Osasuna is in mourning, as Patxi Izco (1946-2023) has died at the age of 77, former president of the rojilla entity from 2002 to 2012. “The club regrets his death. Rest in peace. Goian bego”, the official account of the entity wrote on social networks. One last goodbye to a president who took Osasuna to the highest levels but who, with the passing of the courses, badly tarnished the management for crimes of misappropriation, corporate and documentary falsification that was resolved with 23 months and 15 days of prison and the payment of 1,154,762.84 euros to Osasuna. The Prosecutor’s Office, its lawyers and the Navarrese club reached a agreement so that he would not go to jail, leaving the charges of which he was accused settled.
Led by Javier Aguirre as coach, Izco won the club’s elections in 2002 -with 76% of the votes in favor- and began the best sporting period in its history, since in 2003 it reached the semifinals of the Cup for two years then finish as runner-up. In 2006, in addition, they would finish fourth in the League, equaling the best historical classification of the entity.
These successes meant that at the end of that course an Izco was re-elected without opposition in office, who, at that time, entrusted the bench to Cuco Ziganda, since Aguirre emigrated to Atlético. But although the following season they reached the semifinals of the UEFA Cup, their sporting successes were waning, to the point that in 2009 they were saved from the burning of relegation in extremis, already with Camacho on the bench. Even so, in 2010 he won again without opposition for the position and with Mendilibar as the man to direct the dressing room. Already murky moments in the economic management that the prosecution denounced for a continued crime of misappropriation and four other crimes for falsifying the accounts.
The investigation carried out by Judge Fermín Otamendi, which lasted for four years, concluded -as it progressed Sports world-. that there were sufficient indications that Izco, from 2003 to 2012, authorized the availability of approximately 500,000 euros withdrawn in cash from the club’s accounts without stating their destination, although the car noted that this money was for hotel expenses , men’s, women’s and children’s clothing stores, lingerie, wine bars and other food establishments, perfumeries, restaurants, a Caribbean cruise and even on an ITV. In addition, part of it would have been collected by Izco as a monthly salary, when no statutory precept authorized him to receive that salary.
Charismatic president due to his strong character and determination, also for achieving a golden age in sports, spoiled his economic management. At 77 years old, Izco has said goodbye.
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