Athletic Club - 10 things to know with detail
- 1. Athletic Club, commonly known as Athletic Bilbao, is a professional football club based in Bilbao, Spain.
- 2. The club was founded in 1898 and is one of the oldest football clubs in Spain.
- 3. Athletic Club is known for its unique policy of only signing players who are either born in the Basque Country or who have developed their footballing skills at a Basque club.
- 4. The club's home ground is the San Mames Stadium, which has a seating capacity of over 53,000 spectators.
- 5. Athletic Club has a fierce rivalry with Real Sociedad, another Basque club, and their matches are known as the Basque Derby.
- 6. The club has a rich history of success, having won the Spanish league title on eight occasions and the Copa del Rey (Spanish cup) a record 24 times.
- 7. Athletic Club has also had success in European competitions, reaching the final of the UEFA Cup in 1977 and the Europa League in 2012.
- 8. Some of the club's most famous players include Telmo Zarra, who holds the record for the most goals scored in a single season in La Liga, and Joseba Etxeberria, who holds the record for most appearances for the club.
- 9. The club is known for its passionate fan base, who are known as "Los Leones" (The Lions) in reference to the club's lion emblem.
- 10. Athletic Club is considered one of the most iconic and historic clubs in Spanish football, known for its strong Basque identity and commitment to promoting local talent.