Which Athletic player do you associate with the number 10?

Nicholas Williams is number 10 for Athletic. The Navarrese striker is in his fifth season at Athletic, his first of that number. He made his debut with the coach he will face on Sunday in San Mamés, Marcelino, wearing number 30.

He played with that number the following full season and then switched to number 11. Morcillo, who had little fame, got the number 2 until he left Amorebieta, giving the younger Williams that number he wore it until this summer. The departure of Iker Muniain leaves a very important figure free in Athletic, not only in the captain’s armband, but in the world of football.

And then came the surprise. At least for me. After a day-to-day summer with Nico Williams and Barcelona, ​​​​the Ibaigane club announced on August 12 that the youngest of the Williams will wear the former captain’s number. “I asked Muni for number 10 and I’m proud to wear that number and make history like he did.” Words by Nicholas Williams. We will see if, at least, bring it to 2027. Yes, indeed, glad.

in trouble

We come to the point, what the great Joaquín Caparrós would say before an interview: Which Athletic player do you associate with the number 10? How I wrote last week with 9, good debate and great references. Iker Muniain carried it for eight seasons and is the second player with the most appearances in Athletic history.

Navarrese is a footballer whose career and performance have marked several generations at the red and white club. I hope Nico Williams keeps doing this! Because there is a generation, the current one, that marks a lot, too.

What can be said about the great Francisco Javier Yeste. Player of unusual quality. For me the 10 plus 10 I saw played at Athletic. In addition, he has a rebellious character that in some ways has been carried over by many players who have worn this number.

Ander Garitano, another great reference and another impressive left foot that carried ten on his back for several seasons. And I never saw him play, but of course, we are talking about an Athletic and football legend like Fidel Uriarte. There are his numbers and his legacy. The history of the red and white club cannot be understood without this player who in his own way marked an era, it is true that in some seasons he also wore the number 8.

Hopefully the front page of this newspaper is also for Nico Williams, it’s a good sign. I am writing these lines before the Athletic-Real Madrid match played last night in San Mamés. There was a lot of talk about Barcelona’s interest this past summer, which there was, without a doubt. What I fear, if one day he wants to sign him, is Florentino Pérez’s club. They don’t really mess up. Boom, boom, boom.

Last week Athletic published a video in which Nico, among others, appeared to take a shirt with the number 10 from the fire. Last year she posed in a ‘Herri Krosa’ number. Every detail, every action, every word, every social media post by Nico Williams is worthy of a thesis. That’s what it takes to be a good soccer player. This is not something from any other Thursday.