Athletic Club - last updated on 9 December 2008
(Courtesy of Johnny Beaufays)
Club name: Athletic Club de Bilbao
Foundation: 1898
City: Bilbao
Colours: Red, white and black
Website: www.athletic-club.net
Honours:
La Liga División - 8 (1930, 1931, 1934, 1936, 1943, 1956, 1983, 1984)
Copa del Rey - 24 (1902, 1903, 1904, 1910, 1911, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1921, 1923, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1950, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1969, 1973, 1984)
Supercopa de España - 1 (1985)
Northern Championship - 3 (1914, 1915, 1916)
Bizkaia Championship - 13 (1920, 1921, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1940)
Basque Cup - 1 (1935)
A bit of history:
Athletic Club is a Basque football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Basque Country. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions.
They are known as the Rojiblancos or Zurigorri because of their red and white striped shirts and as Los Leones because their stadium was built near a church called San Mamés (Saint Mammes). Mammes was an early Christian thrown to the lions by the Romans. The lions refused to eat Mames and he was later made a saint. The San Mamés Stadium is hence nicknamed "the football cathedral".
The club is known for its cantera policy of bringing young Basque players through the ranks, as well as recruiting top Basque players from other clubs (like Joseba Etxeberria or Javi Martínez). Athletic only signs professional players native to one of the seven Basque provinces: Biscay, Guipúzcoa and Álava, Navarre; and Labourd, Soule and Lower Navarre in France, although in recent times some players born in Cantabria and La Rioja, close to the Basque Country have played for the team. This has gained Athletic both admirers and critics. The club has been praised for promoting home grown players and club loyalty.
Club crests: (roll on the crest to get more informations)
Athletic Club - Founded in 1898
