Valverde, Muniain, De Marcos and Balenziaga present “Athletic Club Gabarra”

The presentation of Athletic Club Gabarra – much more than just a book – attracted around 400 people to San Mamés on Tuesday afternoon.

Ernesto Valverde, Iker Muniain, Óscar de Marcos and Mikel Balenziaga discussed each of the four parts into which this book is divided – Earth, Air, Fire and Water – which together commemorate an unforgettable journey that culminated in the historic La Gabarra celebration. 

Among the audience, in addition to the men's first team, there were numerous familiar faces from the Athletic family, such as former players who came close to winning the trophy like Susaeta, Gurpegui, San José, Iraizoz, Iturraspe, Beñat, Orbaiz, Etxeita, Herrerín and Ezkieta, and to Copa champions such as Raúl García and Asier Villalibre.

It was a family gathering around the presentation of a work that is much more than just a book.

It's an item of incalculable emotional value that any Athletic fan would like to have or give as a gift, not only because it commemorates and allows us to relive an important feat, but above all because it turns our sense of belonging into something both physical and symbolic.

It's a book to make you feel proud, which will live on in homes from generation to generation.

Athletic Club was represented by Jose Angel Iribar, together with members of the Board of Directors – Jon Ruigómez, Xabier Álvarez, Guillermo Ruiz-Longarte, Igor San Román, Ignacio Urigüen and Josetxu Urrutia – and the Board of Trustees – Pilar Kaltzada, Begoña Ortuondo, Amaia Jugo, Jon Recacoechea and Alicia Vivanco.

Among the authorities present were Mayor Juan Mari Aburto, accompanied by Councillor Itxaso Erroteta, and the Provincial Council's Director of Sports, Carlos Sergio. Alberto Rodríguez attended on behalf of Kutxabank and the BBK Foundation, along with numerous representatives from companies that sponsor and collaborate with Athletic Club and Fundazioa. 

Representatives of the organisations that made La Gabarra possible – Real Club Marítimo del Abra, Club Deportivo, Puerto de Bilbao, Alse Servicios, Capitanía Marítima, Itsasmuseum, etc. – were also in attendance, together with nearly 200 Athletic fans who snapped up all the tickets available to the general public.


PURCHASE ATHLETIC CLUB GABARRA 


The protagonists' favourite moments

During the presentation of Athletic Club Gabarra, Ernesto Valverde, Iker Muniain, Óscar de Marcos and Mikel Balenziaga shared some fascinating anecdotes from the 25th Copa season, all of which are reflected in the book in some way or another.

Balenziaga acknowledged the disappointment he felt at not winning any of the finals he played in, but at the same time, he expressed the immense joy he felt as a fan after the victory at La Cartuja.

Valverde praised the squad's competitive spirit, and Muniain, for example, recalled the story of Pollo Briseño, whose shirt served as a lucky charm and ‘team mascot’ throughout the tournament.

De Marcos recalled how tense he felt during the penalty shootout, but acknowledged that he was convinced of victory.

At the end of the presentation, the protagonists were asked to choose a single favourite moment from the season.

Mikel recalled the morning after the victory, when he received an emotional call from De Marcos.

For his part, Óscar remembered when he saw his family after the match and the feeling of sharing such a happy moment with people with whom he had previously suffered.

Iker chose the moment just after Alex Berenguer's decisive goal, running towards the goal and stopping halfway before lying on the ground, and being embraced by De Marcos, his eternal comrade-in-arms.

Ernesto spoke about the moment when everyone, including coaching staff, gathered before taking the penalties, completely focused, tense and fearful, but united.