Jonás Ramalho Reflects on a Historic Career in Football

omidbasir- On the 14th anniversary of his professional debut with Athletic Club, Jonás Ramalho spoke with MARCA, reminiscing about the historic moment when he became the first Black player to represent the Basque club. Although his career has since taken him away from Lezama, the memories of that team continue to accompany him. In Belgium, he remains the footballer who captured the hearts of fans at San Mamés and Montilivi.

Ramalho expresses his pride in being the first Black player to debut for Athletic: “It is an honor to have contributed to breaking down that barrier and fighting against that taboo. It is very special because today it is a normal situation, as it should have always been. Now, players like the Williams brothers are playing, along with other Black players. I am proud to be the first, especially in such a historic and prestigious club as Athletic.”

Many children dream of making their debut with their club’s first team, but few achieve that dream, and Ramalho is one of them. “It was truly a dream come true. Since I was young, I had always envisioned what that moment would be like, and achieving it will always be one of the best memories of my life,” the former Athletic player reflected.

“Athletic does an excellent job with its youth academy,” Ramalho asserts, emphasizing that strong training was essential for his development: “They teach us valuable lessons and mentally prepare us for the demands of being part of the first team,” he explained. Jonás is a grateful player and makes a point of remembering everyone who helped him along the way. “I will always be thankful to Marcelo Bielsa for believing in me. With his arrival, I remained with the first team. It was an incredible squad, and everyone remembers that era with him as coach. Although my participation was limited due to the presence of a true club legend like Andoni Iraola, I seized my opportunities.”

During his time at Girona, Ramalho was among the heroes who achieved promotion, becoming one of the players with the most appearances for the club. “Being able to go there, achieve promotion, and participate in La Liga with Girona, along with memorable victories such as the one at the Bernabéu… those matches feel like they happened just yesterday, and truly, it’s a club I will always hold in my heart,” Ramalho admitted.

There is an internal debate for him, as the moment of promotion with Girona remains unforgettable, but winning the Supercopa de España with Athletic against Barcelona is equally significant. “Yes, without a doubt, that was one of the best moments of my career. Of course, I have had other happy moments as well. At Athletic, despite being injured, witnessing and lifting the Supercopa de España in 2015 was an unforgettable and historic moment for both myself and the fans,” the player reminisced.

After his stints in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, he was determined to return to Europe if given the chance. However, he found his experiences there enriching, noting that the level of play has been growing exponentially: “Top-level players are heading there, which is enhancing the competition. I believe both leagues will continue to improve over time, and perhaps soon they will become reference tournaments worldwide.”

Now back in Europe, Ramalho is becoming a key player for his new team, Olympic Charleroi, in Belgium. “I am training hard to ensure I continue to have opportunities and to contribute as much as possible to the club with my performance,” he stated, adding, “Our goal is to maintain this trajectory, achieve as many victories as possible, and hopefully by the end of the season, I will have been an important player for this team, helping the club reach its rightful place in the standings.”