Chapter 375 Athletic Bilbao, a pure club

After returning to La Liga six years ago, after a difficult adaptation period in the first two years, Real Sociedad repeatedly overturned Real Madrid and Barcelona at home. In the 2013-2014 season, they also reached the Champions League. However, the team's performance against the coach The requirements are very strict.

Just playing well at home does not guarantee that you will stay at Real Sociedad. After Montagnier, Arthur and Moyes were both fired halfway through the league.

In the past 30 years, except for the famous Welsh coach Toshack, who was able to coach for three seasons twice, no one can lead the team in San Sebastian until the third year.

Therefore, the former Barcelona and Valladolid star Sakristan, who cleaned up the mess in the middle of last season, needs to lead the team to a better ranking in the new season.

He served as an assistant coach at Barcelona in 2003 and returned to the Barcelona B team in 2011 to replace Enrique. Sakristan's only previous first-team coaching experience was to save Celta Vigo from the second division in 2008-09 and successfully avoid relegation. , but was fired due to poor performance at the beginning of the subsequent season.

Last season he once again acted as a firefighter, successfully taking Real Sociedad out of danger, which was already in the relegation zone, and ended the season firmly in the middle of the league.

In the new season, Sakristan is still under a lot of pressure. The team's lineup is plagued by injuries. How to ensure that the decline at the beginning of last season will not happen again and that the fans are satisfied is his top priority.

Due to the ownership of Maldonado, who is still in Uruguay, Real Club's starting goalkeeper last season and Argentina's Olympic main player Rulli was able to continue to play for Real Club on loan after a series of transfer operations this summer.

Because he participated in the Rio Olympics, Rulli may not appear in the team's starting lineup at the beginning of the new season.

Last season's backup goalkeeper OLS Barr has returned to Granada on loan. In the new season, the team introduced Tonio Ramirez from Cyprus champion AEK Lanaka. After the player left Real Madrid in 2012, he once played in Spain. Played for Guadalajara and Leonesa in the lower leagues.

After moving to Cyprus two years ago, he finally proved himself again and got the opportunity to return to his home team. The young player Baldaji who was promoted from Team B will serve as the team's third goalkeeper.

Last season's main Mexican international Diego Reyes' loan expired and returned to Porto. Royal Society can only tap its potential internally. Youngster Eslutondo, who mainly plays right back, will partner with Inigo Martinez at center back. Mikel Gonzalez, who entered the first team in 2006, last season Has gradually faded out of the starting lineup.

Argentinian coach Berizzo was once a witness and participant in Celta Vigo's glory days. He joined the team at the end of his career in 2001 and reached the Copa del Rey final with the team, participated in the Champions League and returned to La Liga the following year after being relegated. , and then he chose to hang up his boots in Cadiz, the "Bay of the Moon" in Andalusia.

His coaching career began as a deputy to the famous coach "Crazy" Bielsa (while coaching the Chilean national team). It can be said that Berizzo's coaching style was deeply influenced by Bielsa.

After achieving success at Chilean club Ochis, he took over the Celta Vigo team left by current coach Luis Enrique and left a deep mark on them that focused on offense and neglected defense.

But he can still play as a rotation player. As for Raul Navas, after returning from loan last season, he was out for a whole year due to a hip injury!

It is still unknown whether he can adapt to the rhythm of the league after returning in the new season. He has already started participating in the pre-season and scored one goal.

Except for Berchiche from Ian, Real Sociedad's full-backs are all their own products-Carlos Martinez, Saldua, and Hector Hernandez.

Right back Saldua appeared in the starting position on the wing many times in the preseason. He may enter the starting lineup after playing as a substitute last season, but if Mikel Gonzalez and Raul Navas If he can regain his form, Eluston will return to the wing, and Saldua may still be a substitute.

Berchiche on the left started 22 times last season and is still the main candidate in the new season. With substitute left back Della Bea joining Olympiakos in Greece on loan, young player Hector Hernandez will Get more performance opportunities.

Royal Society has enough midfielders. Last season's main players Illarramendi and Pardo already had a good understanding of each other. There are also three veteran players in Vergara, Surutusa, and captain Prieto. In the end, Gastaniaga, who returned from loan, also received good training outside.

Royal Society's midfielders are all good at running and pressing, but their skills are a bit rough. Except for Pardo's two other former wealthy players Granero and Canales who are good at foot, although they are famous, the former has been in poor condition. .

The latter suffered a cruciate ligament rupture last winter. In fact, neither of them was able to bring many stylistic changes to the Royal Society.

Royal Society has been a firm believer in 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 for two seasons, so the wing is the main starting point for their offense.

After Portuguese winger Bruma returned to Galatasaray on loan in the new season, the attacking options on both sides have become somewhat scarce. However, Real Madrid often uses central midfielders as guest stars, so there is no shortage of personnel.

Mexican international Carlos Vela can be said to have found the most suitable team for his career in Real Madrid. His bilateral combination with Griezmann was once unique in La Liga.

Oyazábal, who entered the first team in January this year, and Koncha, the national youth player who returned from a summer loan, both have good potential.

