widow, Juana María Salson, as well as his two children, Iñigo and Amaia, were in attendance, and they thanked the captain for his touching gesture.

Nicanor Sagarduy “Canito” was at Athletic for 16 seasons, making his debut on September 12, 1948 and playing his final match on 22 August 1963.

He scored six goals throughout his time as a Lion. The most famous of which was the winner in Athletic Club’s first European Cup match, a 1-2 victory against FC Porto on 20 September 1956.

He won four Copa trophies (1949/50, 54/55, 55/56 and 57/58), one League (1955/56) and one Eva Duarte Cup (1950/51). Canito was also one of the “eleven villagers” who defeated Alfredo Di Stéfano’s Real Madrid, the recently-crowned LaLiga and European Cup winners, in the 1958 Copa final.

The Monchín Triana trophy stands out among the individual distinctions received by Canito. Coming into existence at the same time as the Pichichi trophy, it was awarded to footballers who stood out for their sporting spirit and loyalty to their club.

In force until 1968, it was also awarded to Club legends Piru Gainza and Jose María Orue. In fact, the Sagarduy Salson family donated this unique trophy, which Canito won in 1960/61, to the Athletic Club Museum.