“I wanted to continue for another year but the club told me that they had decided not to renew”
BARCELONA, 3 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The goalkeeper and captain of Barça roller hockey Aitor Egurrola said goodbye to his teammates and fans this Thursday in an act of homage for a Blaugrana legend who will retire at the end of this season, despite the fact that he wanted to continue for another year, and will see retirement his shirt with the ‘1’ on top of the Palau Blaugrana.
“Aitor Egurrola’s number ‘1’ will always be present at the Palau Blaugrana. The club will withdraw the number ‘1’ from the roller hockey section in honor of the most successful player in the history of FC Barcelona (77 titles to date) the cub announced.
Egurrola’s will be the second jersey of the roller hockey section withdrawn, after Beto Borregán’s ’21’ – he won 58 titles -. Egurrola, in the absence of being able to win any more titles in this last season, will leave no matter what, as the most successful athlete in the history of the Blaugrana club.
He will leave, yes, against his will to extend his career. “I wanted to continue for another year, but the club informed me that they had decided not to renew my contract. As it was clear to me that I was going to retire at Barça, I made the decision to retire,” he explained at a press conference.
“I can only say thank you. It’s an honor to have been able to play for the club that I carry in my heart. Thanks to my teammates, the club, the fans, the press… And above all my family. Without you I wouldn’t would have achieved,” Egurrola said.
For his part, the president, Joan Laporta, highlighted the “enormous sporting and human stature” of the captain, whom he thanked for everything he had given the club over the years and opened the doors of the club in the future.
“You are an example, a legend. Things go as they go and decisions are made that sometimes are not easy. But we need people of your worth, Aitor. You have the doors of the club open”, he assured before announcing that his shirt would be withdrawal.
In addition to Laporta, Aitor ‘El Pulpo’ Egurrola was accompanied by three representatives of the Blaugrana sections, his teammates and relatives.
The sports career of the goalkeeper of the roller hockey section will end at the end of this season after competing 24 seasons at the highest level.
He will leave as the hockey player who has won the most Leagues (21), the most European Cups (11), the most Continental Cups (11), the most King’s Cups (11) and the most Spanish Super Cups (11). He was the MVP of the 2007 and 2011 Cups and, in addition, he holds the unbeaten record in the OK Liga since December 2018, with 230 minutes and 38 seconds without conceding a goal.