Top striker Aguirreche was injured twice last season, and he was also unable to play in the first half of the new season. With last year's replacement, Brazilian Jonatas, transferring to Rubin Kazan for 7 million euros, Royal Society is in The transfer market has also increased its efforts to strengthen the striker.

They introduced another Brazilian striker, William José, who scored consecutive goals against Real Madrid and Barcelona last season (and also scored a goal for Real Madrid), and Juanmi, who was frustrated at Southampton in the Premier League last year.

The latter arrived at the team earlier and has already scored four goals in the preseason. And Bautista, the top scorer of the B team, is also a good internal addition.

A pure club, this was the definition people had of Bilbao before they printed advertisements on their chests. Although they had to compromise with marketization, they also had a bottom line that they could not break through - those who played for Bilbao. Players must have Basque parents or be born in the Basque Country.

However, the Basque region includes a very broad area (the three provinces under the jurisdiction of the Basque Autonomous Region in Spain, the Navarra region in Spain, and the three provinces in France bordering the Basque Country and Navarre), so places like Lizarazu and La Bolte (born in the Basque region of France), Raul Garcia, and current captain Ilesos (born in Pamplona, ​​the provincial capital of the Navarre region) are all players of orthodox Basque descent.

Even Williams, the current black player on the team, although his parents do not have Basque ancestry, was born in Bilbao and started his football career in Pamplona Sports, so he can be regarded as a young player.

Although such rules are somewhat harsh, it does not hinder Athletic Bilbao's transcendent status among Spanish clubs - the second most Copa del Rey titles (23 times), 8 La Liga titles (fourth), and a member-only club (only Barcelona, ​​Osasuna, and Real Madrid are also members-only clubs. This is mainly due to the 1990s and Spain's "reform and opening up" in the 1970s.

With the economy rising, every club has changed its name to a sports limited liability company, which is the common La Liga team suffix S.A.D). It has not been relegated from La Liga (the same as Real Madrid and Barcelona). It is a major contributor to the Spanish national team's international players (cumulative 101, third).

In the new season, the Basque Lions will still show their unique temperament on multiple fronts.

Although he was eliminated from the Champions League qualifying round last season, he won another championship (Spanish Super Cup) after 30 years and reached the Copa del Rey final. Valverde's coaching position is still stable (the contract will terminate at the end of this season) .

Since returning to Bilbao in 2013, he has worked hard to maintain the team in the European competition, but it is more difficult to continue to replicate the success of Olympiacos in Greece. After all, Bilbao's recruitment strategy limits the team to only Can discover players from the Basque Country.

However, San Jose and Williams have been promoted by Valverde since he took office. Judging from the evaluation of the transfer market, they will be the next Xavi Martinez and Llorente (Javi Martinez The transfer to Bayern created Bilbao's highest transfer price of 40 million euros).

Pamplona-born Ilesos initially did not get many opportunities in Baskonia (one of Bilbao's reserve teams) and Bilbao B team, before moving to Espanyol in 2002 and 2005. He began to stand out after entering the first team in 2006. He won the 2006 King's Cup with the team and was the runner-up in the 2007 UEFA Cup.

He returned to Bilbao in the 2007-2008 season and secured his starting position the following year.

As the most senior player after Gulpage retires, Ilesos will become the team's first captain in the new season.

Yago Errelin, who returned to the team from Atletico Madrid B team in 2012, will still serve as the main substitute and rotation player at the goalkeeper position this season, but he will also face competition from the younger Arrizabalaga. .

The 21-year-old youngster played on loan at Real Valladolid in the Spanish Second Division last season. As the main player, he conceded 46 goals in 39 games and kept clean sheets in 12 games. After all, it has been common for young goalkeepers to take over in recent years.

Last season Laporta and Exeta were the team's main choices for central defenders. After veteran Gulpage retired and faced the pressure of multi-line operations, Bilbao moved up from the B team in the new season. Two young central defenders, Yerei Alvarez and Oscar Gil, were included in the squad again last season, but did not get a chance to play.

Elus Dondo, who transferred from rivals Real Sociedad in the same region last season, is also a substitute for the central defender position. He can also play as a defensive midfielder.

After ending his loan career in 2013, Valenciaga has been the main player at full-back. Otneche, who returned from Tenerife on loan in the new season, and youngster Saborit will compete for the substitution and rotation qualifications for this position.

Since Elara chose to leave for the American Major League, Demasco has been fixed at the right back position. His assist ability is very strong, but his defense needs to be strengthened. Pobeda, who returned to Bilbao from Eibar last season, is the main substitute for this position, and youngster Lecuet is also quite competitive.

After the departures of Javi Martinez and Andre Herrera, Athletic Bilbao's midfield has ushered in a new era.

San Jose has been called up by the Spanish national team and will participate in this summer's European Cup with the team, and Benyat, the "No. 10" player who became famous at Real Betis, also performed well after returning to his hometown.

Of course, Bilbao's best signing last season was Raul Garcia who was hired from Atletico Madrid. Raul Garcia was born in Osasuna (Pamplona) and is also geographically in the Basque Country. In his first season with Bilbao, he scored 11 goals and assisted 9 goals in 41 appearances. The number of goals he participated in was the highest among midfielders.

