Vanesa Gimbert to retire at the end of the season

Vanesa Gimbert is hanging up her boots. The Athletic Club Women defender, who has just turned 42, will retire at the end of this season. It is a decision which brings an end to an extensive career in the top flight. Gimbert is in her ninth season with Athletic Club. Furthermore, with 248 matches under her belt, she is tenth in the Lionesses’ all-time appearance makers list

Vanesa made her debut in the First Division in 1999 with Levante UD. After her time in Valencia, she joined CFF Estudiantes de Huelva in 2003/04 and then Sevilla FC (2004-2007). From 2007 to 2010 she played for Rayo Vallecano before moving to RCD Espanyol (2010-2013).

Gimbert made her Athletic Club debut in 2013 under then head coach Juan Luis Fuentes. At 33 years old, it made her the oldest debutant in Athletic Club Women history.

In 2015/16, the defender added to her silverware cabinet when she won the league title with Athletic. In her nine seasons at Lezama, she has been an example of professionalism, hard work and determination. Her consistency led to her setting a new record of starting in 86 consecutive matches. What’s more, she played the full 90 minutes in all of them.

With the 2021/22 Primera Iberdrola campaign set to conclude on May 15, Vanesa has some time left to enjoy herself on the pitch and receive some well-deserved plaudits from Athletic fans and followers of women’s football, of which she is a living legend.