Inaki Williams takes over as Athletic Bilbao captain after De Marcos’ retirement
Ghana forward Inaki Williams has been named the new captain of Spanish club Athletic Bilbao following the retirement of veteran defender and leader Oscar De Marcos.
De Marcos played his last game for the Rojiblancos on the final day of the 2024/25 season in a La Liga match against newly crowned champions Barcelona.
In an emotional farewell, De Marcos played 89 minutes before being substituted for Inigo Lukue amid huge applause at San Mamés.
After the game, he officially handed over the captaincy to the Black Stars striker and delivered a heartfelt speech to the fans and players of Bilbao.
“Today, I’m not here to say goodbye. I’m here to say thank you. To bid farewell at home, with my people, in the place where I have grown as a person and as a professional,” he said.
“It’s been sixteen years of giving everything I had and receiving so much more in return. I arrived without knowing how long it would last. It could have been a day, a month, a year… and in the end, I stayed, because here I found my place.
“I was welcomed like one of them, like a son, and with time, I felt that I was part of this home. Lezama has been much more than a training ground. It was starting every morning with a purpose, with hope.”
Meanwhile, Williams, who deputised for De Marcos in the just-ended season, will lead the club next season as they return to the UEFA Champions League.
Williams played a huge role in Bilbao’s campaign, contributing 14 goals in 35 La Liga games, earning him the Best African Player in the Spanish league award. The 30-year-old forward will miss Ghana’s games at the Unity Cup in London due to a minor injury.
