In May 1902, Athletic Club, under the name ‘Bizcaya’, won the Copa de la Coronación, considered the first edition of the Copa del Rey, Spain’s premier domestic cup competition. With a record of at least two new academy products graduating into the first team yearly over the past five consecutive seasons, there’s been plenty of praise for the work put in by sporting director José Amorrortu. In 2015, he joined with NY City FC in the United States. Athletic have the most players in the first-team who were developed through their own youth set-up, the famed ‘Lezama’ academy, in La Liga, 18, compared to just four at Real Madrid and six at Barcelona. What it stands for, though, is unique. Instead they target Basque players at other clubs and are willing to pay a premium to secure their signature. The 2008-2009 season will always be remembered for the Copa Final that Athletic Club disputes in Valencia against FC Barcelona. You can now discover, experience and embrace the Athletic Football Club. Especially in today’s game and society, our boys are an example.”, The first team have completed their work and gone home, so now the youngsters have their chance to train below the picturesque Basque hills. Athletic and Youth Academy "Cantera" Chances are that if you’re in the pub with your friends and the inevitable topic of football is discussed, and perhaps less inevitably Spanish football is mentioned, then Athletic Club Bilbao will not be high on the list of subjects. By Alex Clapham for Caño Football of the Sport Network This is because of their policy of only signing players from the Basque region, focusing predominately on bringing players through the youth academy. Just 14 years after being founded, Athletic were accused of fieldin Andoni Iraola graduated from Athletic Bilbao's academy. Yet, we don’t force anything on them, we just encourage good values. Bilbao rely on producing players native to or developed in the Basque country and the Northern Basque country in France. Family is everything for Basque people and we want to do right by our own people. Underpinning all that Athletic Bilbao do is a philosophy that dates back more than 100 years and one that sees them field only players who have come through the academies of Basque Country clubs. Vision: check your surroundings for space and people. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. I spent 5 days, access all areas, with Athletic Bilbao and studied their unique philosophy and academy. Athletic Bilbao will play in two Copa del Rey finals in two weeks. Bilbao’s focus on tradition and community has resulted in a club which feels more like a family than […] July 15, 2015 11:49 PM, Professional Football Academy from the age of 4 to 14 معهد الغد المشرق الأزهري , التجمع الخامس - القاهرة Athletic Club opened its Lezama facilities in 1971. Especially in today’s game and society, our boys are an example.”, The first team have trained and left the premises, now it’s the turn of the youngsters and sessions are taking place below the picturesque Basque-hills, each has exceptionally high standards. Athletic Club's academy. “Kids will have roles and responsibilities as soon as they enter the building; whether it’s sorting the kit, cleaning the dressing-room or carrying equipment. “I’ve worked at Atlético Madrid and other elite clubs, but nobody has what we have. “It’s important they have more means to life than football. TOPICS: academies Acclaimed Athletic Barcelona battle Bilbao Copa Del face final Rey Spains Posted By: Gulfnews April 16, 2021 At the beginning of this year, Athletic Bilbao celebrated the 50th anniversary of their training headquarters, now also the home of their academy. He played for the senior squad from 2003 to 2015. • Instead of participating in the global transfer circus, you only recruit players from the region, often from your own academy. Watch Athletic Bilbao’s 1st team train followed by the second day of your formation course at Lezama. “Every single individual here has to be a representation of the club and the people,” says under-18s head coach Iban Fuentes. They will stop and chat to the kids when passing by and they always follow the development and growth of their own. Athletic Bilbao are almost entirely reliant on their academy for players yet they have never been relegated from La Liga, By Alex Clapham for Caño Football of the Sport Network, Last modified on Tue 30 Oct 2018 17.07 GMT. By clicking "Advanced options", you can adjust the filter and only show players that never played for this club, but … He made his debut for Athletic Bilbao on 30 July, 2009 in a 1-0 loss to Young Boys in the Europa League. The forward, after all, is the embodiment of Athletic’s philosophy, making over 450 appearances since graduating from the academy, rejecting … Spread the loveHow Athletic Bilbao have become football’s most unique club The story behind Athletic Bilbao In a sport which rarely differs from the norm, the story behind Athletic Bilbao is a captivating and refreshing one. Athletic Bilbao are almost entirely reliant on their academy for players yet they have never been relegated from La Liga. The sleepy town of Lezama sits 10km outside of Bilbao and is home to just 2,400 people, but it also accommodates one of the most unusual football clubs in the world: Athletic Bilbao. This place is the home of just 2,400 people, however it accommodates one of the most unique football clubs in the world; Athletic Club Bilbao. Urrutia was born in Bilbao, Biscay, and was a product of the youth academy of Athletic Bilbao based at Lezama. The club’s reliance on local talent starts at their training ground in Lezama, which was opened in 1971 and now hosts the first team, the women’s teams and their various academy sides. For Real Sociedad, faith in their academy is bearing fruit as they travel to Athletic Bilbao for the Basque derby on Thursday looking to reignite an unlikely title challenge. • Athletic Bilbao is the healthiest club in Spain in the great financial crisis. It’s our job to create good people as well as good players, and nobody does that like we do.”, “Family is everything for Basque people and we want to do right by our own people; there’s no greater sense of pride for a boy than playing football for this club.”, The former Spain international scurries to his office before returning with a sheet of paper. We’re all members of the Athletic family and have our own culture and identity.”, “We spend very few minutes and moments in training isolated on defence or attack. These figures are just a consequence of our work.”, Amorrortu played for Athletic – even representing them against Juventus in the 1977 Uefa Cup final – before managing both the youth team and the first team, so he understands the culture as well as anyone. Knowing that Athletic Bilbao consists only of Basque players, it isn’t hard to understand that all players are coming from Basque football academies and especially from the Academy of the Athletic Bilbao. It’s not difficult to find players.”.