The great Carmelo Cedrún has passed away

Carmelo Cedrún, one of the greatest legends in Athletic’s history, has passed away at the age of 95. The legendary goalkeeper from Amorebieta-Etxano played a key role in one of Athletic’s most glorious eras during the 14 seasons he spent between the posts for the Zurigorri.

 

His honours include five titles: one La Liga title (1955/56), three Copa del Rey titles (1954/55, 1955/56 and 1957/58) and one Copa Eva Duarte (1950), the precursor to the Supercopa. One of these titles, the 1958 Cup, marked the rise of one of Athletic’s most legendary teams, the ‘Once Aldeanos’, that championship-winning side which defeated the mighty European champions Real Madrid at their own ground.

With 404 matches under his belt, Carmelo Cedrún made his debut on 15 April 1951 at San Mamés against Sevilla FC and from then on defined an era between the posts for Athletic. He also passed the baton to another of the club’s great legends, José Ángel Iribar, who replaced him at La Rosaleda in a match against CD Málaga in 1962.

Iñaki Williams breaks the record for consecutive matches

Until 2019, Carmelo Cedrún held the record for the most consecutive La Liga matches played for Athletic – 132 – achieved between 1952 and 1957. A record that was only surpassed by Iñaki Williams and which was commemorated with a moving tribute to Cedrún by the fans at San Mamés, before the match between the Lions and Granada CF in 2019.

Cedrún was also part of the Spanish national team that travelled to the World Cup in Chile in 1962. He started in the first two matches of that World Cup. He made his debut in March 1954 against Turkey and went on to play a further 12 matches.

The father of another Athletic goalkeeper, Andoni Cedrún, Carmelo will be remembered as one of the great legends in the club’s history.

Rest in peace.