Athletic Club legend Rojo I has passed away

Jose Francisco 'Txetxu' Rojo Arroita (Born in Bilbao on January 28 1947), and known as Rojo I, died in the town of Leioa at the age of 75, accompanied by his closest relatives.

In a Club full of legends, we have lost one of the greatest Athletic icons of all time. Rojo was an unforgettable no.11, he had a silky left foot, played some genius passes and always found his man in the box.

A One-Club Man, Txetxu Rojo played in the red-and-white shirt for 17 seasons, making 541 appearances as Lion, a figure only bettered by the great Jose Angel Iribar. Rojo scored 67 goals and had many assists. He won two Copas, against Elche and Castellón, in the 1968/69 and 1972/73 seasons respectively.

He made his debut in 1965 and retired in 1982, his final match a testimonial against the English national team at The Cathedral not long before the 1982 World Cup.

But the legacy Txetxu Rojo leaves at Athletic Club goes far beyond football. With the help of his extraordinary left foot, his creative talent and his dazzling class, he became an idol who marked an entire era and left an everlasting impression on Athleticzales.

The stories of Rojo I's supreme elegance and magnificent technique on the left flank have been passed down through the generations, in the way the memory of loved ones and great legends always linger in the collective consciousness.

He was an Athletic man through and through. After retiring Txetxu coached the team in 70 official matches, in the 1989/90 and 2000/01 seasons. He did not have the same success as he had as a player, but went about it with same dedication and devotion he had always shown to his boyhood club.

Curiously, in Rojo's second spell as head coach, Ernesto Valverde was his assistant. Txetxu also coached RC Celta, CA Osasuna, Club Lleida Esportiu, UD Salamanca and Real Zaragoza.

One of Txetxu Rojo's greatest successes as coach was with Vigo. In the 1993/94 season, he led them to the Copa final, the third of the four they have reached in their history. They had to settle for a runners-up spot against Víctor Fernández's Real Zaragoza. Rojo took over at the latter side in 1998/99 and a year later he had an unforgettable campaign. Zaragoza fans were given the opportunity to dream of title glory when the side still had a chance of winning LaLiga going into the final fixture of the season.

His younger brother, Rojo II, a midfielder, also spent seven seasons at Athletic between 1971 and 1977. Indeed, it was in that last year that the team coached by the late Koldo Aguirre finished runners-up in the Copa and UEFA Cup, falling against Juventus in that historic final. By then, Rojo I had already turned into a centre midfielder to leave room for his heir, Estanis Argote.

There are not enough words in the world to describe Txetxu Rojo and what he means for our Club. Those who enjoyed his unique style on the left wing for 17 seasons will remember the amazing runs, the surgical and unexpected passes, exquisite controls, beautiful goals, but, above all, the aura of an inimitable footballer, an artist, a creator of beauty, perhaps lacking in the brawn of other Athletic legends, but nonetheless possessing the enormous heart of a Lion.

Although Txetxu's heart has stopped beating in his mortal body, it will continue to beat forever in the hearts of our fans.

Rest in peace, Rojo I.