Athletic Bilbao

Athletic Club Bilbao, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is a professional football club based in Bilbao, Spain. It was founded in 1898 and is one of the oldest football clubs in Spain. The club is known for its unique policy of only fielding players of Basque origin or with Basque ancestry.

Athletic Bilbao has won multiple domestic and international titles throughout its history. It has won the Spanish La Liga championship on eight occasions and has also won the Copa del Rey (Spanish domestic cup) on 23 occasions, making it the second most successful team in the competition's history.

The club has also had success in international competitions. It won the UEFA Europa League (formerly known as the UEFA Cup) in the 1976-1977 season and has reached the final of the competition on another occasion.

Athletic Bilbao's home stadium is San Mamés Barria, which has a seating capacity of over 50,000 spectators. The team has a strong fan base and matches at San Mamés Barria are known for being loud and passionate.

The club's fierce rivalry is with Real Sociedad, another club from the Basque Country. Matches between the two teams are known as the Basque derby and are highly anticipated by fans.

Athletic Bilbao has also produced several notable players throughout its history, including Francisco "Paco" Gento, who is considered one of the greatest Spanish footballers of all time.

Overall, Athletic Club Bilbao is a historic and successful football club that is known for its unique policy of selecting players based on their Basque heritage.