Jesús Navas Receives Emotional Farewell at Santiago Bernabéu After 22-Year Career

When Jesús Navas stepped off the pitch at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on December 22, 2024, he didn’t just end a match — he closed a chapter that began 22 years earlier on a rainy January night in Barcelona. The 39-year-old right-back, who spent nearly his entire career wearing the red-and-white of Sevilla FC, was honored with a three-minute standing ovation from 81,044 fans at the Bernabéu — a rare and profound gesture from Real Madrid’s supporters. It wasn’t just respect. It was reverence.

A Career Written in Loyalty

Navas didn’t just play for Sevilla. He became its heartbeat. Signed at 17 from the club’s famed youth academy, La Cantera, he made his professional debut on January 25, 2003, at the Estadio Olímpico de Montjuic in Barcelona, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw against Espanyol. Two decades later, he was still running down the right flank — faster, smarter, more relentless than most players half his age. By the time he retired, he had appeared in 668 competitive matches for Sevilla, a number that grew to over 700 after his final season. He’s now LaLiga’s all-time leader in appearances among Spanish-born players.

He didn’t chase glory elsewhere. After four seasons at Manchester City FC (2013–2017), he returned to Seville like a prodigal son. He lifted the UEFA Europa League twice — in 2006 and 2007 — and played a pivotal role in Spain’s 2010 World Cup triumph, often tasked with shutting down the opposition’s most dangerous wingers. His durability was legendary. He never broke down. Never demanded a transfer. He just kept showing up.

The Bernabéu Salute

The tribute at the Bernabéu wasn’t orchestrated by Sevilla. It was born from the fans. Real Madrid’s president, Florentino Pérez Rodríguez, personally presented Navas with a framed jersey and a video montage that played across the stadium’s giant screens. Supporters held up banners reading “¡Jesús, Jesús!” and chanted his name throughout the match. No other visiting player has ever received such an ovation at the Bernabéu — not even legends from Barcelona.

It was the kind of moment that transcends rivalry. Real Madrid, a club built on global superstars, chose to honor a local boy who never left his roots. “It’s not about trophies,” said one fan in the stands, wiping his eyes. “It’s about what he stood for. Consistency. Heart. Honor.”

Even the opposing team paid tribute. Sevilla’s captain for the match, Sevilla FC President José María del Nido Carrasco, stood on the sideline with tears in his eyes as Navas walked off after 70 minutes — his final competitive minutes. Coach Carlo Ancelotti of Real Madrid had instructed his team to let Navas lead the final lap of honor. No one objected.

From Sánchez Pizjuán to the Bernabéu

The farewell had already begun at Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium in Seville, where Navas played his last home match weeks earlier. He completed 70 minutes in a 2-1 loss to Real Madrid, then took a ceremonial lap around the pitch, clutching a hand-painted jersey from the club’s youth academy. Fans sang his name until their voices cracked. Sevilla’s management presented him with a golden boot encased in crystal — a symbol of his journey from the streets of Los Palacios y Villafranca to the pinnacle of Spanish football.

On January 25, 2025 — exactly 22 years after his debut — LALIGA released a tribute video titled “Jesús Navas, 22 años de una leyenda,” featuring footage of his first touch, his first goal, his first Europa League lift. The video ended with a quote from Navas: “I never wanted to be a star. I just wanted to be worthy of the shirt.”

What Comes Next

Navas has officially retired. No comeback. No coaching rumors. Yet Sevilla FC has announced plans for a formal retirement ceremony at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán during 2025 — likely timed to coincide with the 22nd anniversary of his debut. There are whispers he may join the club’s technical staff, perhaps mentoring young fullbacks. But for now, he’s spending time with his family in Seville, watching his two sons play youth football.

His legacy isn’t just in stats. It’s in the way he played — low to the ground, relentless in defense, always in the right place. He never scored many goals, but he made others better. He never sought the spotlight, yet he became the face of a generation of Spanish footballers who believed loyalty mattered more than fame.

A Quiet Giant

In an era of social media stardom and transfer drama, Navas was a relic — and a revelation. He never gave interviews about his contracts. Never complained about playing time. He didn’t need to. His feet did the talking. And on that December night in Madrid, 81,044 people stood up to say thank you — not because he won trophies, but because he stayed true.