Last Wednesday was a great day in the centennial history of Athletic. Half a century after that first training session for the lions in Lezama on January 27, 1971, the rojiblanco club remains faithful to its principles and claims to be one of the three in LaLiga who have always played in the First Division. The Barcelona and Real Madrid, the other two great survivors, have little or nothing to do with it.
Everyone, in any case, chooses their own model. Not everyone conforms to the same pattern. The Athletic one, no matter where you look, is more complicated to put into practice; but where some see weakness, others speak of strength. Nobody will be able to say, in any case, that the rojiblanco club has done badly with its particular philosophy.
Little or nothing resembles that Lezama from 1971 to the current one. Neither at the facility level, nor at the equipment level, nor at the human level. The illusion of all those txikis and young people who arrive there with the dream of becoming lions, yes, remains unperturbed. A dream that also extends to the female field, since now, unlike then, Athletic does have its own female section.
With quarry and hobby does not need import. Lezama is the basic pillar for the centenary rojiblanco club to perpetuate its mythical and emblematic legend. They have always worked well in the Athletic factory. Sometimes better than others, but always, whatever is said, with a high note. People pass, institutions remain.
That no one, therefore, wants to attribute merits that do not correspond to him. This has been, is and will be a work of many years and of many professionals. Lezama, Athletic's quarry. Almost nothing