Aitor Egurrola: 'An honour to represent this club for more than 20 years'
Barça legend Aitor Egurrola has given an emotional press conference this Thursday in the Auditori 1899 after the announcement that the roller hockey captain’s contract will end on 30 June 2022, bringing an end to his 27 years at the club. "I only have words of gratitude to the club and all the people who have accompanied me on this long road” he said.
Attendees included FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta, the director for roller hockey, Xavier Barbany, football senior team coach Xavi Hernández, basketball manager Juan Carlos Navarro, handball captains Pérez de Vargas, Ludovic Fàbregas, Dika Mem and Aitor Ariño, coach Carlos Ortega, futsal captain Sergio Lozano and all the players and staff from the roller hockey team.
Farewell to a legend
“It has been an honour to belong to a club that I carry in my heart” continued Egurrola. “My teammates were the main reason why I stayed here season after season and why I always wanted to start another year every time one ended. I am sure I’m going to miss the warmth of being in the dressing room, and there will be days when I’ll want to get in the car and come to the Palau to train.”
“This last few years have been the ones I have enjoyed the most. If I had to pick any one trophy it might be the last European Cup in Porto, and also the one we won at the Palau”.
He is leaving after winning 77 titles with the club, with a further three possible ones to come this season. “We will fight for them with the same eagerness and enthusiasm as always” he said.
Record 77 titles
Laporta announced that Egurrola’s number one shirt will be withdrawn and hung on the ceiling of the Palau Blaugrana along with those of other indoor sports legends.
‘The Octopus’ joined the club’s youth system in 1995 and has gone on to win more titles than any other Barça player in any sport, including 21 domestic leagues and 11 European Cups.
He set the OK Liga record in 2018 by going unbeaten for 230 minutes, and has also won two European Championship`s with Spain.
He made his debut at the age of 18 in 1998 in Riazor, which is also the venue of the team’s next fixture (Saturday at 5.00pm CET).