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Football in the Basque Country

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Association football has been a part of Basque Country culture since the end of the 19th century. As of 2023, three Basque teams play in La Liga, the top division of the Spanish football system: Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad and Deportivo Alavés.

History

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Early years

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Modern football was introduced to the Basque Country in the late 19th century by a combination of mostly British immigrant workers, visiting sailors and Spanish students returning from Britain.[1] In the late 1870s, various English workers scattered throughout the peninsula began to establish informal groups that were dedicated to different recreational practices, especially cricket and football, particularly in Spanish ports, such as the ones in Vigo, Andalusia, (Huelva and Seville) and Bilbao, who were the regions that most felt this phenomenon.[1] The latter was a leading port of an important industrial area with iron mines and shipyards nearby. Likewise, it was the British employees of the Nervión Shipyards, located in Sestao (Vizcaya), who organized and played the first known football match in the region, which was held on 4 April 1890, between the Machinery Department (engineers) and the Shipyard Workers, ending in an 8–1 to the former.[2] This group of football pioneers were part of a multi-sports club called Club Atleta, which had been founded in late 1889.[2]

These first football meetings were held on the quay next to the riverbank of Nervión, also known as La Campa de los Ingleses, and it was on this field that Club Atleta began to play against crews of English ships coming from Portsmouth and Southampton,[3][4] and even a new team, the Bilbao Football Club, which was also made up of British residents in the region, but not linked to the shipyards, such as Alfred Mills, who was a telegraph operator.[2] By 1892 the sheer quantity of Englishmen playing football on La Campa de los Ingleses forced them to seek another pitch that could properly accommodate the growing population of Brits, and so, in November 1892, the president of Club Atleta, Enrique Jones Bird, asked for permission to play in the Hippodrome of Lamiako.[1] Permission was duly granted and the racetrack became the new home of organised football in Viscaya.[4][5] It was from Lamiako that the sport of football took off in Bilbao, with several Bilbainos swarming the field to watch the teams of British workers challenge each other every weekend,[4][5] and there is even evidence of a "serious" tournament in the winter of 1892–93, which was contested in Lamiako by Club Atleta and Bilbao FC, and won by the former, who received medals presented by James S. Clark on 22 April 1893.[2]

Interest in the sport continued to grow among the local citizens, who began to practice it, and they even went as far as to challenge the British team in 1894 to a match at Lamiako,[4][6][7] and naturally, the much advanced British won by a resounding score (0–5), but the result did not discourage the enthusiastic locals who were quick to play another match as the sport was sparking high interest in the area.[4] In fact, shortly after the match, some young people from the Gimnásio Zamacois in Bilbao, began to play football games in Lamiako, and in 1898, seven football enthusiasts belonging to the Zamacois gym founded Athletic Club.[1][4][6][8] Two years later, Carlos Castellanos and his brother Manuel, together with a group of young Bilbainos from the upper class who had studied in England and learned about football there, founded the Bilbao Football Club (not related with the Bilbao club that existed in 1892–93, formed by the British) on 30 November 1900 in the Biscayan neighborhood of Algorta.[2][4][1] Among them was Santiago Martínez de las Rivas, the son of José Martínez Rivas, the owner of the Nervión Shipyards.[2]

The new Bilbao FC was officially established shortly after its foundation since its regulations were approved by the civil governor and printed in 1901.[2] A few months later, in February 1901, Athletic Club, probably encouraged by the first news about the founding of Bilbao FC, began conversations to officially establish the club, which they did on 5 September 1901, in the infamous meeting held in the Café García, in which the 33 members decided to make it official and register as a sports organization with the local council.[2][4][9] While Athletic Club was mainly formed by local players, having only one foreigner in its ranks, Alfred Mills,[3] Bilbao FC was mostly made up by foreigners, such as Walter Evans, George Langford, William Dyer, and George Cockram.[2][10] At the end of 1901, the two most important clubs in the city were Athletic Club and Bilbao FC, and naturally, a rivalry soon arose between the two Bilbao teams, who played several friendlies at Lamiako, which the two teams shared since there were hardly any fields in Bilbao.[10][5] Their duels aroused great expectation and served as one of the drivers of football as a mass phenomenon in Bilbao. In 1902, the two rivals agreed to join the best players of each club to play two games against the Bordeaux-based side Burdigala, beating them 0–2 in France, the first time a Bilbao team played on foreign territory, and 7–0 in Lamiako, the very first visit by a foreign team to Bilbao, gathering a crowd of three thousand spectators, a tremendous amount at the time.[5]

