Friday, December 7, 2007
Athletic Club Bilbao (Spain) 2008 Home kit
Athletic Club is a Spanish football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Basque Country, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. Of the founding members, only Athletic, Real Madrid, and FC Barcelona have never been relegated. Athletic are historically one of the most successful clubs in Spain. They have won La Liga on eight occasions and the Copa del Rey twenty-four times.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 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 Loren or Roberto Ríos). Athletic only signs professional players native to one of the seven Basque provinces: Biscay, Guipuscoa, Álava and Navarre in Spain and Labourd, Soule and Lower Navarre in France. This has gained Athletic both admirers and critics. The club has been praised for promoting home grown players and club loyalty. Critics however see their policy as racist.