There is a soccer team with a lot of tradition in the Basque Country, it is called the "Athletic de Bilbao" and is the team that represents the city of Bilbo on Spain's Premier League.
A couple of weeks ago they defeated Soccer's Dream Team "Real Madrid", a team that fields some of the biggest soccer stars in the world, names like Luis Figo, David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo.
And what makes the Athletic so special? Only Basques can play in it. A few years ago they were about to sign the biggest Basque star from the French league, Bixente Lizarazu, but something did not work and Bixente ended up at the "Bayern Munich". Bixente has played numerous times with the Euskadi team which is the Basque Country's national team, but if the deal had taken place it was going to be the first time the Athletic would boast a Basque from Iparralde.
Well, the Athletic has a women's team also, and they are the defending champions in their league.
A couple of days ago a Basque from Boise arrived in Bilbo, her name is Maite Zabala and she was a goalkeeper for the WUSA(Women's United Soccer Association), she was the best goalkeeper in the league and the reason why she is in Bilbo is because she is going to try out for the team. If she signs with them then the club would be ackowledging us Basques outside of Euskal Herria as part of our beloved land. We are the eight Herrialde!
I wish the best of lucks to Maite, I got to learn about all of this thanks to her aunt Miren who is so proud and happy for her.
Gora Maite!
A couple of weeks ago they defeated Soccer's Dream Team "Real Madrid", a team that fields some of the biggest soccer stars in the world, names like Luis Figo, David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo.
And what makes the Athletic so special? Only Basques can play in it. A few years ago they were about to sign the biggest Basque star from the French league, Bixente Lizarazu, but something did not work and Bixente ended up at the "Bayern Munich". Bixente has played numerous times with the Euskadi team which is the Basque Country's national team, but if the deal had taken place it was going to be the first time the Athletic would boast a Basque from Iparralde.
Well, the Athletic has a women's team also, and they are the defending champions in their league.
A couple of days ago a Basque from Boise arrived in Bilbo, her name is Maite Zabala and she was a goalkeeper for the WUSA(Women's United Soccer Association), she was the best goalkeeper in the league and the reason why she is in Bilbo is because she is going to try out for the team. If she signs with them then the club would be ackowledging us Basques outside of Euskal Herria as part of our beloved land. We are the eight Herrialde!
I wish the best of lucks to Maite, I got to learn about all of this thanks to her aunt Miren who is so proud and happy for her.
Gora Maite!
.... ... .
Bixente Lizarazu did play a few matches with Athletic.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info about Bixente!
ReplyDelete