Emotional Farewell for Athletic Bilbao Captain Óscar de Marcos

Bilbao's San Mamés Stadium witnessed a poignant farewell to Athletic Club captain Óscar de Marcos on May 25th, 2025. Before his final match, de Marcos, accompanied by his wife and three children, received an emotional guard of honor. Players from both Athletic and their opponents, FC Barcelona, lined up to applaud the long-serving captain. A large banner in the stands read "Mila Esker De Marcos Maite Zaitugu," which translates from Basque to "Thank you, De Marcos, we love you." The atmosphere was charged with emotion, reflecting the deep respect held for de Marcos within the club and among the fans. "It was an incredibly moving moment," said one Athletic fan in the stadium. "It showed how much he means to everyone."