In an increasingly modern and technologically advanced football world, some rituals persist year after year, decade after decade, becoming traditions. One such ritual takes place at our stadium, San Mamés. We’re talking about the offering of a bouquet of flowers by visiting teams to the bust of Rafael Moreno Aranzadi, better known as “Pichichi”.
First of all, who was “Pichichi”?
Born in Bilbao on May 23, 1892, the nephew of the renowned Bilbao writer Miguel de Unamuno, Rafael Moreno Aranzadi, or “Pichichi”, was a striker for Athletic Club and scored the first goal at San Mamés Stadium during its inauguration match on August 21, 1913, against Racing de Irún.
Pichichi scored 83 goals in 88 matches for Atlético Madrid between 1911 and 1921, although this figure rises to over 200 if friendlies are included. He was part of the first Spanish national team, the one that won the silver medal at the 1920 Antwerp Olympic Games, and went on to become a referee during the year between his retirement and his death.
Known for playing with a white handkerchief tied around his head, the exact cause of Pichichi´s untimely death shortly before his 30th birthday in 1922 is unknown, but believed to have been due to eating spoiled oysters.
In 1953 the sports daily Marca created the award for the top scorer of La Liga, and when it came time to name the trophy, they chose one of the most emblematic players of the first quarter of the 20th century, “Pichichi”.
Why is a bouquet of flowers placed at Pichichi’s bust?
The bouquet represents the respect of visiting teams for one of the best strikers in the history of La Liga and The Lions. It is a gesture of courtesy that visiting teams perform to honor the memory of an idol who embodies the values of Athletic Club: dedication and passion.
Which team started this tradition?
Although it is true that Haro Sport Club laid a wreath at the memorial to the deceased player in 1924, the first team to do so at the bust erected in Pichichi´s honor in 1926 at the old San Mamés stadium was MTK Budapest.
Since then, it has become a tradition for all rival teams, extending even to the new San Mamés inaugurated in 2013, where the bust was relocated to the corridor leading to the locker rooms.
Initially, the offering of a bouquet was made in the locker room or on the pitch, but over time it has become customary to lay the bouquet at the site of the current bust.
This tradition not only unites rivals in a moment of sportsmanship, but also serves as a reminder that football is more than a game: it is history and memory.
If you take the San Mamés Tour, you can have your photo taken at the bust, located pitch side, as well as other activities, such as visiting the locker rooms or the press room.
Discover more about the story of “Pichichi” in our post: Who was Pichichi and what is his story?
