Iker Muniain set to leave Athletic Club at end of season after 19 years of service

Muniain was one of the few players with the most appearances for Athletic Club

After 19 years with Athletic Club and 15 of those years in the first squad, Iker Muniain will depart at the end of the current campaign.

Muniain, 30, has played a supporting role under Ernesto Valverde, who has utilised him well in his first two stints as Athletic coach.

This season, in particular, Iker Muniain has played a supporting role. Muniain has played for just 280 minutes in the first ten games, and El Txingurri has only utilised him three times since the beginning. Oihan Sancet was not available for either of those starts due to a suspension or injury.

Muniain lacks a natural starting position because El Txingurri prefers Nico and Inaki Williams out wide and Sancet through the middle. Additionally, young Unai Gomez has started stealing minutes from Muniain. Relevo notes that although money won’t be a factor, Muniain is one of 12 players whose contracts expire in the summer and who can begin talks in January.

After Txopo (614), Iker Muniain ranks second all-time in Athletic appearance (543); his departure would represent a generational shift for the Basque team.

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Although losing his influence knowledge and expertise would be devastating, Muniain might think about leaving if his role stays so tiny.

The squad again ended eighth and lost by a small margin in the cup semifinals, this time against Osasuna, after a bright start under new coach Ernesto Valverde. He started frequently but shifted to the bench for 11 of his 30 league games.

Athletic Club also had a great start to 2023–24, although Muniain was not used much in the first half of the season as Valverde started Oihan Sancet as the attacking midfielder and either rookie Unai Gómez or Álex Berenguer as the offensive substitute.

He made 542 outings for the team on September 30, against Real Sociedad, breaking Txetxu Rojo’s mark as an outside player and just behind Iribar.

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