Goodbye to a true number 1: tribute to Carmelo Cedrún
At a time when the 2026 World Cup once again highlights the importance of goalkeepers, it is necessary to remember a figure who marked generations and created a school in goal: Carmelo Cedrún. Icon of the Athletic Club and member of the legendary group known as the “eleven villagers”, the former goalkeeper is celebrated as an authentic number 1, a symbol of character, leadership and technique in a club that has always preserved a special relationship with those who defend its nets.Athletic's history is full of names that elevate the position's status: from José Ángel Iribar, an absolute reference for several generations, to Andoni Zubizarreta and Gorka Iraizoz, passing through major figures in Spanish football such as Ricardo Zamora or Goyo Blasco. Not everyone reached Carmelo's level of rarity, but the common thread is clear: San Mamés got used to seeing goalkeepers of great quality and strong personality.
Football has changed and, with it, the role of the goalkeeper. If, in other times, the mission was limited to defending, deflecting and removing everything that entered the area of action, today the requirement goes far beyond the hands. Footwork, offensive reading, controlled release and the ability to act as a libero in many moments of the match have become mandatory skills. Just follow this 2026 World Cup to understand to what extent the teams depend on a guardian who knows how to start, accelerate or pause construction. At different stages of the game, without this security with the ball, teams lose competitive edge.
It is in this context that the debate surrounding Spain's goal faded away. Time has proven Luis de la Fuente right: who still remembers the controversy with Joan García when Unai Simón, trained in Lezama and undisputed starter, has established himself as a structural piece? Athletic's goalkeeper brings to the team the serenity, long game and coolness in one-on-one situations that make the difference in a tournament with short margins. The Bilbao club, in this chapter, continues to be in very good hands.
Inheritance, however, is not born by chance. Carmelo Cedrún, spirit of leadership and security between the posts, was a beacon for those who came after. For Iribar, the historic “Txopo”, and for an entire lineage that found in Bilbao a place of worship for goalkeepers. His legacy lives on in the work culture of the Lezama academy, in the competitive demands of Athletic and in the reverence that the passion maintains for its number 1s.
Remembering Carmelo is also underlining how much the position has evolved without betraying its essence: courage, timing to decide and steady hands in crucial moments. At the 2026 World Cup, where every controlled exit is worth as much as a great defense, the influence of guardians like Unai Simón echoes the school that figures like Cedrún helped to build. Other times, other goalkeepers; the principles, these, remain. Goodbye to a number 1. Goian bego!
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