Last update October 23, 2024 by Alberto Llopis
The Athletic Club de Bilbao It is a historic Spanish football. The Basque side is one of the few clubs that never descended to Second Division and they can also boast of a philosophy that make it unique in the world. Lions do not fichan foreign players, although this statement should already clarify that has several important nuances.
Club Bilbao was one of the most powerful (if not the most powerful) in the early years of racing in Spain. Dominator Cup and one of the best clubs since the creation of the League campaign 1928-1929, always she characterized by play Basque footballers. This was not initially own rule or rules of the club, but at that time the Basque players were second to none so it was not necessary to resort to transfer out.
Like is logic, to the same happened with all Spanish clubs, in the early history of the club if there were foreign players in their ranks. evidently, in those days templates began having a lot of British players who were brought to our country football.
A turning point occurred in the year 1911 when the Spanish Federation banned the participation of foreign players in the Cup tournament. For him Athletic Club, as we say, It did not mean any problem since had a good list of Basque players. A few years later it allowed to sign foreign but, again, Atletico need not resort to them.
Athletic's philosophy regarding transfers
In the mid-decade 1920 They begin to arrive at San Mames club some players from the rest of the Basque Country (guipuzcoanos, alaveses…) and navarros. You can also record several players, although they were not born in Basque lands, If you have raised them. Thus it is modeling the philosophy of the Athletic Club which he has evolved to the present day.
New Year 1948 Another important moment occurs in Spanish football. The dictator Francisco Franco It allows clubs to sign foreign players. But nevertheless, it looks like, Athletic but it does not for want of trying but for lack of money. At that time the Bilbao set going through a difficult economic situation and have to pull players from the house.
With 11 We villagers have passed them through the stone”
Nonetheless, the Athletic Club Get a great feat proclaimed champion of Cup 1958 a team riddled with homegrown players against an entire Real Madrid European champions and also at the Santiago Bernabeu. The president of the Basque club came to testify: “Con 11 We villagers have passed them through the stone”. It is at that moment when you decide to keep the philosophy of foreigners sign.
Over the years there have been several cases of players who were born outside the Basque Country that have actually worn the red and white elastic. patxi Ferreira, Vicente Biurrun O Ernesto Valverde are some examples and more recently Santi Ezquerro O Bixente Lizarazu.
Athletic's foreign footballers
Thus, We could say that the Athletic Club de Bilbao He has had a total of 6 'foreign' footballers throughout their history: Aymeric Laporte (French formed a team of the Basque-Aquitaine region of France), Javier Iturriaga (Mexican Basque parents), Fernando Amorebieta (He born in Venezuela but of Basque and international parents with vinotinto), Vicente Biurrun (case like Amorebieta. Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, but Basque parents), Bixente Lizarazu (He born in the French Basque Country) Y Cristian Ganea (Romanian who played in the lower echelons of the CD Baskonia).
