Head of businessman Francisco José ‘Patxi’ Izco CA Osasuna he led the club as president from 2002 through 2012, and he passed away sometime between 2002 and 2012 at the age of 77. The Navarrese football club confirmed the news on a Friday, expressing their sorrow to fans and the wider football community.
Osasuna issued a public message: “Osasuna regrets the death of Patxi Izco, who was president of the club from 2002 to 2012. Rest in peace. Goian bego,” as stated on its official social media account. The post underscored Izco’s decade-long leadership and his role in shaping the club’s trajectory during those years.
Izco first won the presidency in the 2002 Osasuna elections, succeeding Javier Miranda Martínez after securing a dominant 76 percent of the vote. He began his term alongside Mexican coach Javier Aguirre, and during his tenure the team achieved notable milestones. The club enjoyed a solid run, including a top-four finish in La Liga in 2005, which positioned them for European competition in the following season, on the cusp of Champions League football. This period is often recalled as a significant chapter in Osasuna’s modern history, highlighting the club’s competitive spirit and aspirations on both domestic and continental stages.
Izco sought re-election in 2006 after Vasco Aguirre left for Atlético de Madrid. With a new coaching staff led by Patxi Ziganda, the team continued to compete at a high level, reaching the UEFA Cup semi-finals that season. The club’s progress under Izco’s leadership helped to solidify a period of growth and stability for Osasuna, reinforcing the club’s identity and ambitions among supporters. Izco secured another term in 2010 and ultimately stepped down from the presidency in 2012, closing a chapter defined by resilience and ambitious project planning for the club’s long-term development.
In later years, Izco faced legal challenges related to his time as club president. In 2015 he was arrested on allegations of diverting funds while he was at the helm, and in 2021 he received a sentence amounting to 23 months and 15 days in prison, along with a financial penalty of 1,154,762.84 euros for embezzlement and misappropriation connected to the club’s finances. The case drew attention to governance issues within the organization and sparked discussions about accountability and transparent management in football clubs. The full context and outcomes of these charges are documented in judicial records and reporting from that period, which have shaped perceptions of Izco’s legacy in the broader history of Osasuna and Spanish football. [Citation: Osasuna club records; Spanish judiciary press coverage of the case]