Athletic Club 125 Legends Squad

The head coaches of Athletic Club 125, the veterans' side that will face FC Porto Vintage at San Mames on Saturday, have named the 22-player squad for the match organised as part of the club's 125th anniversary closing ceremony.

The main factor in determining the squad was the number of games played in the red and white jersey. This meant the original list contained 145 players who had made more than 125 appearances for Athletic.

From there, active players (with commitments in professional football), deceased players, and those who, due to age or physical condition, were unable to play in the match, were ruled out.

From there, active players (with commitments in professional football), deceased players, and those who, due to age or physical condition, were not able to play in the match, were ruled out. The rest, in order, were invited to join the Athletic Club 125 Legends team until the following squad of 22 players was complete.

Athletic Club 125

Markel Susaeta (507), Aitor Larrazabal (445), Julen Guerrero (430), Ismael Urzaiz (419), Mikel San José (397), Carlos Gurpegui (393), Gorka Iraizoz (392), Manolo Sarabia (382), Bittor Alkiza (328), Ander Iturraspe (320), Pablo Orbaiz (318), Rafa Alkorta (294), Íñigo Larrainzar (289), Txato Núñez (258), Fernando Amorebieta (254), Javi González (254), Beñat Etxebarria (242), Gaizka Toquero (207), Ibai Gómez (193), Luis Fernando (188), Igor Gabilondo (175) & David López (144).

A legendary team

The squad brings together a magnificent cast of former Lions who, between them, have played no less than 6,829 official matches in the Athletic shirt.

It includes figures from the generation that won our last LaLiga and Copa titles in the 80s, represented by the likes of coach Javier Clemente, Sarabia and Núñez, to the generation that reached our second UEFA final and played in Europe on a regular basis, with players such as Susaeta, San José, Gurpegui, Iraizoz, Iturraspe, Amorebieta, Beñat, Toquero, Ibai, Gabilondo and López.

In addition, emblematic footballers such as Julen Guerrero, icon of an era in which Athletic became LaLiga runners-up during our centenary year, together with his teammates Larrazabal, Alkorta, Alkiza, Larrainzar, González and Urzaiz. Among other generations, there are outstanding players such as Orbaiz and Luis Fernando.

Towards the end of the match, the head coaches Javier Clemente and Jose Angel Iribar, who will be accompanied on the bench by Manolo Delgado (fitness coach), Juanjo Campa (physio), Miguel Gutierrez (physio), Angel Gorostidi (doctor) and Paco Angulo (doctor), will make three important and symbolic changes.

Firstly, two legendary Athletic Club Women players, Eli Ibarra and Ainhoa Tirapu, will represent the pioneering generations of Lionesses. And finally, the last change will pay tribute to Aritz Aduriz, a truly legendary Lion who was unable to say goodbye on the pitch due to an injury sustained during the pandemic. On Saturday, The Cathedral will honour him with the standing ovation he deserves.

The Legends match against FC Porto Vintage will be played after the LaLiga match between Athletic Club and Atlético de Madrid, following the procession of former Lions, partner clubs and Lezama teams. The veterans' fixture will consist of two 25-minute halves, with the teams changing ends, but no proper breaks.

The Portuguese team will be captained by our 2023 One Club.Man, João Pinto. Among his team-mates, there will be illustrious Dragons such as Rui Barros, Domingos Paciência and Paulo Assunção.

The match officials will be Xabier Losantos Omar, Severo González Lekue and Santos Gutiérrez Revilla.