ATHLETIC CLUB
Athletic Club legend Fidel Uriarte passes away
The former striker, passed away on Monday aged 71 following a long illness. He won two Copas del Rey and won the Pichichi award in the 1967-68 season.Athletic vs Barcelona
Former Athletic Club centre-forward Fidel Uriarte passed away on Monday aged 71 following a long illness. Born in Sestao, Uriarte was one of Athletic's most prolific strikers during the 1960s and the start of the 70s.
He made his first team debut with Athletic in 1962-1963 in a game against Málaga. In total he made 394 appearances for the Bilbaínos, netting 120 goals - 90 of which in the league. During the 1967-68 season, Uriarte he claimed the Pichichi award for ending as the top scorer in the league with 22 goals - he memorably fired five past Betis in the same match at San Mamés in a game which Athletic won 8-0.
Copa winner
He won the Copa del Rey twice with Athletic - beating Elche 1-0 in the 1968-69 final at the Bernabéu and again in 1972-73, with a 2-0 win over Castellón. The following season he joined Málaga where he spent six seasons before hanging up his boots. He was capped six times for Spain.
After ending his playing days, Uriarte gained his coaching certificate and trained the reserves, Bilbao Athletic and Villarreal. Athletic have not confirmed whether they will hold a minute's silence before this evening's game against Celta de Vigo in his memory.
El Villarreal CF quiere mostrar sus condolencias por el fallecimiento de Fidel Uriarte, leyenda del @AthleticClub y ex técnico amarillo. DEP pic.twitter.com/9LYpjzwc8U
— Villarreal CF (@VillarrealCF) 19 December 2016