Do you know: The legend in Spain is not Barcelona, nor Real

Athletic Bilbao has a rule that only footballers originally from the Basque area are eligible to be part of the club. This means that any footballer who wears the famous red and white ribbons is selected by the Bask and Narurie community in Spain and from northern-Basque countries in France. This rule of origin is not written anywhere in politics, contracts or club regulations, so it is not official. So if a candidate for president wanted to bypass this rule to compete with Real Madrid and Barcelona, then he could have done it. But, like one of three single clubs that have never fallen from La League, along with Real Madrid and Barcelona, the Aztec Bilbao model has worked best, relying solely on the roots of the country's origin.

In the 119-year history of the Athletic Bilbao, no president has run by promising to break that rule, and never has there been an elevated voice of fans for it. They are all united to preserve tradition through maintaining bass identity. The other Bask club, neighbor to Bilbaon, Real Sociedad, had a similar policy until 1989, when they abandoned it to sign with Ireland's national football player John Aldridge, from Liverpool, aimed at increasing competition.

The motto that defines Athletic Bilbao philosophy is “con cantera y afición, no hace falta importación”, translated “with local talents and local fan support, is not needed by foreigners”. Cynics would argue that the Athletic is behind identity, but their specific selection process means that they can focus on time and money only revealing local talents, as opponents of the philosophy of developing a process and network of globalisation.

Athletic Bilbao's fanatic network starts with the Bos Club Basconia, which adheres to the fourth Spanish category, called “Tercera Divisón”, to follow up with one step higher, with team B active at Sgunda Division B. Of the entire current Athletic Bilbao team, only five footballers were not part of team B before becoming part of the first team. The latest to be “graduated” from the chain teams is Iñaki Williams, who became part of the first team just last season.

When Willime, who was born from a father from Ghana and a mother from Liberia in a Bask country (so it is legal to play for the club), marked Torino in 2014, he became the first colored goalist in club history. With him on the team, Athletic Bilbao defeated Barcelona at the beginning of this edition, to win the Spanish Super Cup and secure the first major trophy since 1984, to testify that within the club's philosophy, there is something essential.

Only a few clubs with this philosophy are found worldwide. Chivas de Guadalajara, whose academy has produced Carlos Vela and Javier Hernández, makes up only Mexican footballers. Similar to Athletic Bilbao, for the fact that they are from the most successful clubs in their country.

This approach, to prioritize local talents, is as old as football. It's enough to look at the history of the Inter club, which was created to raise foreign footballers, quite different from the neighboring club Milan. These policies are very rare nowadays, but traditional football fans can enjoy them as they learn that despite changing their angles, this idea can be stable and even successful. /Periscope