Athletic Club icon Raúl García announces retirement | OneFootball

A long-time member of the first-team ranks at La Liga outfit Athletic Club has on Monday announced his decision to hang up his boots upon the season’s close.

The player in question? Raúl García.

Veteran attacker García has spent the last nine seasons on the books at San Mamés, racking up a hefty 356 appearances along the way.

Add this to his 329 at Atlético Madrid, and 126 with Osasuna, and the twice-capped La Roja international has taken to the pitch on over 800 occasions for Spanish clubs.

Now 37, and fresh off notching a decisive penalty in Athletic’s Copa del Rey finale triumph last weekend, though, García has come to the decision that the moment has arrived to call time on his legendary career.

As much was confirmed in an official statement across the website and social media platforms of the Basque club a short time ago.

García will see out the remaining weeks of the campaign doing his utmost to help guide Ernesto Valverde’s troops into a Champions League qualification spot, before being afforded some well-earned rest on the back of a playing stint spanning two decades.

Conor Laird | GSFN