Vigo has set out a tribute for Iago Aspas that goes well beyond a one-off ceremony. A bronze, life-size statue is due to stand outside Balaídos between March and April 2027, in the corner between the Tribuna and Marcador stands, and the jury already has 19 proposals to choose from.
The tribute package at Balaídos
The project carries a budget of 295,000 euros, including around 80,000 euros for transport, and the winning sculptor will have three months to complete the work. Aspas will also give his name to the Tribuna stand, so the tribute is being built into the stadium itself as well as the space outside it.
Abel Caballero, the mayor of Vigo, told Estadio Deportivo, in comments translated from Spanish: "We will pay that great tribute to Iago Aspas, who is an emblematic player for Celta and for the city."
That fits the scale of what Aspas has done for the club. He has played 578 matches for Celta, scored 223 goals and provided 90 assists, and the tribute is being arranged while he is still part of the squad. This season he has already made 6 La Liga appearances, with 2 starts, 225 minutes and 1 goal.
The ceremony is still months away, but the club and city have already chosen the shape of it. The statue, the stand naming and the design competition point to a farewell that is being planned in detail rather than left to chance.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