This temporary merge became known as Club Bizcaya (with a B), and following an invitation from Madrid FC (now known as Real Madrid), Club Bizcaya was sent to Madrid to represent the city of Bilbao in the 1902 Copa de la Coronación, with the then Athletic president, Juan Astorquia, being named the team's captain. This entity played and won three games on consecutive days, and then the title after beating the Catalan club, FC Barcelona, in the final, by a score of 2 goals to 1, netted by Astorquia and the French Armand Cazeaux, both of Athletic.[1][11][12] In March 1903, Bilbao FC could not keep an independent structure and ended up being absorbed by Athletic Club[1][3] and the side that emerged from the unification was called Athletic Club de Bilbao.[4]

In addition to Athletic and Bilbao FC, more teams were founded such as San Sebastián Recreation Club in 1903, the first club in San Sebastián, followed by Vasconia and Real Sociedad, and Irun FC in 1906,[7] who later changed its name to Irún Sporting Club. An internal division split the team in 1908 and Racing Club Irún appeared. This local rivalry was very strong in such a small town, but the success of these teams was important. Both clubs merged later in 1915.[1] Another important club that deserves a mention is Arenas FC (later Arenas de Getxo), founded in 1909 and located in Bizcaia, thus being the main threat for Athletic Club in the 1910s.

With the game becoming increasingly popular, the indigenous game of Basque pelota would soon come under threat, so much so that the Atotxa Stadium in San Sebastián forced nearby pelota courts to be demolished in order to make way for renovations, or more specifically, increase the capacity to 20,000.[7] Alongside the development of football was the introduction of Basque nationalism by Sabino Arana, considered by some as the founding "father".[13] Arana was involved in the creation of the flag, anthem, and ultimately the Basque Nationalist Party (Partido Nacionalista Vasco, PNV).[13] Football and Basque nationalism are closely knitted throughout history and would go through significant historical events such as the Spanish Civil War, and the creation of Francoist Spain. In the time after, Basque football was dragged through politics, with locals banned from showing autonomy, and the Basque Country national football team playing a few games during the 36-year dictatorship.[13] As time went on, the Basque Football Federation would come into inception in 1988.[13]

Recent years

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In the early 21st century, Basque football is represented by many clubs old and new, some of them holding a strong presence in the Spanish top division La Liga, including Athletic Bilbao (who have played there on a constant basis since its formation in 1928 and been champions eight times, plus 23 Copa del Rey wins and two UEFA Cup / Europa League finals), Real Sociedad (present in all but a handful of seasons, champions twice and Copa winners three times, including 2020 which was a Basque derby between Athletic and Real), Deportivo Alavés (somewhat intermittent members of the top division but with strong periods and a UEFA Cup final appearance in 2001) and SD Eibar (from 2014 to 2021, characterised as one of the smallest clubs to take part at that level).[14]

Basque Country national team

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Basque Country national team (green, white, red kit) vs Venezuela in Gasteiz

The Basque Country national football team (Euskal selekzioa) selects players from the Greater Basque region comprising the Basque Autonomous Community (Biscay, Álava and Gipuzkoa) plus neighbouring Navarre – the historical home of the Basque people but in modern times has a distinct identity which is only partly Basque, and home to CA Osasuna at club level – within Spain, and the three small provinces making up the Northern Basque Country in France, a territory where rugby union is very popular but has produced some talented players. The representative team is run by the Basque Football Federation. Since its inception in 1930, the team went through a series of names, was organised under exile in Latin America with some of the region's leading players of the time during the Civil War, and only played twice under Franco's dictatorship. After his death in 1975, The team was up and running again, playing 26 friendly games so far against countries from around the world associated with FIFA – however they themselves are not connected to FIFA.

