Iago is the main antagonist of William Shakespeare’s masterpiece drama Othello. He’s the evil plotter who devises various cunning plans to fulfil his goals, but his perfidious schemes eventually fall apart, and he faces a tragic end.Football – can anyone write a better drama than football? – provided us with another Iago, who is also a plotter and a planner, though his plans are different and his goals noble. Since 2017, he has had only one thing in mind – returning Celta to European competitions.Eight years later, he’s finally done it! Iago Aspas and the love of his life, the club from Vigo, will play in the UEFA Europa League next season after eight years of absence. The 37-year-old has been a genuine mastermind behind Celta’s success and, unlike Shakespeare’s character, this Iago is the main protagonist and the utmost hero.🇪🇸 In recent seasons, Celta Vigo have been fighting against relegation. However this season, they’ve had one of their better campaigns finishing 7th in La Liga.This means they’ve qualified for the Europa League for the first time since 2017, when they got to the semi finals! pic.twitter.com/dBAP8AJ1EH— The European Football Express (@TheEuroFE) May 28, 2025 Born in Moana, a Galician municipality of nearly 20,000 citizens, Aspas was drawn to Celta from the beginning, as Vigo is only a tad over 100 km away from his hometown. He joined Los Celestes in 1995 as an eight-year-old boy and spent 11 years in the club’s youth categories, excluding one season on loan at lower-league Rapido de Bouzas.His professional debut with Celta hinted at the legendary status he’d get at Estadio de Balaidos years later. On June 6, 2009, the Vigo side faced Deportivo Alaves in the last round of Segunda in a duel of two relegation-strugglers. Aspas was in the XI and scored a brace for a 2-1 victory – including the added-time winner – that secured Celta’s survival in Spain’s second tier.¿Sabían que Iago Aspas salvó al Celta de la desaparición?En su debut en 2009 anotó 2 goles (uno al 88′) contra el Alavés para certificar el no descenso a 2da. B (y la más que probable quiebra).3 años después fue clave para ascender a LaLiga y últimamente ha sido medio equipo. pic.twitter.com/Wl43XpYd7r— Rob Testas (@R_Testas) June 27, 2020 It took Celta three more seasons to return to La Liga, while Aspas netted 23 times in their “promotion campaign”, being the league’s second-leading scorer behind Almeria’s Leonardo Ulloa, who’ll make a miracle winning the Premier League with Leicester City four years later.After one season in the top tier in which Celta barely avoided relegation, it was time to say goodbye, but not for long as it turned out later.In July 2013, Aspas joined Liverpool for €10.8 million and made a mistake, or misjudgement, if you wish. Just 15 games, one goal, and a single assist in his first – and only – season at Anfield were a clear sign that Iago’s Galician soul isn’t made for other regions. The season-long loan at Sevilla just confirmed it.##EDITORS_CHOICE##He wasn’t bad at Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan, bagging ten goals in 25 appearances, but the heart wanted what the heart wanted – only Celta.On July 7, 2015, Iago Aspas returned to his boyhood club and has never left since. In his first season following the return, the Vigo side qualified for the Europa League for the last time until the current campaign.Since then, Los Celestes have had some exceptional (eighth place in 2021) but also poor seasons, being on the verge of relegation in 2019 and 2020. Still, one thing has remained constant – Iago Aspas who was the team’s top scorer every season between 2015/2016 and 2022/2023!Iago Aspas had received an offer from a Chinese club in January where he could have earned €7m a year. He didn’t accept.He stayed at Celta to save his club.Aspas last week cried tears of joy after scoring 2 goals vs Villarreal to secure 3 points for Celta & avoid relegation. pic.twitter.com/61MfDF1h8a— Barça Insider (@theBarcaInsider) April 8, 2019 Many clubs wanted him, many called – even the Madrid giants, Real and Atletico – but he denied, claiming he was happy with Celta. In 2018, a Chinese side offered him €7 million per season. He rejected, opting to stay in Vigo and help the team in the relegation battle. Celta survived thanks to Aspas’ 20 season goals and he got iconic status.The years started catching up with him, many even expected his retirement, but Iago’s goal was yet to be fulfilled – he wanted to bring Celta back to Europe. Younger players arrived, but better and more devoted to the club – hardly.This season, he wasn’t a regular starter – after all, he’s almost 38, for God’s sake! – but he contributed greatly, with ten goals and five assists in 30 games. In the season’s final round, Aspas scored the 80th-minute “Europe-worth” winner. His “partner in crime,” Borja Iglesias, added 11 goals for 55 points, the seventh La Liga spot, and automatic Europa League qualification!🫵🏻 Tenía que ser 𝗘́𝗟. No podía ser otro.📝 La 𝗛𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗔 estaba escrita.🩵 El gol de 𝗜𝗔𝗚𝗢 𝗔𝗦𝗣𝗔𝗦 para devolver al Celta a 𝗘𝗨𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗔 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗚𝗨𝗘 ocho años después. pic.twitter.com/0AUDuTdoUJ— Tenías Que Haber Tirado (@TQHTPodcast) May 26, 2025 Iago Aspas has done it! Now, he definitely doesn’t think about retirement. Who else could take the team to European battles wearing a captain armband than Celta’s warrior in shiny armour and the Prince of Galicia?He’s already the greatest legend the club from the west of Spain has ever had, the most-capped player with 524 appearances and the all-time leading scorer with 214 goals. But he won’t say his farewells yet, and why should he? The love between him and Celta has never been stronger, and the UEL in the following season can only ignite a new fire.Shakespeare’s era has passed long ago, but someone should take up a challenge and write a new drama. Only this time, Iago would be a leading character and the story would have a happy ending.##NAJAVA_MECA_8952868##
