About the Munian bronze

Muniain is on the podium of the Athletic players with the most official matches played with the rojiblanca shirt throughout history. The current captain of the Bilbao team is behind Iribar and the recently deceased Txetxu Rojo after defeating Joseba Etxeberria. Navarrese, who turned 30 in December, has time ahead to make more jumps in such a mythical box.

Of this trio of historical lions, only one of them remained closely associated with the Athletic discipline throughout his life. First as a player, then as a coach and for some time now as an ambassador for the club. Txopo’s shadow is still very long.

Neither Rojo nor Etxebe had the same thing happen. Both defended the rojiblanca jersey at grass level and later had their respective stages as coaches. The native of Begoña even led the first team of Bilbao. The elgoibartarra, no.

‘Tandang’ decided to end his second spell as Lezama’s coach after staying one step away from Bilbao Athletic’s promotion to what is now known as the SmartBank League. Since then, with a new category, puppies have not reappeared in the top spot.

different roles

It doesn’t seem like a bad time to reflect on the different treatment given to certain ‘mythical’ lions depending on the role they play at the Bilbao club. The footballer Rojo was performed at the altars; Coach Rojo, on the other hand, was not given due respect when he worked on the San Mamés bench. The same can be said about Etxebe, Ziganda, Urrutia and Alkorta, among others, in their different subsequent roles.

Athletic prides itself on being more than just a club. The Rojiblanca family was talked about by the gang. It cannot be that the same professional from the Ibaigane entity receives different treatment depending on the role they play. Criticism for his work, of course; no respect, nothing. Our style!