Youth football

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Youth football in the region (overseen by both the Basque Federation) has its own traditions and advanced style of play. Many youth teams are taught to play with possession-based style and quick thinking.[15] Another unique aspect in the region is the emphasis that is placed on producing local talent, with Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao assessed as consistently using the highest proportion of homegrown players across the top European football leagues in the 2010s. Most of Real's players are Gipuzkoa locals from their academy, while Athletic's 100-year-old official signing policy limits themselves to players from the Greater Basque region (either born there, raised there i.e. received coaching at a local club including their own youth academy, or occasionally due to family ties, although they have never signed an established professional player on this more tenuous basis).[15] Athletic Bilbao are highly regarded due to their ability to compete against the biggest teams like Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, and FC Barcelona over several decades despite this restriction and commitment to local young players.[16] With the Basque representative team organised on only an occasional, unofficial basis, the region has provided a long list of players for the Spanish national team throughout its history, particularly in the early decades of the 20th century when a high proportion of the top players across the whole league were Basque due to the sport's popularity in the region, but also in subsequent periods due to the focus on homegrown talent by the major clubs (although this is true to a certain extent across Spain, with all the leading teams using a long-established cantera system of youth development).

Clubs (excluding reserve and woman's sections)

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Club Stadium Capacity Founded
Deportivo Alavés Mendizorrotza Stadium 19,840 23 January 1921
SD Amorebieta Urritxe 3,000 4 January 1925
Amurrio Club estadio Basarte 4,000 1949
CD Anaitasuna Campo Txerloia 1,500 1944
Añorga KKE Campo de Rezola 1922
Antiguoko Campo de Berio 1982
Apurtuarte Club Campo de Futbol Arteaga 1926
Arenas Club de Getxo Campo Municipal de Gobela 2,000 1909
UD Aretxabaleta Estadio Ibarra 500 1946
CD Ariznabarra Campo Municipal de Ariznabarra 1972
Athletic Bilbao San Mamés 53,289 1898
CD Aurrerá Ondarroa Zaldupe 1,000 1921
CD Aurrerá de Vitoria Estadio Olaranbe 4,000 1935
SD Balmaseda FC La Baluga 1,500 2 August 1914
Barakaldo CF Estadio de Lasesarre 7,960 1917
CD Basconia Estadio de Lopez Cortazar 8,500 1 January 1913
SD Beasain Estadio Loinaz 6,000 1905
Bermeo FT Estadio Municipal Itxas Gane 3,000 1950
Danok Bat CF Estadio Mallona 1972
SD Deusto Campo de Futbol de Etxezuri 1,000 1913
SCD Durango Estadio Tabira 3,000 1919
SD Eibar Ipurua Municipal Stadium 8,164 30 November 1940
CD Elgoibar Mintxeta 4,000 1917
SD Erandio Club Nuevo Ategorri 2,500 1915
Gernika Club Estadio Urbieta 3,000 1922
CD Getxo Campo Municipal de Fadura 3,500 1927
SD Indautxu Campo Iparralde 1924
CD Lagun Onak Estadio Garmendipe 1,500 1944
CD Laudio Estadio Ellakuri 3,500 2002
SD Leioa Estadio Sarriena 3,741 1925
Oiartzun KE Karla Lekuona 2,000 1975
Ordizia KE Estadio Municipal de Altamira 2,000 1941
SD Oyonesa Estadio Luis Asarta 1,500 1928
Pasaia KE Campo de Futbol Don Bosco 2,000 1998
Club Portugalete Estadio la Florida 5,000 1944
Real Sociedad Anoeta Stadium 39,500 7 September 1909
Real Unión Stadium Gal 5,000 15 May 1915
SD Retuerto Sport Ibarreta 822 1923
SD Salvatierra Estadio Municipal de Salvatierra 1,000 1964
Club San Ignacio Adurtzabal 400 1964
SD San Pedro Estadio Las Llanas 8,000 1923
CD Santurtzi San Jorge 2,000 1952
Santutxu FC Estadio Mallona 4,000 1918
Sestao River Club Estadio Las Llanas 8,905 1996
Sodupe UC Campo Lorenzo Hurtado de Saratxo 1,500 1947
CD Sondika Basozabal 1970
Sporting Club de Lutxana Serralta 1,995 1919
Tolosa CF Estadio Beratzubi 3,000 1922
Touring KE Campo de Futbol de Fanderia 1,000 1923
Gurutzeta KFT La Siebe 1,030 1980
Union Sport San Vicente Ciudad Deportiva San Vicente 1,200 1923
CD Vitoria Unbe Sports Complex 4,000 1945
Zalla UC Estadio Landaberri 3,500 1925
Zamudio SD Estadio Gazituaga 5,000 1943
Zarautz KE Estadio Asti 1,000 1944

