Comments on: Athletic Bilbao: All Local, Even if it Means Relegation

By: Laurie

Laurie — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 18:12:58 +0000

Thanks for the clarification, Carlos.

By: Carlos

Carlos — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 12:47:27 +0000

Well, I would like to state just one thing about Athletic’s policy and it is that despite being so proud of just have basque players in their squad, the truth is quite different.
What’s the difference? It could be said that Athletic’s policy considers as “Basque players” any player grown up in any football team from the Basque Country… and Navarra, born in the Basque Country or not.
This could be unserstandable, of course, but as most population in Navarra doesn’t consider themselves as “Basques”, Athletic’s policy does, and consider OSasuna’s players as Basque and eligible players for its “Basque team”.
Furthermore, quite a lot players from La Rioja (un autonomous community which has nothing to see with the Basque Country, placed right south or it) are also considered eligible/ Basque players.
So it’s a nice story not as real as told. Lizarazu was their most evident non-Basque player, but not the only one.

By: Musab

Musab — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 02:15:56 +0000

I for one have no problem with what Bilbao is doing. I think there just very proud of their culture and want to raise their own homegrown talent. If they can find it, they should.

A question to you all: How many Basque footballers are there at other Spanish clubs?

By: Nolan

Nolan — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:17:07 +0000

In recent years they have actually become more flexible, if you can call it that. If you developed your football skills in the Basque country you qualify, so in a way it’s not as “xenophobic” as it used to be.

Personally I find their desire to protect their Basque identity somewhat admirable, plus it results in them having one of the best youth development systems in the world. Despite their relegation-battling the fact that they haven’t ever been relegated despite fielding mostly their own products is admirable, and they still have some great players, most notably Fran Yeste. Plus as any Barca fan will tell you they have produced some great players, such as Alexanko and Zubizarreta, one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time.

There is a dark side to this however, as they are still a moderately wealthy club and have a habit of poaching talent from smaller Basque clubs.

By: Johnny on the Spot

Johnny on the Spot — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 15:38:44 +0000

I think before many of you condemn this policy, you need to go back and understand Spanish history (especially the 100 years that surround 1936) and why the Catalans and the Basques are so fiercely independent and hateful towards the Castillians. I’m not saying it’s right or wrong, only that the game can be a microcosm of history and sociopolitical intrigue and that foundation is necessary to understand football.

And being completely ignorant while proclaiming that someone else is ignorant is sad. But while the internet provides resources to learn these types of things, most fools spend there time watching porn and spouting their worthless opinions.

By: -a

-a — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 04:47:14 +0000

There are no similarities between Athletic Bilbao and Chivas. Read the history of the club.

It’s an admirable, albeit risky philosophy, especially in this day & age when most clubs overlook local talent.

Like all clubs, their fate is in their own hands.

NB: The women’s team, who follow the same philosophy, have won the league several times in recent times.

By: Alex

Alex — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 04:11:22 +0000

i mean in a way…its good to keep ur players local for local support..and plus if u dont do to well ur city will pick you up and not bring you down (media)

its almost like the chivas of guadalajara…every single player that has ever played has been from mexico…so the tradition/popularity is growing cuz of this very fact..thats y there the most popular club in mexico

By: Sam

Sam — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 03:49:45 +0000

I was in Bilbao two summers ago. Hilarious. All signs in Spanish are whited out.

By: chris

chris — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:11:02 +0000

Didn’t know this.

AB has a new fan.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 23:55:44 +0000

oh sh*t, I don’t want to include Chivas in a xenofobia debate… scratch what I said.