Anyone who thinks that success in football is only possible with a global approach in which scouts look for opportunities all over the world is mistaken.
At Spanish Athletic Club Bilbao, AZ’s opponent in the Europa League today at 21:00, they prove the opposite. With only players of Basque descent, the club has been a major force in its own country for decades.
The Basque Country is a region in northern Spain that has traditionally striven for autonomy. Bilbao is its largest city and home to Athletic Club, the proud owner of eight league titles, three Spanish Super Cups and 24 Spanish Cups. The last Copa del Rey was won last season. It was the club’s first trophy in years, and also good for European football.
Promotion for the region
The club from Bilbao decided at the beginning of the last century to only work with players from the region. Footballers who grew up or were born there. Players with Basque family ties are also allowed to wear the club colours. This policy is a result of promotion for the region, the club says.
The most eye-catching players are the Williams brothers. Iñaki (30) was born and raised in Bilbao and is in his eleventh season at the club. The youngest, European Championship revelation Nico (22), was also born and raised in the Basque Country and has also played his entire career at Athletic.
Nico was the target of big clubs last summer, but enjoys playing football with his brother and is in no hurry to leave the club, as he said before the first Europa League match against AS Roma (1-1).
It was a heated match in Rome. Supporters of the Basque club threw flares onto the pitch and into the Roma sections. Captain Oscar de Marcos and Iñaki Williams urged the loyal fans to calm down.
The bond between players and the public is warm, probably partly due to the regional bond that players and fans have. Nevertheless, the club has now placed a firm statement on its website in which the behaviour of the supporters is condemned.
Because the club rarely brings in players from outside, large transfer fees can sometimes be paid. The last big signing was Álvaro Djaló, last summer. The Spaniard came over from SC Braga for 15 million euros. He moved from Madrid to the Basque Country as a baby and therefore fit the club’s profile.
Are there no foreigners playing for Athletic? Yes, but they also have Basque roots. Mexican goalkeeper Alex Padilla grew up in the Basque Country and Iñaki Williams plays his international matches for Ghana.
The policy on the Basque background is sometimes stretched. For example, there was a discussion about the French defender Aymeric Laporte.
Only his great-grandparents had a Basque connection and he had played for a club in the French Basque Country, but only because Athletic had scouted him and sent him there. Laporte was too young to sign at the time. The defender left for Manchester City for a handsome buyout fee.
Remarkably, AZ also has a player in its ranks who would be eligible for a contract with Athletic. Reserve goalkeeper Sem Westerveld was born in the Basque Country. Father Sander Westerveld played for fellow countryman Real Sociedad from San Sebastián when son Sem was born.
The Alkmaarders will face a strong Athletic in a boiling San Mamés, which can accommodate 53,289 supporters. Where Nico Williams could only come on as a substitute against Roma after an injury, he is now fully fit again. The national goalkeeper of Spain, Unai Simón, has not played all season, but is back on the training field this week.
Another big name, former Manchester United and PSG player Ander Herrera, is struggling with a muscle injury and it is not yet clear whether he will be fit in time.
