Athletic Club | History, Kit, Sponsors, Trophies, Rivals and Club Value

Athletic Club Net Worth & Value

There is a rich footballing and cultural history associated with Athletic Club de Bilbao, a team that represents the whole Basque region in Spain. Athletic Club net worth is €105 million. Founded by the English and Spanish people, the club was initially known as “Club Bizcaya”, with its sole agenda being to conquer the most prestigious tournament in Spain, the Copa del Rey. Later, those associated with the club decided to change its name to Athletic Club in 1902. Athletic Club operates under a very unique and sustainable financial system that is just a direct result of its "Cantera" policy. Unlike many other European giants that usually make money through heavy spending on player transfers, Athletic's philosophy of only utilising Basque players follows, with practically negligible amounts being paid out on transfer fees. This has allowed Athletic to retain sound finances throughout the bigger part of its history and has often been considered the most financially stable club in La Liga. Analysing the financial reports for the 2023-24 season, the club is recorded to be in a state of profit and net equity. This emphasis on building a sustainable club contrasts significantly with that of quick enrichment through speculation in the transfer market, with a strong focus on nurturing talent in the well-regarded Lezama academy.

Athletic Club Sponsors

Kutxabank, a bank situated in the Basque Country, is the club's primary jersey sponsor. This club has flourished under this sponsor for a long time, making it one of the club's most important financial agreements. This also reflects the club's strong connection to the Basque region and its local economy. Castore, a British sportswear company, has been the kit manufacturer for the club for the season 2023-24. Partnering with Castore is an imperative commercial step for the Athletic Club, as it intends to further enhance the club's brand presence on an international front.

Athletic Club Rivalries

Athletic Club has multiple renowned rivalries, with the most notable being the "Basque Derby" against Real Sociedad. This rivalry is not only a football match, but a cultural and regional struggle between the Basque Country's most successful clubs. The rivalry has on-field competition, but is often a friendly rivalry (with both sides often sharing the stands). Another important rivalry Athletic Club has is with one of the biggest football club Real Madrid. This "Old Clásico" rivalry is steeped in history, as the two clubs were at the pinnacle of early Spanish football; they also have a long history of heated contests along with candid political tension in that Athletic is generally seen to represent Basque nationalism, and Real is seen as representing Spanish centralism. And there is a sibling rivalry with Atlético Madrid. This rivalry is unique in that Atlético was founded by Basque students living in Madrid and wanted to create a team based on Athletic Club and the founding members even adopted Athletic's red and white striped shirts. The siblings have a historic rivalry with competitive matches, shared league records, and even meeting in various cup finals, which has given them a significant and competitive history.

Athletic Club Derbies

Athletic Club has numerous important derbies, based on its unique identity and deep regional links. These derbies represent much more than a sporting contest; the most famous of these derbies is with Real Sociedad, the Basque Derby. The rivalry has eventually gotten to the point that whoever wins the Basque Derby is considered the biggest fish in the sea of Basque football, given that the two biggest clubs in the Basque Country are Athletic Club and whoever wins the shootouts between Atlético Madrid and Deportivo Alavés. The Basque Derby usually involves very hard-fought matches, albeit with a good-natured vibe between the participants - usually culminating in fans having a drink together before and after the match, win, lose, or draw, irrespective of the result and the emotions flowing when the 90 minutes of normal time is over.

The other major rivalry is with Real Madrid, sometimes referred to as the "Old Clásico." Before Barcelona emerged as a true rival, games between Athletic and Real Madrid were the games that were big in Spain. The historical context is tied up in the fact that there is a historical and political divide in Spain between the Basque region of the North and Central Spain, with Athletic representing Basque Nationalism and Real Madrid representing Spanish centralism. There is also the historic sibling rivalry with Atlético Madrid, the Madrid club was founded in 1903, by Basque students who were living in Madrid (as a youth branch of Athletic Club) -that even wore the same red and white striped shirts. Athletic and Atlético Madrid share the same historical lineage - and that lineage has led to some important matches, including Copa del Rey finals.

Athletic Club Trophies and Achievements

Athletic Club boasts one of the most distinguished trophy cabinets in Spanish football history, a testament to its continuous successes despite its player policy of bringing only Basque players. The club also comes fourth in the list of the most successful La Liga teams, with eight titles to its name. But really, their period of dominance came during the Copa del Rey, wherein they stand as the second most successful club after having won this competition 24 times. This prestigious cup forms an integral part of the club's identity, crowned with a 2024 victory that ended a 40-year winning drought, igniting general celebrations in Bilbao. The club has also lifted the Supercopa de España three times. However, it has failed to achieve major honours at the continental level but has been runner-up in the UEFA Cup/Europa League and in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, showing that it can compete abroad. Its women's team is also one of the most successful in Spain and has won the Primera División Femenina several times.

Athletic Club Fan Following

Athletic Club, or Athletic Bilbao, has one of the world's most unique and passionate followings. Based in the Basque Country of Spain, the club has developed a loyal fandom that feels an authentic attachment to the club's philosophy and history. Athletic Club's supporters do not think of themselves as fans of football; they think of themselves as custodians of the Athletic Club identity, characterised by pride in their locality and solidarity with each other. San Mamés, often referred to as La Catedral, is the focal point of Athletic Bilbao's fan culture. The stadium on match days turns into a flurry of red and white as fans cheer on their team. The entire stadium chants, sings, and waves flags to encourage the players. The atmosphere is generally considered among the best in La Liga, and visiting squads often remark on the high levels of support. Athletic fans are considered to be respectful sports fans, too, as they will applaud great performances from opposing players, which reflects an appreciation for the game. Athletic Bilbao also has a vast support network across the Basque Country and from Basque communities around the world, and as stated earlier, it is more than football. Earning the support of Athletic Bilbao is a unifying cultural identity and pride for many generations. Athletic supporters are fiercely loyal, and the clubs fans are often described as being like family, where traditions are celebrated and passed down from parent to child. Even though Athletic Bilbao does not have the same financial clout as teams such as Real Madrid or Barcelona, their supporters are steadfast in their loyalty. To Athletic fans, winning does not always mean hoisting trophies, but instead holding steadfastly to what they believe in, as it relates to their unique philosophy and values.

Future Goals

Athletic Club's future ambitions are anchored in balancing tradition with the development of modern football. They are unique as a club with a Basque-only squad. One of its priorities is to develop home-grown talent, and it has an amazing youth academy, Lezama. Developing the next generation will always be a significant focus of the club as Lezama is not only a site of production of future players but also the heart of Athletic's identity. The longer-term goal is to remain competitive in La Liga and European competitions while maintaining their philosophy of only picking players from their region. One future target for Athletic Club is to further embed itself on the European stage. They have had some memorable moments in Europa League history, but the goal is to qualify regularly and cause difficulties playing some of the great teams in Europe. This will ultimately help the club grow their sporting credibility, but also commercially in an environment where television rights and sponsorships pose a huge challenge for clubs in professional sport to survive. Financial sustainability is an important goal for the future. While other clubs have relied on star signings for a heavy portion of their budget, Athletic Bilbao wants to be economically sound by putting their money into infrastructure, community, and academy. The clubs investment in the renovation of San Mamés, one of Spain's most iconic stadiums, will still be used in the future as a means of providing world-class facilities and match experience for their supporters.

Ultimately, Athletic Club's vision for the future is not framed necessarily in terms of trophies or championships but rather preserving the team's identity, fostering local pride, and demonstrating that a club can succeed, even if it's on a smaller scale than others in the football world, while staying firmly true to its ideals and characteristics.