I am joined by Christopher Evans, author of Los Leones, an absolutely superb book on the history of Athletic Club de Bilbao. We’re looking at the Basque Derby – Athletic Club v Real Sociedad. It’s an iconic derby wrapped up in fierce Basque identity.
We cover:
- The clubs’ origins: We delve into the origins of Athletic Club de Bilbao (1898) and Real Sociedad (1909), highlighting their early years and the initial rivalry.
- The cultural and economic differences: We explore the contrasting identities of Bilbao, an industrial port city, and San Sebastian, a more tourist-oriented, foody city near the French border.
- Athletic Club’s Basque-only philosophy, ‘La Cantera’: We discuss the establishment of Athletic Club’s Basque-only player policy in 1911 – a reaction to Real Sociedad’s complaints – and its lasting impact on the club’s identity.
- The 1976 Ikurriña incident: We highlight the politically significant event on 5 December, 1976, where captains from both clubs displayed the banned Basque flag (Ikurriña) in a match, marking a pivotal moment in post-Franco Basque history.
- Notable encounters: We recount key historical encounters, including the April 1992 match where Athletic Club facilitated Real Sociedad’s title win, and the 1983-84 season match that secured Athletic Club’s championship.
- Copa del Rey Final 2020: We cover the delayed Copa del Rey final due to COVID-19, which Real Sociedad won 1-0 against Athletic Club in 2021.
- Rivalry and Unity: We discuss the unique “frenemy” relationship between the clubs, marked by both rivalry and Basque solidarity, with instances of mutual support and shared cultural pride.
- Groundhopping tips: We provide tips for visiting Bilbao, visiting San Mamés and the Athletic Club museum, plus some other notable Basque clubs.
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