When the 2009-10 season commences, millions will play the game that consumes them without being paid for their efforts. Among the multitude of school, park and non-League footballers, however, Joseba Etxeberria stands out. Capped 53 times by Spain, he is a professional - and a distinguished one. Were he on the open market, his agent could anticipate offers and, in all probability, they would be lucrative.
It is evident that the winger has ambitions, but they are not financial. Rather, his aspirations are all related to Athletico Bilbao and, in his willingness to complete 15 years at and 500 appearances for the La Liga club, he has decided to forego a salary next season. "It's an idea I've had for years," he said. "I wanted to do this gesture. This is a thank you to the behaviour of the club towards me and the love I have received from so many people." Bilbao president Fernando Garcia Macua added: "From the club's standpoint there are not words enough to thank such a gesture."
With their Basque-only policy, Athletico can appear an anachronism in a globalised game but this was proof of their greater sense of identity and the emotional pull of the club to players from the region. Etxeberria's allegiance to the club may come at a cost to himself, but it could prove beneficial to Bilbao. With one of their leading players going unpaid, it frees up more of their budget for others. Few quibbled when Macau branded it a "unique case in the world of football".
There are few comparable moves. Indeed examples of altruism and gratitude are rare. One such was provided by the former Roma midfielder Damiano Tommasi who, upon a recovery from a serious knee injury that had sidelined him for two seasons, insisted upon a contract that, for one year, earned him a youth player's wage, around ?1,500 (Dh7,500) a month. "I did it because I love Roma and football," said the Italy international.
Others' affection for the game can be questioned. Ashley Cole's infamous passage in his autobiography, My Defence, is a defining text in any analysis of the 21st century footballer. During contract negotiations with Arsenal, he received a call from his agent Jonathan Barnett. "When I heard Jonathan repeat the figure of £55,000 [a week], I nearly swerved off the road," wrote Cole, thus earning further money from his publishers after gaining a substantial pay rise by moving to Chelsea.
Or there is the case of Lucas Neill, a boyhood Liverpool fan who rejected a move to Anfield when West Ham offered a far more sizeable salary. Or, more recently, Robinho, whose representatives had spoken of his dream to join Chelsea, but who signed for Manchester City to become the best-paid player in the Premier League. They are symbols of a profession where no pay packet can be too large. There are, of course, exceptions. Such one-club men as Paolo Maldini, Raul and Ryan Giggs have all displayed admirable loyalty; nonetheless, they have been richly rewarded for it. There are footballers who have donated a significant percentage of their income from testimonials to charities. Niall Quinn and his ilk deserve approval for recognising their salaries were more than sufficient. But theirs is a profession with a bad name, where some players' annual moves seem prompted by a quest for another signing-on fee and a still greater level of remuneration.
There is a belief success in football can be bought, something many players, with their actions, endorse. Etxeberria, therefore, is a welcome antidote to the theory that greed is good. When the Uefa president Michel Platini proposed a salary cap, this wasn't quite what he had in mind. "Never did I want to set a precedent," added Etxeberria. He probably won't. It is hard to imagine players rushing to emulate him. Yet the footballing public can show their appreciation for a rare noble gesture. If Bilbao, and their No 17 in particular, attract well-wishers next season, it is only right. rjollythenational.ae
