Spending your entire career with one club is a curious phenomenon – in 20-plus years at the top you’re likely to outlast several managers, and how often do the player or club’s paths take different trajectories?
It’s not solely the player’s decision to stay, either – the club has to want them. And you have to forge a strong bond with the fans – from Tony Hibbert to Ledley King, and even aptly named Celtic stalwart Paul McStay, many become cult heroes or club legends.
Athletic Club could field teams of one-club players past and present, but they only give the award to retired players from other clubs.
“We look for players we feel embody the values of their club or fanbase,” adds Parry.
“Maybe the player isn’t necessarily the big superstar or most talented to have ever come from that club, but generally they tend to be a big fan favourite.
“The fans saw that player as a reflection of themselves on the pitch and quite often the players saw themselves as a reflection of the fan base as well.”
From Milan to Manchester United, some clubs could feature heavily here, so we’ve gone for one representative per team.
To kick things off, though, it only feels right to include an Athletic star – the only current player on the list embodies the club’s values and also has his own remarkable story.
