Iñigo Lekue retires from Athletic after 11 seasons and 281 matches. Iñigo Lekue has announced his retirement from professional football after 11 seasons with Athletic. The club did not offer him a new contract. The defender played 281 matches and won three trophies.
One of the longest-running careers in recent years has come to an end in Bilbao: Iñigo Lekue, the versatile Athletic defender, has announced his retirement from professional football. The decision comes after the club decided not to renew his contract, despite 11 seasons and 281 official matches with the Basque team.
The 33-year-old footballer, a product of Danok Bat and Lezama, worked his way up from Basconia and Bilbao Athletic to the first team. Over the years at Athletic, Lekue became one of the most reliable and adaptable defenders, capable of covering any position in the backline. His contribution was recognized not only by coaches but also by teammates: Lekue was considered a key voice in the dressing room and a model professional, even when he was on the bench.
This season the defender made 18 appearances, and over his entire club career he won three trophies: the 2023/24 Copa del Rey and two Super Cups (2014/15 and 2019/20). Athletic's management officially informed the player that his contract would not be extended, after which Lekue decided not to seek a new club and to end his career in Bilbao, despite being in good physical shape and having demand on the market.
In Athletic's history, Iñigo Lekue will be remembered as a classic One Club Man — a player who devoted his entire professional career to one club. His departure coincided with the end of the season, as the team is fighting for top positions in La Liga. In recent years, Lekue was one of Ernesto Valverde's trusted players, alongside Mikel Vesga. It's worth noting that such decisions to end a career at a homegrown club are becoming increasingly rare against the backdrop of modern football trends.
Against the backdrop of news about Lekue’s retirement, tense matches continue in Spanish football: recently in Lima, the game between Alianza Lima and Sporting Cristal ended in a dramatic draw in the final minutes, when the hosts equalized in the 90th minute — read more in the article about the tense ending of the match in Lima.
