Eneko Boveda says Athletic Bilbao’s identity matters more than titles | OneFootball

Athletic Bilbao remain wedded to their Basque-only philosophy as globalisation reshapes football. According to L'Équipe, academy director Eneko Boveda says safeguarding identity matters more than collecting trophies.

The stance dates to 1911, when clubs including Real Sociedad complained about the volume of foreigners in Spanish football. Athletic, then among the first to field many English players, chose to restrict itself to footballers born or developed in the Basque Country.

Boveda explains that anyone born or formed in Euskal Herria, which includes the French Basque territory, is eligible. For those born elsewhere but trained locally, the key is a natural family move and the age at which they arrived.

That pathway covers Iñaki and Nico Williams, whose Ghanaian parents settled in Spain before their births. By contrast, Bixente Lizarazu’s 1996 signing from Saint-Jean-de-Luz in the French Basque Country triggered fierce debate.

Boveda contrasts natural population flows with market-led recruitment, citing Antoine Griezmann’s arrival at Real Sociedad purely on talent. Athletic, he says, will not bend their self-imposed rules, even though signing, for instance, a Uruguayan would be legal.

The club must be proactive given a limited pool, striking a 10-year partnership with Antiguoko in 2020 and similar deals with 150 Basque clubs. He adds that identity and community ties come first, even as the honours tally remains rich, with eight leagues, 24 Copas del Rey, three Super Cups and two UEFA Cup finals.

Source: L'Équipe