If you’d like to know more about the unique and very special Athletic Club Bilbao you can buy my book (the first in English about Athletic) ‘Los Leones’ at all the usual places via this link: pitchpublishing.co.uk/shop/los-leones

#AthleticClub #UniqueInTheWorld #Gabarra

There was a strong vibe from prominent sections in the British media that Liverpool would simply roll past Atalanta. The same thing happened for Manchester United vs Sevilla, Villarreal and Arsenal vs Villarreal, Sporting CP in this competition. Respect other leagues!

A supporter of Al Hilal lashing/whipping Al Ittihad striker Abderrazak Hamdallah after this evening's Saudi Super Cup. Footage appears to show the fan abusing Hamdallah, who throws water in his direction before being struck with a lash.

Bilbao is having a party. There's something extra special about one-club football cities.

This illustrates a lot of things that should already be well-established. The three salient points: women's football is incredibly popular, free-to-air football is uniquely popular, & the overwhelming majority of people who like football don't buy sport subscription packages.

Very sad. Stuart Dallas showed the value of staying in Northern Ireland to develop at Coagh and Crusaders, then super stints at Brentford, Leeds and internationally. His energy and adaptability made him so important for Bielsa's Leeds. One of the Prem's standout players in 20-21.

Sad news - Stuart Dallas has announced his retirement from football.

266 appearances for Leeds, promoted in 2020, deservedly POTY in 2021 and one of Biesla’s main men.

Tried to get over that horrible leg injury but couldn’t make it.

Story The Athletic | Football
theathletic.com/5405082/2024/0…

Bukayo Saka blatantly initiates contact. Not a penalty. But players initiate contact all the time and are rewarded for it. Many are hardwired to do so. The threshold for penalties needs to be high but too often it is not. An 80 per cent goal chance needs to have the highest bar!

The record remains for yet another year, no team promoted from Non-League has been relegated from the Football League in the next season

This is since automatic promotions began at the start of the 1986-87 campaign

Beyond words. Argentine footballer Florencia Guiñazú was beaten to death by her partner in her house. She had reported his violence to authorities in November. Research from La Casa del Encuentro reports 79 femicides in Argentina from Jan-March this year. 60% in their own homes.

🚨Landmark court ruling in Netherlands orders agency SEG to pay former client Stefan de Vrij €5m in compensation over their role in his 2018 deal to Inter. Concludes a bitter legal dispute with implications for agent's roles in transfers The Athletic | Football
theathletic.com/5254663/2024/0…

🚨Landmark court ruling in Netherlands orders agency SEG to pay former client Stefan de Vrij €5m in compensation over their role in his 2018 deal to Inter. Concludes a bitter legal dispute with implications for agent's roles in transfers The Athletic | Football
theathletic.com/5254663/2024/0…

If you like football, and like football stickers, you will like following this football sticker account.
instagram.com/sticker_conspi…

The reason so many Athletic Club players and fans were in tears is because they are the club. They were born into it. They are who they are because of the club. It is their community, their identity, their everything. Nothing unites people like this authentic football identity.

Athletic to sail with Copa trophy down river Nervion on their Gabarra barge next Thursday - leaving Getxo at 1630 & arriving at Bilbao town hall bridge about two hours later...

(photo from last time...)