ATHLETIC CLUB
ATHLETIC CLUB
TOP VALUE PLAYERS FROM THE ACADEMY 1. Iñaki Williams AGE 27 POSITION F MINUTES 70% VALUE €25m 2. Unai Simón AGE 24 POSITION GK MINUTES 100% VALUE €25m
3. Unai Núñez AGE 24 POSITION D
Bilbao is a Spanish club with a reputation known all over the world for developing young footballers from the Basque country (population 2.2 million). It is unique to have most of your players come from your local region, and for your club to be able to compete and be successful in one of the best football leagues in the world. Athletic are the fourth most successful club in La Liga with eight titles to their name, and second only to Barcelona in terms of Copa Del Rey wins. It has never been relegated from the top flight since its inception in 1929. And yet, despite this pressure to produce players for the first team, the club’s academy staff doesn’t appear to feel any burden. Rafa Alkorta is the club's Sport Director and Andoni Ayarza the Head of the Academy. Andoni Bombin, renowned for his international experience in China, is the Chief of Methodology. The academy does not appear to have a formalised strategy, but all the club’s employees know its history and values. It can be argued that the work culture in this club is of the highest level, where all the employees know the vision and have a common goal that they strive for in their daily activities. Throughout its history, the Bilbao academy has been able to sell its players to the best football clubs in Europe.
MINUTES 62%
VALUE €20m
VITAL STATISTICS * According to CIES Football Observatory, the percentage of minutes by club-trained players (i.e. those aged 15–21 at the club) is: 50.9 % (14 players) AVERAGE AGE 26.77 €9,807,692 WITH AN AVERAGE VALUE OF 25 PLAYERS IN THE FIRST TEAM of which trained in the club (academy pupils) 15
4. Yeray Álvarez AGE 27 POSITION D
MINUTES 57%
VALUE €20m
RECORD OUTGOING TRANSFERS 1. Kepa Arrizabalaga
to Chelsea €80m
23 Age when sold (2018)
2. Aymeric Laporte
€65m
23 Age when sold (2018)
to Manchester City
3. Javi Martínez
€40m
23 Age when sold (2012)
to Bayern Munich
RECORD INCOMING TRANSFERS 1. Iñigo Martínez 26 Age when bought (2018) €32m 2. Yuri Berchiche 28 Age when bought (2018) €24m 3. Álex Berenguer 25 Age when bought (2020) €12m From Real Sociedad From Torino
N
From Paris Saint-Germain
38.15 %
U
80
81
YOUTH FOOTBALL 2021-23
YOUTH FOOTBALL 2021-23
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