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Club loyalty is increasingly rare in modern football, particularly at the highest levels of the game. However, as with all rules, there are some exceptions. Players who stay with one club for the bulk or all of their careers still exist and La Liga is home to some of the longest-serving one-club players in Europe.
This summer, the Spanish top flight bid farewell to its most loyal player. Andreas Iniesta had graced the Nou Camp field for 16 years before announcing his decision to move on from Barcelona and end his decorated career with Vissel Kobe in Japan.
The playmaker and former captain of La Blaugrana finished his association with the Calatan club in the same way he spent the majority of his time there - lifting a trophy. The 34-year-old helped Barcelona to one final La Liga title, adding to his incredible haul of trophies with the Spanish giants over the years.
Iniesta will be sorely missed throughout the upcoming La Liga season, but his departure has left an opening for a new player to claim the title as most loyal in the Spanish league. In this feature, we look at the six longest-serving players at clubs in Spain's top flight.
Note: All data is correct at the time of writing and courtesy of Transfermarkt.com.
#6 Imanol Agirretxe - Real Sociedad
Signed: December 1st, 2007
Time at current club: 3,911 days/10 years and 9 months
Appearances: 270
Goals: 74
A true one-club man, Imanol Agirretxe came through the youth setup at Real Sociedad and has spent his whole career at Anoeta Stadium.
The forward graduated from the under-19 team in 2005 and went on to play for the Sociedad B side for two and a half years, making 110 appearances during that time. He also managed three brief substitute appearances for the first team in the 2004/05 season but officially remained a B team squad until December 2007.
The Spaniard's real opportunity at Sociedad came in the 2008/09 season when he made 28 appearances for Txuri-urdinak in the Spanish second division. He helped the club gain promotion to La Liga the following season, scoring six times as Sociedad won the Segunda Division.
Since then, he has helped his club maintain their La Liga status, making a total of 270 appearances and netting 74 times. A severe ankle injury led to a 20-month absence between 2015 and 2017, however, the 31-year-old is back to full fitness for the upcoming season and will hope to add to his impressive tallies for his boyhood club.
#5 Markel Susaeta - Athletic Bilbao
Signed: July 1st, 2007
Time at current club: 4,064 days/11 years and 1 month
Appearances: 482
Goals: 55
Athletic Bilbao's current captain, Markel Susaeta began his career with Los Leones and will most likely end it there too.
The right winger spent eight years playing for Bilbao's various youth teams before earning a place in their under-19 squad in 2004. In 2006 he was promoted to the Bilbao Athletic "B" team and just a year after that was called up as a permanent fixture in the first team squad.
The Spaniard made 29 appearances during his debut La Liga season in 2007/08 and has since established himself as a fan favourite at San Mamés Stadium. He has helped Athletic reach three Cope del Rey finals and the UEFA Europa League final. Unfortunately, his side lost all four and he is yet to win a trophy in his career.
Regardless, he has racked up a hugely impressive 482 appearances for Bilbao and scored 55 goals over 11 seasons. He is also the club's record appearance holder in European competitions, amassing 75 outings in the Europa and Champions Leagues to date.
#4 Marcelo - Real Madrid
Signed: January 1st, 2007
Time at current club: 4,242 days/11 years and 7 months
Appearances: 453
Goals: 33
One of the best full-backs in the world, Marcelo has reached dizzying heights during his time at Real Madrid.
The Brazilian began his career in the youth ranks of his hometown team, Fluminense. He played one full season for the Rio club before Real Madrid came calling for his services in January 2007. He moved to Spain for a comparatively cheap €6.5 million.
He made his debut just a week after signing for Los Blancos as a substitute and became an important squad player over the next two seasons. By the 2009/10 season, Marcelo was the first choice left back for the Spanish giants and has remained a permanent fixture in the side ever since.
The 30-year-old has lifted four La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions Leagues with Madrid along with winning a host of personal awards including being named in the UEFA Team of the Year in 2011 and 2017 and winning the Facebook La Liga Defender of the Year Award in 2016.
The Brazilian will remain an important player for the upcoming season as Real Madrid look to recapture the La Liga title from rivals, Barcelona.
#3 Bruno Soriano - Villareal
Signed: July 1st, 2006
Time at current club: 4,429 days/12 years and 1 month
Appearances: 415
Goals: 31
Another club captain and legend, Bruno Soriano has been instrumental in keeping Villareal in the Spanish top flight since their return in 2013.
The defensive midfielder spent much of his youth career at Villareal before transferring to the B team in 2004. He spent three years there, making 54 appearances and was eventually named as part of the first team squad for the 2006/07 season.
He quickly became a regular starter for the Yellow Submarine and by the 2009/10 season was considered as one of the most important players at the club. After the club's relegation to the Segunda Division in 2012, Soriano was offered the chance to remain in La Liga as Valencia tabled a €9 million offer for his services.
However, the Spaniard remained loyal to his boyhood club and stayed with them throughout the 2012/13 season, playing an instrumental role in helping Villareal achieve promotion back to La Liga.
Soriano spent last season on the sidelines due to a serious knee injury but is hoping to overcome the setback to play a key role in the Yellow Submarine's assault on Europe and challenge for a top 4 place in La Liga this season.
#2 Sergio Ramos - Real Madrid
Signed: August 31st, 2005
Time at current club: 4,763 days/13 years
Appearances: 565
Goals: 74
Love him or hate him, Sergio Ramos deserves a huge amount of respect for his achievements during his time at Real Madrid.
The central defender came up through the youth ranks at Sevilla and made 45 competitive appearances for Los Hispalenses over two seasons before Real Madrid swooped in with a €27 million record bid in 2005.
That move would shape the whole career of Ramos as he replaced the much loved Fernando Hierro in the heart of Los Blancos' defense and has since gone on to achieve astonishing heights at the Bernebeau.
His time in Madrid has seen him countless personal and club awards including being named in the UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season on four occasions, winning La Liga's Best Defender Award four times and lifting the UEFA Champions League for three consecutive seasons.
At 32, Ramos still has at least two or three more seasons at the peak of his game and will doubtlessly add more personal and club achievements to his ever-growing list in the near future.
#1 Lionel Messi - Barcelona
Signed: July 1st, 2005
Time at current club: 4,794 days/13 years and 1 month
Appearances: 552
Goals: 240
Beating Ramos to the number one spot by a mere 31 days, Messi has become the longest-serving one-club player in La Liga since the departure of Andreas Iniesta.
Having been spotted by Barcelona scouts at the age of 12, Messi joined the La Masia Academy in July 2000. He spent just a year there before joining Barcelona's "Baby Dream Team" which included the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Gerard Pique.
After five seasons playing for the youth teams, Barcelona C team, and Barcelona B team, Messi finally linked up with the first team squad in an official capacity in 2005. His rapid rise through the youth and reserve system earned him a full team debut in the 2005/06 La Liga season and he quickly became an essential first team player for La Blaugrana.
The rest is history as the Argentine forward has gone on to arguably become the greatest footballer of all time. He has won five Ballon d'Or awards, five European Golden Shoes, been named La Liga's Best Player six times, and won four UEFA Champions Leagues and nine La Liga titles with Barcelona.
This season, Messi will officially take the captain's armband for his club and hope to add to his incredible legacy at the Nou Camp.
