Athletic Bilbao - The Basque Warriors

Athletic Bilbao, also known as Athletic Club or simply just Athletic, was officially founded on December 5th, 1898 by a group of young students from the city of Bilbao in Northern Spain. The creation of the football clubwas inspired by a mix of British immigrants bringing their passion for soccer to the region and local enthusiasts who wanted to establish a team that could compete at a higher level (source).

In its early years, the team experienced both struggles and successes. One notable achievement during this period was winning their first Copa del Rey (King's Cup) in 1903 against Madrid FC with only eight players on the field due to injuries (source). They went on to win another four Copa del Reys between 1910 and 1921. With these accomplishments came notable players such as Pichichi Moreno—whose name would later be used as an award for La Liga's top goal scorer each season—and José María Belauste.

The First Golden Era: (1930s - 1940s)

Considered one of their most successful periods in history, Athletic won several titles during this era including two La Liga championships (1935-36 & 1942-43) along with five more Copa del Rey trophies (source).

Legendary player Telmo Zarra emerged during this time; he held the record for most goals scored in La Liga until Lionel Messi overtook it in November 2014. Zarra scored over 335 goals in his career, most of them for Athletic (source).

The Second Golden Era: (1980s)

The 1980s saw another successful period for the club under coach Javier Clemente whose reign led to back-to-back La Liga titles in the 1982-83 and 1983-84 seasons, as well as a Copa del Rey win in the latter year (source). During this time, Athletic produced some remarkable players like Andoni Zubizarreta, who later became one of Spain's greatest goalkeepers, and prolific striker Julio Salinas.

Athletic Bilbao's main rival is Real Sociedad—a fellow Basque team hailing from San Sebastián. This rivalry dates back to their first meeting in January 1909(source). Known as 'El derbi vasco' or 'Basque Derby,' this clash between two historic clubs generates intense passion among supporters on both sides.

Notable matches between these rivals include a Copa del Rey final (June 1912) which required three games due to draws before Real Sociedad emerged victorious, and a thrilling encounter during the penultimate matchday of the 2002-03 season which saw Athletic come out on top with an injury-time winner that secured them UEFA Cup qualification (source).

Athletic Club play their home games at San Mamés Stadium nicknamed 'La Catedral'—The Cathedral—due to its grandiose appearance and the fervent devotion of Athletic's fans (source). The original stadium was inaugurated on August 21, 1913, with a capacity of around 7,000 spectators; over the years it has undergone numerous restorations and expansions.

In September 2013, a new San Mamés Stadium opened right next to the old one with an impressive seating capacity of 53,289 people (source). The stadium is known for its vibrant atmosphere and passionate supporters that provide an undeniable home advantage for Athletic Bilbao.

Athletic Bilbao's fan base is diverse in age and gender but predominantly located within the Basque region due to the club's strong roots in this area. One notable fan group is Herri Norte Taldea (Northern People Group), founded in 1982 as ultras supporting both Athletic Club and Basque nationalism (source).

An important tradition at Athletic is their transfer policy centered around 'cantera,' meaning they only recruit players born or developed football-wise in the greater Basque Country or Navarre regions. While other clubs have recently relaxed similar policies, Athletic remains committed to theirs despite potential competitive disadvantages (source).

1. Winning their first Copa del Rey trophy against Madrid FC (1903).
2. Securing back-to-back La Liga titles during Javier Clemente's coaching era (1982-83 & 1983-84).
3. The inauguration of the original San Mamés Stadium on August 21, 1913.
4. Telmo Zarra becoming La Liga's top goal scorer of all time until surpassed by Lionel Messi in 2014.
5. Athletic Bilbao defeating their Basque rivals Real Sociedad to win the Copa del Rey final in April 1956.
6. Andoni Zubizarreta making his debut for Athletic before going on to become one of Spain's greatest goalkeepers.
7. Winning the Spanish Supercup for the first time against FC Barcelona in August 2015 (source).
8. Inaki Williams becoming the first black player to score a goal for Athletic Club in February 2015 (source).
9. Reaching two UEFA Cup Finals despite ultimately falling short both times: against Juventus (1977) and Atletico Madrid (2012) (source).
10. Celebrating their centenary year as a club with an exhibition match against Manchester United at Old Trafford in August 1998—the same month they unveiled a statue dedicated to their most iconic goalscorer, Pichichi Moreno (source)).