Athletic Bilbao will honour French goalkeeping legend Jean-Luc Ettori with the One Club Man Award for 2026. The former AS Monaco stalwart will receive the prize on the pitch at San Mamés on December 6, just before the LaLiga EA Sports match against Real Madrid. The presentation will be made by José Ángel Iribar, another symbol of loyalty to a single shirt.
The tribute comes at a significant time for the Basque side, who currently sit seventh in the standings with 15 points from ten games. Their last result was a valuable 2-1 win over Real Sociedad, with goals from Iñaki Williams and Álex Berenguer, who is the team's top scorer this season with four goals. Next up is a trip to face 15th-placed Osasuna this Saturday. The team arrives in good form, unbeaten in their last three matches, taking seven points from the last nine available.
The career of a symbol
Jean-Luc Ettori embodies the 'One Club Man' spirit. He guarded the goal for AS Monaco for 19 unbroken seasons, from 1975 to 1994, amassing a club record of 755 official appearances. During that time, the Marseille-born goalkeeper won three Ligue 1 titles and three French Cups, and was the league's least-goaled keeper on four separate occasions. His career earned him nine caps for France, starting in the group stage of the 1982 World Cup, a tournament where the national team finished fourth.
"Jean-Luc Ettori, exportero del AS Mónaco, jugó durante 19 años en el equipo," the honouree himself remarked about his lengthy career. After hanging up his gloves, Ettori maintained his link with Monaco as a goalkeeping coach, first-team manager, and sporting director, completing a life dedicated to one club.
A prize of international prestige
Athletic's One Club Man Award recognises players who have spent their entire professional careers at a single club, a value the Basque institution holds fundamental. Ettori thus becomes the first French footballer to receive this distinction, which in previous editions has gone to figures like Paolo Maldini, Carles Puyol, Ryan Giggs, and the most recent recipient, Liverpool's Jamie Carragher. The ceremony on December 6 at San Mamés promises to be an emotional counterpoint to the high-stakes league clash with Real Madrid, a rival Athletic have kept scoreless for the last 180 minutes of home meetings.
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