January of 1998 saw the release of figures from the Spain's La Liga. Sadly due to high licensing costs the range did not include the 2 power houses of Spanish football, the most bitter of rivals-Barcelona and Real Madrid, however it did include players from Athletic Bilbao and Sporting Gijon, and fine sculpts they are to.

 

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While other companies were busy acquiring expensive licenses for the top clubs and then producing low quality figures, Corinthian instead picked up the cheaper licences and produced figures of high quality and exact player likenesses.

 

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The range was released as part of the Headliners collection and was called Super Champions Campeones de Futbol. Initially released in Spain by IDEAL all 8 figures were relatively hard to come by but over time the Bilbao set has become readily available and can be picked up very cheaply, however in stark contrast the Gijon set is amongst the rarest of Corinthians and near impossible to find!

 

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A full set of 4 Gijon figures would command a high price indeed, with the 4 player pack and the single blisters being amongst the rarest of all boxed product. It is worth mentioning that a good deal of the Gijon figures may not have the players name, number or the club badge on the front, indeed even opening a sealed 4 pack cannot guarantee you a set complete with transfers. I can only assume that this is down to the quality control (or lack of it) in the factories.

 

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All 8 figures have never been released by Corinthian again which has helped maintain their popularity amongst collectors and also enabled them to hold their value.

 

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To see the range of figures released, please click the link buttons below.