Iñaki Williams is set to be honoured by Athletic Bilbao after reaching an extraordinary career landmark of 500 appearances for the club, further cementing his legacy among the Basque side’s all-time greats.
The Ghana international achieved the feat last weekend during Bilbao’s 3-0 setback away to Girona FC in La Liga. While the result may have taken the shine off the occasion, the magnitude of Williams’ achievement has not gone unnoticed.
To mark the historic moment, the club has lined up a special presentation ahead of their next home fixture against Real Betis at the iconic San Mamés Stadium. The ceremony will see club legend Óscar de Marcos hand over a commemorative plaque to the forward in front of an adoring home crowd.
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Williams now becomes just the eighth player in the club’s storied history to surpass the 500-game mark, joining an elite company that includes José Ángel Iribar (614), De Marcos (573), Iker Muniain (560), José Ángel Rojo (541), Joseba Etxeberria (514), Andoni Iraola (510) and Markel Susaeta (507).
Across his 500 appearances in the famous red and white colours, Williams has scored 114 goals and played a pivotal role in the club’s successes, including lifting the Copa del Rey.
Appearance breakdown by competition:
- La Liga: 396
- Champions League: 3
- Europa League: 42
- Copa del Rey: 52
- Super Cup: 6
From a tireless academy graduate to a symbol of consistency and loyalty, Williams’ journey stands as a remarkable testament to durability, dedication, and elite-level performance in modern football.
