In a time when money comes first, Athletico Bilbao’s Joseba Etxeberria has agreed to play out his final season for the club for free. The 31-year-old singed a one-year contract extension that will see him finish his career with the Los Cachorros.
Etxeberria joined the club at age 17 and has played for the club ever since. He is famed for his dribbling, pace and fierce shot, but will now be famed for much more than his skills on the football pitch.
While so many other footballers hold out on signing new contracts until they can force the club to pay the highest wages possible, Etxeberria has agreed to play for free.
Frank Lampard, Emmanuel Adebayor, Rio Ferdinand and many others need to take note! So many modern day footballers seem to only be concerned about making money, as I explained in my recently published
- B/R Ticket Guide
Yet Etxeberria, known as El Gallo (The Rooster) to Athletico Bilbao fans for his long neck, has shown the ultimate gesture to his club. The Athletico captain has been a major figure at the club since joining as a teenager and wants to thank his club for everything by playing his final season for free.
Etxeberria’s sacrifice to the club has not gone unnoticed and club president Fernando Garcia Macau was quick to praise the former Spanish international.
"From the club's standpoint, there are not words enough to thank such a gesture,” Macau said.
The Athletico Bilbao captain led the 1995 World Youth Championships in scoring and earned 53 caps for the Spanish National Team, scoring 12 goals and playing a part in the 1998 World Cup, Euro 2000 and Euro 2004.
Etxeberria admits he has always wanted to end his career at Athletico Bilbao, but claims he is not trying to set an example by agreeing to play out his final season for free.
"I wanted to do this gesture but never did I want to set a precedent."
Whether or not Etxeberria wanted to make an example out of his honorable decision, it is something every footballer should learn form.
Here’s to Joseba Etxeberria, who has shown that football is not all about money!
Cheers, Joseba…
comments (31) write a comment »
write a new comment
3 months ago
Great article, and what a gesture!
3 months ago
I think we all should take a step back and applaud the man. I have never heard of this sort of loyalty shown before so good for him/them...
3 months ago
I agree. It's unheard of in this time and day.
3 months ago
And thanks for the pick, Ryan!
3 months ago
Cheers, Jeff, a great article.
Enjoyed hearing about a gesture like this, because it seems so rare in today's world. For more examples of footballers and philanthropy, the Knowledge on the Guardian's football site has been addressing the issue for the past few weeks. No mention of Etxeberria though.
3 months ago
I'm surprised to hear that the guardian was doing that. Good to hear though. Let's hope we hear of more examples like this.
3 months ago
wow, its nice to know that there are still some footballers out there who care about more than money. THe way some of these young studs come in simply looking to make more in a week than you do in a year is disguisting. Its a game to be played for honor and the joy of the game, not only about money.
3 months ago
I'll go with Salomon ... lets just stand back and applaud the man ... he has shown its not all about money!
3 months ago
unbelievable...good report, Jeff.
3 months ago
I agree with all of you. He has earned my ultimate respect for this. It's not very often you see someone giving back to the club in such a remarkable way as he has done. Hats off to Etxeberria...
3 months ago
wow... this man does deserve applause,
it's time for others to learn that football isn't about money.
great article Jeff,
cheers
3 months ago
These things only can happen at Athletic de Bilbao.
Class act here.
Good report Jeff.
3 months ago
Amazing - I did see this yesterday on the Beeb - but didn't get the time to go through it.. fabulous gesture by Etxeberria..
3 months ago
I suppose when you play for a club for so many years the layalty factor kicks in.
Its always great to see a football player playing the game and not playing it for money. Shows he's got true houner, respect and love for Bilbao.
Great article mate.
3 months ago
love the guy. true football gentleman
3 months ago
Just because he's signed to play for free it doesn't mean that players that play for money just care about money. It's a great gesture yes but money is part of the game. Lets get over this whole thing about players just playing for money because in the majority of cases this simply isn't true.
from 3 months ago
Exactly what I wanted to say. I think they're a lot of players who would do the same if they were forced too. The thing is, if players decide to take lower wages, where does the money go then? To the 'businessmen'. It's about the lesser of two evils for me.
But informative article Jeff.
from 3 months ago
Nice article again Jeff, I agree with Brandon more or less as well on this one.
3 months ago
an amazing gesture
3 months ago
I am not a soccer fan, but I applaud him for what he is doing. I have had many conversations on the subject of pro-athletes who only cared about money,a nd it ruins profesional sports. This is one of the greatest gestures of all time.
3 months ago
Great reporting, excellent act! Of course like he said, this shouldn't drag a trend around, but it certainly portrays a tremendous amount of Loyalty for Athletico Bilbao.
Thanks for the article man.
3 months ago
Thanks. Obviously I know money is a part of the game and that it's their job, but there comes a point when money becomes too big a part of the game. When a player cares more about making money, rather than playing for the love of the game... that's when you have a problem.
3 months ago
Great article. Bilbao is truely a club for the people all their players play for the love of the club not the money. It makes me want to move there!
3 months ago
In the world we live in, especially the one of football, this is something spectacular by Etxeberria. Wish him luck and other players should take note, I agree. 5*
3 months ago
It even goes beyond football. If you worked for a company for 11 years and decided that you would work for them for one more year, would you work that one year for free? If I'm being honest, I don't think I could, no matter how much I was paid. Like i said, i salute Etxeberria.
3 months ago
It's a great act really. Some players do have to take note really.
Good job reporting the news
3 months ago
Thanks. it's so rare, which makes it even more impressive.
3 months ago
wow, i would've never thought that a professional footballer would ever do something like that. a fantastic gesture by etxeberria, and definitely something that the lampards, adebayors, and ferdinands of this world have to take note of. good article jeff.
3 months ago
Thanks Yoosof. There's a lot more players who need to take note than just the ones i mentioned as well.
3 months ago
What a brilliant gesture, a legendary attitude, a man who truly loves his club and the game. Great news, nice piece Jeff.
3 months ago
Thanks illya. Everytime i take a second to think about what he has done, I am still in awe. He deserves to be remembered for this for a long time.
write a new comment