Why do they only sign Basque players? Despite being widely known for an only signing players from the Basque region Los Leones were originally founded by British workers over in the area. It wasn’t until 1912 they implemented this rule to promote local to alert and the club’s famous Lezana academy.
They are the third most successful side in Spain when it comes to domestic trophies. Athletic are also one of only three clubs NEVER to be relegated from the Spanish top flight. I’ll let you guess the other two…
Athletic Club’s iconic red and white striped shirts were actually based on Southampton jerseys. At their inception they initially wore white before changing it to blue and white when Irish descendant living in Bilbao Juan Moser gifted them to the club in 1902. Seven years later player and board member Juan Elorduy went to England tasked with being back new blue and white shirts. Unable to find any he seen his local side Southampton in their famous red and white and the rest is history.
One of the most famous awards in Spanish football is named after an iconic former player. Since 1952/53 MARCA has handed out the Pichichi trophy to La Liga’s top goalscorer in honour of Rafael Moreno. He scored 83 goals in 89 games in Bilbao and there is even a statue of him pitch side that oppositions captains leave flowers at on their first time playing at San Mames.
Current forward Inaki Williams holds the record for most consecutive appearances in Spanish football. He played a whopping 251 games for Los Leones up until he missed out through injury in 2013.
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