The article is partly true. Athletic Bilbao has hired non-Basque born players in the past and non-Basque coaches. The club is an extension of the perennial nationalist Basque party or PNV that has been ruling the Basque provinces of Spain for over 40 years. The failure to find and train new local players is just a consequence of the xenophobic idea of PNV's founder Sabino Arana who claimed Basque race supremacy in the 20th century. Traditions like this show the provincial mentality of people that do not accept that we live in a global world. It is a nice ideal but could end up with the club going down to the second division
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@Mas You are wrong on so many counts. Athletic´s decision to field players from the area has little to do with Arana (do your homework before misinforming your readers). Our approach to competing with local talent has remained unchanged through several political/historical situations including monarchies, republics, dictatorships... Athletic fans in the area include everyone regardless of political affiliation/class, and you know this. Also, you point out a "failure to find and train new local players..." which contradicts the main article's point (and the truth): the players we train are bought by other more financially powerful clubs... so we must be doing something right if such giants come here to buy our players. The real problem is retaining them in this global, artificially swollen market, not generating talent. But you know this already.
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@Mas, like everything in life... ideals evolve. Younger fans of the team does not who Sabino was (maybe by reputation) and many supporters just like to attach to the embellished romantic idea that makes the team special.
Athletic now hosts players of different ethnics (and blood type instead of just RH-). Of course locals have provincial mentality, that is all about... but go to Bilbao and you will see that they know very well this global world.
And one last thing, I'd prefer to be loyal to myself and play in the second division rather to betray and live otherwise.
Cheers!
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I'm a big fan of Athletic Club (and Aduriz!) and wonder why the club does not invest in the bestest coach, which doesn't 'need' to be Basque. All the successes this article mentions from previous years were coached by Valverde, and, since he moved to coach the FC Barcelona our team is struggling. Aupa Athletic!
Thanks for some coverage of La Liga. The football there is cleaner and more technical than that in England, with less physicality -- fewer body slams -- allowed by the referees. To me that makes it more interesting to watch.
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@Dave M Agreed. But Athletic Club is probably the least "Spanish" club in terms of style of play... The club's name itself, the British founders, aspects like the weather, landscape, people's character... make Athletic the "Britishest" club in La Liga.
In my view, football clubs should represent and reflect the local population not emulate global corporations where all that matters is money.
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All Basque isn't very good compared to All World. They must adapt or be happy with relegation.
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This article would be interesting if it was true. There are numerous examples where Athletic Bilbao has used and continues to use non-Basque players in its scheme. For example, Fernando Llorente, one of the best players they've produced recently, has no Basque ancestry or real connections to the Basque country. In his case, it just so happens that the hospital he was born in was right across the border from the Old Castile region where he and his family originate, La Rioja. That accident of birth was enough for Athletic Bilbao to label him "Basque" and make use of his talents. I guess the bottom line is that, as Athletic Bilbao's talent pool continues to shrink (the Basque region has one of the lowest birth rates in all of Europe), we'll see Athletic Bilbao's net drifting through more distant waters and more Basque players that resemble Inaki Williams.
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I’m not a persistent futball fan, but I occasionally watch a game (and w/more interest than I do football here in America); and I would say if he is just across the border that’s close enough for me, Because a line on a map does not necessarily discern ethnicity, Or whatever it is that these Basque players are so proud of
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@Muckyduck, as the article says, also can play for the team players who even not borning in Basque Country, they have played for the youth teams, something which Fernando Llorente has done.
Thank you :D
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Richard, yes I know that but I guess you missed my point. What I'm saying is that Athletic Bilbao always sells itself as having a "Basques Only" policy which, in fact, isn't true and hasn't been true for long periods of their existence. They've essentially changed their definition of what is "Basque" over the years to take advantage of whatever player they have an interest in.
When do we recognize this pride of the Basque ancestry and way of life for what it is: ethno-nationalism.
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It has nothing to do with ethnics. Our best player in yesterday's game and scorer of the winning goal was Iñaki Williams. You can google his name and see for yourself what I am talking about.
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@ES Everything started more than 100 years ago when the other teams accused Athletic Club of cheating because the british players that played with Athletic Club. At that time the club decided not to play again with foreign people
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@ES
Our pride for Athletic Club of Bilbao has nothing to do with ethnics and/or ethno-nationalism. Yesterday's goal winning scorer and match's MVP was our forward player Iñaki Williams. Google his name and you will know what I am talking about.
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Eventually, they’ll have to adapt or die.
Even Barcelona gave up its tradition of never having a corporate sponsor’s logo on its jerseys recently.
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As a fan and member of Athletic Club of Bilbao I so much appreciate Tariq's interest in our team and his accurate description of our true spirit. Thank you for letting know the world what soccer means for us: a fascinating sport that it turns mystical when you beat giants like Real Madrid or Messi's FC Barcelona playing with your own people, with players you can meet next door and feel the pride of wearing our ancient red and whit stripped shirt.
Aupa Athletic !!!!
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As a follower of The Premier League I haven't paid as much attention to La Liga as perhaps I should. I hereby adopt Atletico Bilbao as my favorite La Liga side.
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@Rob D
It is Athletic Club, and was actually founded by British miners brought to the Basque Country.
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I wonder if they'd accept a brilliant soccer player from Boise, Idaho, which is a hotbed of Basque ex-pats?
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All of Euskal Herria is fabulous. We are following Athletic Bilbao in its determination as well as the fabulous minnows, SD Eibar (Marc Cucurella the next big thing) and Real Sociadad throughout the season. Looking forward to seeing you in October!
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Fantastic article Tariq Panja!
Some fascinating insights. The depth of your reporting makes your work a joy to read.
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