Andoni Gago to take ceremonial kick-off against Valencia CF

Andoni Gago will take a ceremonial kick-off before Athletic Club's match against Valencia CF gets underway at San Mames on Sunday night.

Athletic Club will pay tribute to the local boxer, who decided to hang up his gloves last week.

At the age of 38, the Otxarkoaga fighter has put an end to a long career in which he won two European titles and four Spanish featherweight titles. Gago's professional career began in 2012 and two years later he won his first domestic belt.

Between 2019 and 2021 he held the continental crown, and in total he notched a total of 27 victories in 37 bouts.

He combined sport with his job as a drinks delivery man in the hotel and catering sector. He will now maintain his link to boxing by training new generations of fighters in Bizkaia, a region which has produced several top boxers over the last few years.