Muff 245 Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Joseba Etxeberria has put pen-to-paper on a one-year contract extension at Athletic Bilbao that will see him play out the rest of his career for free. The 31-year-old has made the huge gesture in a bid to give something back to the fans for their loyalty to him throughout his 15-year stint with the club. Etxeberria was just 17 when he joined the club and says there is no other place he would rather finish his career. "I wanted to do this gesture but never, in any moment, did I want to set a precedent," he said. The loyal striker is hoping to reach 500 games played when he retires after a 15-year career at San Mames. During his professional career, Etxeberria boasts 12 goals in 53 appearances for Spain and 101 Spanish league goals for Athletic. He also figured twice in the European Championship and played at the 1998 World Cup. Club president Fernando Garcia Macau is completely bowled over by the huge gesture, calling it a "football first." "From the club's standpoint there are not words to thank such a gesture," Garcia Macau said. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11827_4236718,00.html Superb gesture. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TunnyLoyal 1,136 Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Definetly is, now that's someone who is clearly playing for the jersey. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kplfishtank 4,656 Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 this is a guy who loves his club and good on him Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muff 245 Posted October 2, 2008 Author Share Posted October 2, 2008 Wonder if we'll see Ferguson do this once his contract expires Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TunnyLoyal 1,136 Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Wonder if we'll see Ferguson do this once his contract expires hmmmm Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
disgruntled_bear 157 Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Wonder if we'll see Ferguson do this once his contract expires Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bombaybadboy08 15,660 Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Nice to see Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibroxwonder 0 Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Wonder if we'll see Ferguson do this once his contract expires Superb gesture from Etxeberria Good on him Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest therabbitt Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 I might be talking crap here but it is not a precedent? Did Kiko not sign a contract for £1 a week or some nominal fee as his club stuck by him through a long term injury in the end of the 90's? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
demise 3,516 Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Etxeberria . Too bad that there aren`t too many players like him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxwellrfc 6 Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 fair play to him Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bringonthbarca 25 Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 absolutly brilliant to see that. i take my hat off to you son Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
British and Proud 0 Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 incredible gesture Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevegers 0 Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 fair play to him... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CottonRunt 978 Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Fantastic gesture! love of the jersey and passion for the club should be what football is about, not all this money grabbing thats going on! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueben_d 40 Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 great gesture, however it's probably illegal for the club not to pay him minimum wage surely? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Lad 0 Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 great gesture, however it's probably illegal for the club not to pay him minimum wage surely? Different contractual rules for footballers. I'm sure the board will still be paying him something, and donating it straight back to the team on his behalf. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NathanRfc 37 Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 That is an enormous gesture by that lad. Fair play. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
papaguy51 912 Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 I remember we were linked with him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stardog 11 Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Wasn't there some Italian footballer that did this 5 or so years ago? I can't remember his name, but I remember him looking like Van Bommel for some reason... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECWC1972 0 Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 Wait... did Sebastian Rozenthal not do this with us if I remember correctly??? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest therabbitt Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 With the club in administration, he agreed to play for free during the 2000-01 season in the second division on the understanding that he could leave at the end of it if promotion wasn't obtained. Atletico failed despite a large contribution by Kiko who couldn't recapture the form that everyone was so used to seeing. Kiko did it first Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WatfordRangers 0 Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 much respect to the lad. 14 years service and shows his genorosity by doing that... top lad. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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