Der Spiegel Article - How a Proud Basque Team is Resisting Globalization

By: Elisa | April 15th, 2008

Hola! Here’s a link to the brilliant article by Der Spiegel on Athletic Bilbao.

Here’s the article in English: Der Spiegel

Thank you to Hoser for giving me a heads up on the link. This is why I love this club. I ‘d love to hear your thoughts on the article, the Athletic philosophy, and how the team is forced to compromise in the modern football world.

Hasta luego!

Category: Athletic Bilbao Team News

Tags: Athletic Bilbao Team News

« Back to Earth | Home | Tin Tin thrown to the Lions! »

Subscribe   The Offside RSS Feeds

Print

Share

Comments  

• shane |  April 15th, 2008 at 3:45 am

  
  
  

  GORA ATHLETIC ETA EUSKAL HERRIA!!! good article, thanks!!

  Posted from Ireland

  

• Jeremy |  April 15th, 2008 at 8:27 am

  
  
  

  Bilbao is an awesome club and the Basques are a great and proud people. They should be commended for avoiding relegation for as long as they have but with the continued globalization of soccer and more players being scouted in the far reaches of the world, if Bilbao continues with their philosophy, they will be relegated in the next five years.

  I think it was 442 that had a great article on them and Sociedad. Great reading. You could feel the history and the passion through the pages. Unfortunately many traditions disappear in a changing world, but I hope this is one that remains.

  Posted from United States

  

• Ryan |  April 15th, 2008 at 9:19 am

  
  
  

  I did an article on this on CHI a while back. It’s a really interesting ‘policy’ they have.

  http://centerholdsit.wordpress.com/2008/02/27/la-liga-how-different-are-the-basques/

  Posted from United States

  

• Elisa |  April 15th, 2008 at 3:17 pm

  
  
  

  Thanks guys!

  Jeremy, I have faith that Athletic will somehow make it work in this harsh world by broadening their base. Whether it is selecting players born or raised in the Basque country, but parents may not be Basque. Or players who have gone through their youth academy or other Vasco academies for the duration, whose parents may not be Basque. Or finding players with Basque parentage, grand parentage or great great gran parentage (like me!)outside of the region. Somehow, the culture and team will survive. I know this sounds cliche, but this is more than a club. We don’t have the transfer money or budget up the big clubs. It’s about love of the culture, region and club.

  Ryan, can you give me the link to your orignal post on Spain and Basque Nationalism referred to in your wordpress blog above? Thanks!

  Posted from United States

  

• Ryan |  April 15th, 2008 at 11:44 pm

  
  
  

  http://sevilla.theoffside.com/team-news/catalunya-vs-euskal-herria-when-language-culture-and-football-mix-in-spain.html

  Here it is, check out the comments too, I clarify a few things there.

  Posted from United States

  

• Cesar |  April 18th, 2008 at 9:20 am

  
  
  

  Hey Elisa, I didn’t know you had a blog on here! Great to see ya!!

  Posted from United States

  

• Elisa |  April 19th, 2008 at 2:16 pm

  
  
  

  Thanks Cesar I decided to join in on the fun. BTW great blogging on the CdR!

  Posted from United States

  

Comments are closed