José Francisco Rojo Arroita (Bilbao, January 28, 1947), known in football as Rojo I and Txetxu Rojo, has died in Leioa (Bizkaia) at the age of 75, accompanied by his closest relatives.
"
In a Club full of legends, one of the greatest is leaving us
, a true rojiblanco myth, with a fabulous career in the centenary history of Athletic. A silky left foot, pure ingenuity in the pass and cross into the area. An 11 unforgettable", has indicated the Bilbao club.
Txetxu Rojo, One Club Man, defended the red and white jersey for 17 seasons, playing 541 games, a record figure only surpassed by the great
José Ángel Iribar
.
He scored 67 goals and gave many more decisive passes, he won two Cup titles against Elche and Castellón, in the 1968/69 and 1972/73 seasons.
He made his debut in 1965 and retired in 1982, after a tribute match held at La Catedral against the English team just before they played the World Cup in San Mamés.
In addition, he was international 18 times.
But the mark that Txetxu Rojo leaves at Athletic Club is "immense and goes far beyond football. Around his prodigious left leg, his
creative talent and his dazzling class
, an idol was erected that marked an entire era and whose echo lasts unalterable among Athletic fans. The stories about Rojo I's supreme elegance and prodigious technique on the left flank have been transmitted between generations spontaneously, just as the memory of loved ones and great myths endure in the collective memory." , added the club.
Txetxu Rojo in his time as an Athletic Bilbao player. EFE
Likewise, he recalled that he was "a man from the Club with capital letters, 100% Athletic, who, once retired, coached the team in 70 official matches, in the 1989/90 and 2000/01 seasons, without the same success he had as player, but with the same dedication and commitment to the club of his life".
Curiously, in this second stage,
Ernesto Valverde
, today the first team coach, was his assistant.
He also coached RC Celta, CA Osasuna, Club Lleida Esportiu, UD Salamanca and Real Zaragoza, in two different stages.
One of Txetxu Rojo's greatest successes as a coach was with the Vigo team, whom he led (1993-94 season) in his
third Cup final of
the four he has played.
However, they had to settle for runner-up against Víctor Fernández's Real Zaragoza.
Precisely, the rojiblanco myth took the reins of the Maño team in the 1998-99 season and a year later he had an "unforgettable" season that made his fans dream of the League title, reaching the last day with options to win La Liga .
His little brother, Rojo II, a midfielder, also spent part of his career at Athletic, for seven seasons, between 1971 and 1977. It was in that last year, precisely, when the team coached by the late Koldo Aguirre played fantasy football. , being
runner-up in the Cup and UEFA
, with that historic final against Juventus.
By then, he had already pushed his position back inside to leave a door open for his heir, Estanis Argote.
"Those who enjoyed his unique game on the left wing for 17 seasons remember amazing dribbling, surgical and unexpected passes, exquisite controls, precious goals, but, above all, the aura of an unrepeatable footballer, an artist, a creator of beauty, perhaps devoid of the claw of other rojiblancos myths, but possessing a genuine and enormous heart of a lion. Although Txetxu's heart has stopped beating in his mortal body, it will continue to beat forever in the hearts of the fans", Athletic stressed. .
In the next few hours, Athletic Club will communicate what the farewell in his honor will be like.
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