San Mamés revives Basque flag milestone with Iribar and Kortabarria leading the way

San Mamés honoured the 1976 Basque flag moment with Iribar and Kortabarria carrying the same banner 50 years on before the Athletic-Real Sociedad derby.

San Mamés staged a poignant pre-match tribute before the Athletic Club versus Real Sociedad derby, reviving a historic moment from 1976 when the Basque flag (ikurriña) united the two clubs at Atotxa. José Ángel 'El Chopo' Iribar and Inaxio Kortabarria, legends of both sides, walked onto the pitch together carrying a banner while the identical flag they had displayed half a century earlier waited by the referees' box. The stadium erupted in applause, honouring two figures who shared the field again after 50 years.

The pre-match ceremony began with a mosaic filling San Mamés except the away section, followed by Iribar and Kortabarria being escorted onto the pitch by players from both benches to a roaring ovation. Unai Simón was then cheered as the world's best goalkeeper, and a minute's silence was observed for those who died in the Urda accident in Toledo. Real Sociedad's travelling support, numbering around 600, filled the upper away section and maintained continuous chanting throughout.