Erika Vázquez, the farewell to an Athletic legend

I have to thank Erika Vázquez for being one of the reasons why I started getting hooked on women’s football. One of many. Also to Eli Ibarra, to Iraia, to Tirapu, to Eba Ferreira, to Tzibi.

Erika and her goals. It didn’t fail. And there are her numbers. Historic, legendary: 17 seasons in the women’s first team, 264 goals (the last of them in her last game against Sevilla) and the player who has played the most games with Athletic, 423.

The other day I read to Adurizpedia the comparison regarding the trajectory of the rojiblanco club in the women’s section and it is even more amazing. To put more value on what the Navarrese has achieved: 20 seasons of history has Athletic with 626 games played. Compare with Erika’s data, it’s amazing. Very much in agreement with the former coach of Athletic and now of Levante, Ángel Villacampa, who said that “Erika should be cloned”.

The importance of the Navarran striker on the green has always been important, although in recent seasons, due to injuries, she has not been able to have the leading role that she would surely have liked. She assumed her role, although she has always been a competitive soccer player and that self-demand of hers has transferred her to the Lezama locker room. She may be a little shy in close dealings, but she was pure character in the green. And in this way she helped to add three Leagues in Athletic.

The captain has left with a big thorn in her side, which is a few players who have it, that of not having been able to lift the Copa de la Reina. They have been close, but have never been able to achieve that trophy.

In addition to his numbers in Athletic, his 47 caps with the absolute Spanish team also stand out, with which he achieved seven goals, participating in the European Championship in Sweden in 2013 and in the World Cup in Canada in 2015, the first to which the team attended Spanish. The number of goals that Erika would be capable of scoring with the level of players that Vilda’s team now has! Stratospheric, for sure.

Vanesa, another reference

Along with Erika, another great reference in Athletic and women’s football, Vanesa Gimbert, is also retiring. The one from Bergara, the tenth player with the most games in the club’s history (248), leaves leaving, in addition to a great football memory, the record for consecutive games, 86, with all the minutes of them.

The season farewell of the women’s first team last Sunday in Lezama against Sevilla also left Istillart with applause and recognition. Knee injuries have kept the Baiona midfielder out of professional football. a pity

I would like Iraia Iturregi to continue leading the women’s first team project on the Athletic bench. I think she can be the best coach for a process of important changes with the retirement and departure of important players. There is confidence that they will continue, but it will not be.

Las Moraza, Lucía García and maybe some other rojiblanca also ‘said goodbye’ to Athletic on Sunday. It’s not another Thursday thing.