Athletic Bilbao

[Suprah]

I just noticed on wikipedia as well as a few other places that Althletic Bilbao have the ONLY purely Spanish squad in La Liga - and probably most if not all clubs from the Segunda Liga combined as well

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athleti...#Current_squad

and almost all of squad are from the Basque Country (and surrounding areas) of Spain and mostly from their own youth academies in the region as well

I have to say in this crazy world of football today - it is a rarity seeing a top flight team anywhere in Europe (or even South America) to see a team comprised solely of local lads from the area and nothing more.

[milad]

no wonder clemente coached there.

[ardi11]

thanks mate i didn't know that

[Suprah]

thanks mate i didn't know that

Knowledge is Power Spreading it makes it grow in everyone who possess it.

[chuck bass]

i think they're the only club left with the basque-only policy

[Suprah]

Unlike Barcelona which have the resources of the entire Catalan nation as well as being run by some really rich folks as figureheads, Bilbao keep it simple and ultra-traditional. They dont want the flash to affect their Basque-ness in any sort of way and even their fans would prefer the team to retain that rather than win anything if need be.

Good and Bad at the same time.

[Demis-11]

great post, ive known this for awhile and its interesting to see, i also think they are one of the teams who have never been relegated from the primera

doesnt the area wanna seperate from spain?

[Suprah]

doesnt the area wanna seperate from spain?

The Basque Country and Catalonia dont like being called "Spanish" one bit and the people there are nationalistic and have always wanted to have their own separate countries for generations rather than being ruled by Spanish-speaking centres of Madrid and Castille for centuries.

It was a mixture of first Franco, and then the EU in opposing their separation coupled with Spain now recognising them as autonomous parts of their country to reach a compromise between separation and self-rule.

As far as I know, UEFA and FIFA too have rejected applications for Basque and Catalonia FAs wanting to register themselves separate from the Spanish Football Federation for years. So The Basque Country and Catalonia have their own un-recognised national teams that play in friendly games there and then.

[taha]

the basque country...ahhhh reminds me of ETA and november 17th if i ain't mistaken...funny how they ain't labelled as terrorists although they have killed tehir fair share of ppl in cold blood, kind of like the IRA....anyway political rant over...

yeah athletic bilbao have always had this policy havn't they? i am not a strong advocate of this though...as you see i ain't the biggest fan of seperatism on any stage.

[futbol>>>IRAN]

I think every league needs a few teams like this.

Its a good thing for them as if they ever get independance they'll have a good team for their national team.

[PersianMadrid7]

that's why they're rubbish.