euskalkultura.eus

The philosophy of Athletic crosses borders and awakens curiosity.  The last place it has arrived in Mexico.  Andoni Bombín, head of the Area of Methodology for the group from Bilbao, gave a presentation at the Center for Technological Innovation in Mexican soccer, which works with the Liga BBVA MX. "We prefer someone who will sacrifice over talent," said Bombín in Mexico. Endika Río wrote the article for Mundo Deportivo.

Endika Rio. The technician stressed that Athletic “is a referential club with very relevant particularities,” although from the outside, the philosophy “appears to be a limitation, but for us it is a great strength.”

More than 200 professional connected to follow Bombin’s talk that emphasized the importance of what the Basque team attaches to respecting its identity: “This club is a team from the Basque society, which is closely linked to its fans, it is a situation that helps us understand what we are.  Understand that this club has particular characteristics that must be respected.”

And from this basis Athletic creates its style of play “trying to be brave stars of a purposeful system.”  With out forgetting “elements like mentality and the corresponding coach’s intentions.”.

In all soccer schools an important dilemma exists “Win or train? Two aspects that go hand and hand for current leaders of Lezama.  Bombin offered his opinion on the matter: “In grassroots soccer there are two types of objectives. Collective performance, which means winning matches and accumulating tiles in lower categories, and individual performance which means improving the players who will benefit in the end for the first team.  This will allow us to be profitable in the future, in a possible transfer or to fight for the title.  For us, the player is the main piece of our entire process.

In soccer there are two kinds of objectives: In grassroots soccer there are two types of objectives. Collective performance, and individual.  The individual means improve players that will benefit from the first team.  This will allow us to be profitable in the future, in a possible transfer or to fight for the title.

The process in Lezama is clear.  "The detection and selection of the player is essential" as a starting point. Then there would be "development and training" and, ultimately, there would be "promotion with that player, whether it be to continue evolving within the club, leaving on loan or rising to the first team."

Each game model "caters to different edges, starting with the individual". Bombín referred to the player profile that he likes in Lezama and in Athletic: “We are looking for competitive soccer players, who always seek to be better. We want players who are looking for victory, who possess both profiles because that will give us possibilities of alternatives, brave, supportive, noble ... We prefer someone who will sacrifice to someone who is talented.”

 (published in Mundo Deportivo)