Balenziaga to leave Athletic Club at the end of the season
Balenziaga to leave Athletic Club at the end of the season
Twelve seasons and 321 appearances later, the full back said "the time has come to step aside" during an emotional press conference at San Mames
Mikel Balenziaga will leave Athletic Club at the end of the season. The full-back publicly announced his decision in an emotional press conference held alongside Club president Jon Uriarte at San Mames.
The entire first-team squad, plus club legend Jose Angel Iribar, joined Balenziaga at the presentation, where the footballer also stated his desire to continue playing.
🦁 𝐋𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓
— Athletic Club (@Athletic_en) April 20, 2023
📽️ Mikel Balenziaga announces his decision to leave Athletic.
"Because of people like Gurpegui, Garmendia, De Marcos, Urrutia and El Txopo, I'm going to be an Athleticzale until the day I die."#AthleticClub 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/D0GoCVNcV4
The Gipuzkoa-born defender has made 321 appearances in 12 seasons as a Lion and demonstrated his professionalism by reiterating his intention to contribute all he can during the nine remaining LaLiga 22/23 fixtures under Ernesto Valverde, the coach who managed Mikel in 211 of those matches.
Balenziaga wants to say goodbye with a European spot, a sixth continental qualification at Athletic for the player - another achievement to add to his two Supercopa medals and four Copa finals.
The full-back first joined Athletic Club from Real Sociedad B ahead of the 2008/09 season, making his official debut under Joaquín Caparrós on 14 August, against Málaga at La Rosaleda.
During this period, Mikel was loaned to CD Numancia for one season before signing for Real Valladolid, where he spent two years prior to returning to Athletic permanently for the 2013/14 campaign, the first season of Valverde's second spell in the dugout.
Mikel will be remembered for being an excellent team player both on and off the pitch. The left-back stood out for his defensive capabilities and his willingness to do what was needed for the good of the team, often playing out of position to cover injuries.
"A jewel without a crown," as Valverde once famously described him, Mikel has experienced many great nights at Athletic, foremost his two Supercopa final wins over FC Barcelona and the victorious Champions League qualifier against Napoli in 2014/15.