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La Liga is known for players staying at one club for many years. Switching allegiances within the league has been a rare occurrence due to the players' fierce loyalty to their cities. It is very common to see a player from a club's youth academy stay for many years before moving on to a different team. On numerous occasions, talent from La Liga also gets poached by teams from other leagues across Europe.
Many players have spent over a decade at a single La Liga club, such as Carles Puyol, Iker Casillas and Xavi. These players have gone down in history as some of the greatest of all time for their footballing ability. But more importantly, they are renowned for their loyalty to their respective clubs as well.
This list will take a look at five players who have had the longest tenure at a single La Liga club. It should be noted that this list will only take into account a player's tenure in La Liga, and not just at the club. Also, if a player started out at a club's youth academy, their tenure will only be taken into consideration from when they made their senior debut for the club. So without further ado, here are La Liga's top 5 longest-serving players right now
#5 Iker Muniain | Athletic Bilbao (Since 30 July, 2009)
Iker Muniain was long considered one of the most promising talents in the world and has gone on to become a very good player at Athletic Bilbao.
The Spaniard came up through Bilbao's youth academy and has now made over 350 league appearances for the club. As a youngster at the club, Muniain won La Liga's 2010-11 Breakthrough Player of the Year and was shortlisted for the UEFA Golden Boy award for three consecutive years.
Muniain's speed, dribbling and technical ability on the ball has made him one of La Liga's premier wingers. The Spaniard is also proficient at set-pieces and has been one of Bilbao's talismans for many years. Still only 28, Muniain has a long career ahead of him, and his loyalty to Athletic Bilbao is sure to make him go down as one of the club's biggest legends.
#4 Karim Benzema | Real Madrid (Since 1 July, 2009)
Karim Benzema was one of Europe's hottest properties when he joined Real Madrid from Lyon back in 2009. Still only 22 at the time, the Frenchman was already being touted to become one of the world's best strikers. Over the years, Benzema has gone on to prove everyone right since then.
Benzema is now one of the greatest strikers of all time and has won multiple club and individual accolades with Real Madrid. The Frenchman has led the line for Real Madrid with aplomb and is currently ninth in all-time appearances for the club with 562 appearances. He is also their 5th highest scorer with 281 goals.
Now at 33 years of age, Benzema is one of the elder statesmen at Real Madrid, but is still managing to put in stellar performances every week. The Frenchman started off the 2021-22 season with a bang, having already bagged two goals and three assists in the opening three games of the season. Real Madrid will be relying on Benzema to help them regain their La Liga crown this season.
#3 Sergio Busquets | Barcelona (Since 13 September, 2008)
Sergio Busquets is yet another illustrious graduate of Barcelona's famed La Masia academy. The Spaniard is one more in a long line of world-class midfielders that the Catalan club have introduced to La Liga over the years.
Over his illustrious career, Busquets has won a multitude of titles for club and country. The veteran has been a lynchpin for both Barcelona and Spain's midfield for the past decade and is viewed as one of the best defensive midfielders of all time.
Busquets' physicality and technical prowess, as well as his world class passing ability, has made him irreplaceable in the La Liga giants' midfield. The Spaniard's ability to shield the defense has been instrumental in his eight title-winning seasons with the La Liga club.
At 33 years of age, Busquets is now reaching the twilight of his career. However, his gamesense and style of play is sure to allow him to be effective for a few more years before he decides to retire.
#2 Gerard Pique | Barcelona (Since 13 August, 2008)
Gerard Pique had a weird early part of his career. The Spaniard was a product of La Masia, but was shipped to Premier League club Manchester United before signing his professional contract with Barcelona.
Pique spent four seasons with Manchester United, during which he won both the Premier League as well as the UEFA Champions League. However, the Spaniard decided to leave the club and re-join Barcelona in 2008, in what has turned out to be the right decision.
During his time at Barcelona, Pique has been considered as one of the best centre-backs in the world. He has also been named in the FIFA FIFPro World XI four times over the last decade. Pique is one of the most decorated players of all time, having won eight La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues during his tenure with the La Liga heavyweights.
Now 34, Pique is inching closer to retirement, with his appearances at club level also decreasing over the past few years. The Spaniard will go down as one of La Liga's and football's greatest defenders of all time.
#1 Marcelo | Real Madrid (Since 7 January, 2007)
Marcelo joined Real Madrid from Fluminense back in 2007 and has gone on to become one of, if not the greatest, left-backs of all time. The Brazilian was brought in as heir to compatriot Roberto Carlos and has arguably surpassed the legendary full-back during his tenure with the La Liga giants.
One of the most well-rounded full-backs in history, Marcelo's occasional defensive lapses were covered for by his ability to get involved in attack. The Brazilian formed a devastating partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo down Real Madrid's left flank for the better part of the last decade. Marcelo's passing and crossing ability, as well as his physical attributes, also allowed him to play further forward up the pitch and even in midfield. He has also won five La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues with Los Blancos.
Now at 33 years of age, the Brazilian is slowly being phased out of Real Madrid. But his veteran presence in the locker room is still priceless for the La Liga heavyweights and he is Los Blancos' club captain for the 2021-22 season.
