Founder members Athletic Bilbao (along with traditional Spanish superpowers Real Mardrid and Barcelona) are the only club that has never been relegated from the Primera Division since the league was founded in 1928. This statistic is remarkable considering the Basque club’s policy of never buying a non – Basque player.
This tie with tradition could come back to haunt the Rojiblancos who find themselves in the relegation zone following a string of defeats. Founded by Sunderland miners (hence their red and white stripes and their name being the English Athletic rather than Atletico), Bilbao narrowly retained their top flight status last term but this season the squad lacks quality and could find themselves dropping to Segunda for the first time in their illustrious history.
The pro-Basque policy known as cantera is upheld because of their patriotic fans and stems from the time of Franco when the Basque culture and language was suppressed. Strangely Athletic have had foreign managers in the past most notably Howard Kendall in the 1980’s.
The development of cantera as a policy resulted from both a revival in Basque nationalism and the emergence of the Basque Country. Supporting the club became a legitimate way of expressing Basque nationalism, especially during the Franco years after the Spanish Civil War.
The cantera policy (which unofficially started in 1912) is seen by many neutrals as restricting Bilbao’s progress and crippling the clubs ambitions. Their ethical policy of only allowing Basque born players to represent them is admirable, but costing them dear (as the threat of relegation hangs over the club).
Atheltic Bilbao do not have a sponsor and this highly commendable effort to stay as a people’s club is looking more and more unrealistic in what is the strongest La Liga in recent memory. Following a history including 8 league titles and 24 Copa Del Reys, Athletic could next season be challenging for a new competition – the Segunda Division title.
The majority of Athletic Bilbao’s passionate fans at the San Mames stadium would prefer their club to be relegated than end their policy of Cantera. Unfortunately for the most traditional top level club side in Europe, a real lack of quality will probably see the club do one or the other – buy some none-Basque players or suffer relegation.
The hope is that they can survive and continue their traditional values – something that is all too scarce in modern day football.
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