Muniain, at the height of Piru Gainza

Muniain will play against Valencia on Saturday at the level of a red-and-white legend like Piru Gainza. He will play his 496th match, which will place him in sixth position in the ranking. When the curtain falls on the current campaign, he will be on the verge of 500. He has been in the first team for 13 years, while Gainza needed 21 to complete 496. Iker will sneak inthe next season on the podium, since he has Susaeta (507), Iraola (510) and Etxeberria, the third, with 514. Catching up with Iribar and his 614 games would require another three full seasons. In December he turns 30 and it is not unreasonable to think about it.

The two serious knee injuries have slowed him down in this race. He debuted as a lion with 16 years, 7 months and 11 days and has won two Super Cups. The technicians who have passed through Athletic these years have considered him essential, for being one of the few capable of overflowing one on one and playing between the lines. In these 13 years he has scored 71 goals. As a left midfielder or midfielder, his talent made San Mamés fall in love a long time ago, although some extra-sports controversies put him in the eye of the hurricane. He has an autobiographical book.

Agustín Gainza played as a left winger and spent his entire career at Athletic. He is remembered for his enormous verticality and speed. He formed an unforgettable group with Iriondo, Venancio, Zarra and Panizo. He was international for Spain, playing 33 games in which he scored 10 goals. As a lion he won a total of ten titles, including two Leagues and seven Spanish Cups, while he was awarded the Monchín Triana trophy in 1955 in recognition of his sporting spirit and for his fidelity to the colors of his club.

At this moment he is the ninth top scorer in the club’s history, with 152 goals, after Zarra, Bata, Dani, Gorostiza, Iraragorri, Aduriz, Arieta I and Panizo. After his sporting retirement in 1959 and a short break, he rejoined Athletic as coach until his definitive separation in the fall of 1968.