Except for Mikel Besga, who is on reserve for the B team, and Iturraspe, Mikel Rico, and Xavi Erasso, who will not return until the end of November, they are all important rotation players in the middle of the midfield. After suffering from injuries in the past two seasons, the development of Ituraspe has plummeted. He used to be the only potential stock in the team after Javi Martinez, and his market evaluation has also fallen from 12 million. 5000000.

The story of Mikel Rico's return to Bilbao is very inspiring. As early as the 2000-01 season, he played for the team's second reserve team Baskonia, but he did not receive recognition and began a long wandering. After a long journey, he finally performed well while playing for Granada from 2010 to 2013 and was able to return to his hometown.

As for Xavi Erasso, he was still the starting player at the beginning of last season, but as the season progressed, his main energy was put on the King's Cup and the European War, and he only played 11 games in the league.

Munia, who set the record for Bilbao's youngest appearance (16 years old), suffered a cruciate ligament injury at the beginning of last season and his performance was average after his return. His limelight has been stolen by Williams, who is similar in age.

After entering the first team in 2014, Williams' performance has been on the rise. His previous two seasons with Bilbao B team, where he scored 21 goals and assisted 6 goals, successfully continued to the first team. In the 2015-2015 season, he scored 21 goals and assisted 6 goals He scored 13 goals and assisted 6 goals in 37 appearances for the team, and has gradually grown into the first choice on the wing. This summer, he was also called up by the Spanish national team and entered the European Cup preliminary squad (later failed).

Since the veterans on the front line may have difficulty maintaining their form for a long time in the new season, Williams may be directly moved to the center position.

Although Susaeta, who entered the first team in 2007, could only be regarded as a rotation player last season, his performance was much better than Muniain. He also scored the team's only goal twice in the preseason. .

Merino, another wide player, was the team's biggest discovery last year. He spent most of his time on the bench but performed well. However, he suffered an injury before the end of last season, which hindered him from getting further opportunities.

Ibay Gomez, who did not get many opportunities, has moved to La Liga newly promoted Alaves on a free transfer in the new season.

Although Adulis scored 36 goals and 10 assists last season, he is already nearly 36 years old and strained his thigh while participating in the European Cup. I hope he will continue to replicate that magical performance in the new season. Not safe.

Last season's two substitute forwards, Bigla and Kiko Sola (who played for Middlesbrough on loan during the winter transfer), although they have reached their thirties, they are neither strong enough nor in good condition to play the main role.

Bigla scored once in pre-season but failed to score a goal last season, while Kiko Sola has been looking for the form he had at Osasuna a few years ago.

In view of this, Bilbao retained Guillermo Fernandez, who played for Leganes on loan last season. The 23-year-old played 27 times and scored 6 goals in the newly promoted La Liga season.

Athletic Bilbao has won the La Liga championship eight times, including consecutive championships in the first two seasons of La Liga (1929 and 1930). In the 1930s, under the leadership of British coaches, they also won the title twice, in 1934 and 1936.

In the 1942-1943 season, they defeated Sevilla to win the championship. In the 1955-1956 season, Bilbao won the championship with a 1-point advantage over Barcelona. The third place that season was Real Madrid, who was about to start their Champions League dominance.

Bilbao's last two championships came from two consecutive championships in the early 1980s. At that time, under the leadership of the famous coach Clement, the team played high-pressure and anti-counterattack football, continuously defeating Barcelona and Real Madrid. Win the league championship.

At the same time, they also maintain the record for the largest victory as a visiting team at the Nou Camp and the Bernabeu (6-0), as well as the most painful defeat in Barcelona's history, 1-12 (1930-1931), but Bilbao's biggest defeat is the main goal. The away records are all held by Barcelona.

Bilbao showed strong cup strength in the early games of the King's Cup. In the first King's Cup in 1902 (unofficially), Biscay United, composed of two Bilbao clubs, defeated them in the final. Barcelona wins.

The first Copa del Rey championship in 1903 was also won by Bilbao. Subsequently, they won two three consecutive championships and one four consecutive championships in 1914-1916, 1930-1933, and 1943-1945. However, Bilbao has recently The first time they won the Copa del Rey was in the 1983-1984 season (defeating Real Madrid in the semi-finals and Barcelona in the final).

In the 2011-2012 and 2014-2015 seasons, they lost to Real Madrid in the finals, and last season they lost to Barcelona.

La Liga domestic player's top scorer - Sala Award (awarded starting from the 2005-2006 season), named after Bilbao forward Sala, who won the La Liga top scorer 6 times. He scored 367 for Athletic Bilbao. The ball ranks first in team history. At the same time, Sala won the King's Cup 5 times and scored 81 goals in the King's Cup (the first in history).

His record of winning the top scorer 6 times is also the most in La Liga (one ahead of Di Stefano and Gini of Sporting Gijon, and 3 times each for Messi and Ronaldo), so in 2003 he also won the Golden Award. A good shooter.

The Sala Award in the last two seasons has been won by Adulis who played for Athletic Bilbao.