Who is the man the world's best goalkeeper honoured at the Ballon d'Or?

When Unai Simón stepped up to receive the Yashin Trophy as the world's best goalkeeper at Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony, he paid tribute to a name unfamiliar to most global football fans. Spain's number one was speaking about an iconic figure in the history of Athletic Bilbao: Koldo Asua.

Asua, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 76, dedicated 13 years of his life to mentoring young talent at the Basque club's academy. Prior to that, he worked as a language teacher at Colegio Jesuitas, coaching football at both the school and local club Danok Bat.

"I would like to thank Koldo Asua, may he rest in peace. He taught me to understand football in a completely different way. He showed me that the game is about much more than trophies, victories, and individual accolades. What truly matters is the legacy you leave behind when it's all over—to be remembered as a good person and a true teammate, regardless of what you achieve on the pitch," Simón said during his acceptance speech at the London Palladium.

Asua served Athletic across two separate spells (2004–2009 and 2011–2019), playing a pivotal role in Simón's personal and professional development during the second stint. He held a vital position within the player welfare department, an area the club has long treated as a cornerstone of its philosophy.

Simón's emotional words resonated deeply with everyone who knew Asua. For the dozens of young prospects arriving at Lezama—Athletic's renowned academy and training complex—with dreams of turning professional, Koldo was a guiding light. His core belief was that instilling human values was the single most important foundation for any footballer. Simón first crossed paths with him at the beginning of Asua's second spell under club president Josu Urrutia, years after former president Fernando Lamikiz originally brought him into the youth setup.

Asua served as a crucial bridge between the club and the families sending their young sons away to pursue a football career. Alongside Chema Noriega, he was instrumental in signing future World Cup winner Javi Martínez from Osasuna at youth level. Asua also managed tailored accommodation arrangements for rising stars, placing some in the club residence and others in traditional Basque farmhouses around Lezama based on their personality and needs. During his tenure, he also helped secure key educational partnerships with Colegio La Salle and the University of Deusto.

Simón is far from the only player indebted to Asua. Stars such as Aymeric Laporte, Iker Muniain, Iñaki Williams, and Mikel San José—who all experienced the challenging transition away from their families—have frequently praised his impact. Just days after Asua's passing, Athletic's first team defeated Real Betis 3-2 at San Mamés. After opening the scoring from a Muniain assist, Iñaki Williams held up a tribute shirt dedicated to their former mentor. Several players later expressed disappointment that a minute's silence was not held before kick-off, though president Aitor Elizegi's decision stemmed purely from strict adherence to the club's mourning protocols.

A devoted club member long before taking up an official role, Asua was a fixture at youth matches across the region, always on hand to encourage young players. His presence at Lezama—in the dressing rooms, meeting rooms, and on the training pitches—was woven into the fabric of daily life. He knew every boy by name, and whenever one of them progressed to the reserves or the first team, he continued to use their childhood nicknames. Those same players, by then established stars, would always leave the first-team group to embrace him whenever they crossed paths in the training ground corridors.