| After fourteen seasons at the club former Spain midfielder, Joseba Etxeberria is on the point of finalising a novel one-year extension to his contract whereby he will play for free.
The unprecedented arrangement is a way of thanking the club while at the same time enabling him to achieve his dream of retiring as an Athletic play after fifteen seasons.
The 31-year-old from Elgóibar joined the club from arch local rivals Real Sociedad at the start of the 1995/96 season for 550 million Pesteas (€3.3 million euros) since when he has played 480 official matches, scoring 101 goals.
He represented his country 53 times (12 goals) and took part in the 1998 World Cup as well as the 2000 and 2004 European championships in Holland/Belgium and Portugal. |