Defunct Clubs (including reserve teams)

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Club Stadium founded Dissolved
Deportivo Alavés C José Luis Compañón 1980 2005
Bizcaya 1902 1907
Club Ciclista de San Sebastián Ondarreta Stadium 1909 1909
SD Eibar B Unbe Sports complex 1994 2012
SD Lemona Estadio Arlonagusia 1923 2012
Sestao Sport Club Las Llanas 1916 1996

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Juan A. Gisbert. "Total Football: History of Spanish football (I): The Origins". tikitaka-futbol. Archived from the original on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "El Club Atleta de los Astilleros del Nervión (1889-1894) y el Athletic Club de Bilbao (1901-)" [The Athletic Club of the Nervión Shipyards (1889-1894) and the Athletic Club of Bilbao (1901-)] (in Spanish). CIHEFE. 17 May 2021. Archived from the original on 30 October 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "The Englishmen's Field: The place where football took root in Bilbao". www.athletic-club.eus. 2 August 2022. Archived from the original on 20 July 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i "An English field in Bilbao". thesefootballtimes.co. 5 July 2017. Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d "La campa de Lamiaco" [The Lamiako field] (in Spanish). CIHEFE. 17 October 2017. Archived from the original on 30 October 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Athletic Club - Historia (1898-1913)" [Athletic Club - History (1898-1913)]. 28 February 2009. Archived from the original on 28 February 2009. Retrieved 19 November 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  7. ^ a b c Vaczi, Mariann; Bairner, Alan (29 October 2020). Sport and Secessionism. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-000-21565-6. Archived from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  8. ^ "La historia del Athletic en 10 momentos" [The history of Athletic in 10 moments]. www.marca.com. 27 April 2020. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  9. ^ "The history of Athletic Bilbao: 1898-1936". inbedwithmaradona.com (in Spanish). 4 July 2012. Archived from the original on 22 November 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  10. ^ a b "118 años de la primera rivalidad" [118 years since the first rivalry]. www.aupaathletic.com (in Spanish). 7 November 2019. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  11. ^ "Spain - Cup 1902". RSSSF. 15 September 2000. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  12. ^ "Copa del Rey Alfonso XIII 1902". Linguasport. Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  13. ^ a b c d Zakravsky, Jiri (2016). Basque National Football Team as a Political Tool. One Hundred Years Old Project and Its Changes (1915–2014)*. De Gruyter. pp. 8–10.
  14. ^ Sochon, Mark (3 April 2020). "Football Travel in Spain - Basque Country Guide". LaLiga Expert. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  15. ^ a b "Spain trip day 3: Youth football at Athletic | NorCal Premier". Archived from the original on 24 April 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  16. ^ Quiroga, Alejandro (11 February 2016). "Soccer, Culture and Society in Spain: An Ethnography of Basque Fandom". The International Journal of the History of Sport. 33 (3): 360–362. doi:10.1080/09523367.2015.1084092. ISSN 0952-3367.
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