Interview: Iñigo Juaristi

The first manager of the ladys team, Iñigo Juaristi, reviews for our Web the most current red-and-white aspects.

What reflections do you have of the season?
It’s clear that being used to competing for the title and winning it on four occasions, we can’t say that it’s been an excellent season, but for me it’s been a good one. We have worked hard and we must admit that we have been beaten by teams who have demonstrated their strength, and there you have the results. Look back and you’ll see Bardolino italiano who eliminated us by the bare minimum in first European round, made it to the semi-finals and, that both Levante and Rayo finished the season with one point more in terms of game and results, than the best Athletic team in history.
For sure unconsciously, after the match against Levante in Valencia we were left with practically no options, we were less intense, but it’s logical. The objective of becoming the Champions again was impossible and the team had realised this.
Later, the Copa draw “gave us” to Rayo and we had to repeat the same match as in past years, strong desire, good play at times, but we were up against once again, as on many an occasion, a team which would end up being the Copa Champions. Rayo had a magnificent league and their performance in the Copa was incredible. We will try again next year, but let’s see if we have a bit more luck in the draw.

The season is over, and it’s time to reorganise the team. What can you tell us about the players who are leaving the team?
The truth is that it’s a pity when moments like these come about, but you have to understand that this is another facet of football also.
In Lorena’s case, she has been a fundamental player in the team and has played a lot of minutes participating in very precise moments, her knee injury and her age have gone against her and in this sense her decision is quite normal. The time has come after so many years of sacrifice and of being a key player in the team, to have other objectives. As for me I only have words of praise for her.
Something similar has happened to Leire as far as her participation is concerned. Her contribution to the team had been falling. She has gone from playing a lot to playing less. But it’s just that two of the best centres of the league play in her position and it’s the coaching staff’s obligation to play with the best eleven players possible in each game and this means that she has had fewer opportunities to play. Her work has been commendable.
Ane’s case is different. From a physical and technical point of view I think she’s a fantastic player, but she needs something else in order to reach her best level. For me it’s a shame that she has the idea of leaving football instead of fighting and playing so that she can demonstrate mainly to herself how much she’s worth. For me it’s a pity that I haven’t been able to bring out the best in her. Sometimes it’s better to take one step backwards in order to take two steps forward. I expect and hope that Ane will keep on playing, training hard, enjoying herself, and winning with confidence and I am convinced that if this occurs she’ll be able to join us again.
Regarding María Luke, she came from Eibar and made it to the First Division team because of Andere’s injury. The idea of returning to play with the “B” team was proposed to her but she thinks that her phase in “B” is over with and on this matter I don’t have any objections.
As for me I am grateful to all of them and wish them all the best in the future.

It has been said that you make little use of the team, that you always count on the same players. What do you have to say about this?
Well, I believe that this is practically a habitual norm in any team, and if not, you only need to take a look at our rivals’ statistics. Normally in a high performance team in which a lot of players take part, the level between them is very even or the type of team is not right. Everybody remembers the greatest teams off by heart. In this way the most human part also comes about and there are very difficult moments because people are working hard in order to be able to play on Sunday and in some cases they are not included in the line up. Therefore, I can only tell you what the players usually comment, training hard or being a high class player is not enough to be in the starting eleven line up on Sunday, it’s just as important or even more important to compete well when the opportunity arrives, because this is what the coaches normally look out for.

Anything new with respect to the signings on which may occur?
Not at the moment. We are working on it and our objective, just like all the clubs, is to have the best possible team. It is necessary to do things well, with tranquillity and thinking about what is best for the team.

Is the level of the Superliga getting better? Would it be good for the game if Real Madrid and FC Barcelona got behind women’s football?
There’s no doubt that little by little the level of female football is growing and that Superliga is getting stronger and stronger. Any new impulse would be excellent for Superliga and women’s’ football in general. But if these two team you mention get involved with our football, it’s very important that they do so for real and with the conviction of doing something worthwhile.

Is Iñigo Juaristi still excited about Athletic’s project?
Of course. The truth is that the titles won has helped female football a lot to make the rade, the work that is being done in Lezama in this long term project is important. All of us who we are involved in this project are giving it our all so that this does not become an isolated moment in time in which the four League titles have been won. We want this to be the foundation for the future and that in many years to come, when female football is established as an elite sport, we can look back on and speak with pride about this Athletic team, just as we do with men’s football and we can feel excited and proud when remembering the Leagues and Copas won. What’s more we still have a lot to do in female football in Biscay (promotion, development, subject agreements, etc…) and I hope that the club’s situation is a little more stable than in the past seasons so that all of this can be developed.

Has the Female Athletic Team got a loyal following?
Yes. Although it’s normal perhaps that this year there’s been less people than in others towards the end of the season, since we weren’t in a position to compete for the title, but we have our public and they’re loyal. The best in Superliga by far in quality and quantity, though I believe that we could have had some more if the media had helped a little. If you look at the sports news or pages, you realise that they have nothing to do with the interest shown by a significant number of fans, in comparison with the attention Athletic gets from the press the attention the Athletic female teams gets is almost nil, our football matches and those of the lower divisions attract a fifth of the club’s spectators, however, the Athletic Club Female team which play in the Premier category, almost never appear. I feel that this will evolve bit by bit and we must work on it. The people who come to see us once usually do so again. The Athletic Women’s team are addictive.

Are you satisfied with the club’s support?
Totally. I can only thank the board for all their support. They have understood this project perfectly and I’m grateful to them. The fans have also been behind us. We have their unconditional support and it’s very important for the team. I’m repeating myself a little, but what we need the most is the support of the media. If they just paid a little more attention to us, I believe that we would grow a lot more quickly.

What do you have mind in the long term? How does one work with the young players’ reserve?
Well, as everybody in the world knows we have a B team, a team receiving professional training, and we try to distribute the match time minutes equitably so that all the players can have this important part of their training done, it is usually said that without competing it is very difficult to develop your skills adequately. Their performance is another story, they don’t have many opportunities to prove themselves, and everything is achieved thanks to the efforts made and the quality of each player. In addition, we work with football players from other clubs who have been training in Lezama one day a week throughout the season and some of them have even trained with the B team. During which we try to help the players improve and can see their evolution. Also we watch all the matches we can and it’s here where we must nourish ourselves. There have been eight departures from this B team and this group which we have worked with in Lezama needs substitutes.

Bringing players from other provinces, in my opinion means that they are ready to play in the Premier team. A player not from the province should be one of those players who make a difference or belong to that group of players who have a very brilliant future; if not better it’s better to nourish yourself with Biscayan players.

As far as the relation with the clubs is concerned, we have different projects up and running, like the training of the cadet-youth teams, but not just like an opportunity to improve. We want that the Biscayan Clubs, within our means, to see that we are here, that if they need something and if we can help we would be delighted to collaborate with them.

Do you think that the growth of female football in Biscay should be based on the support given by the Town Halls and Public Organisms?
Absolutely. It is fundamental and necessary. I admit that in Leioa Town Hall’s case, that they got behind female football in a constant way right from the beginning and the results are there for all to see. In Leioa this was done in a way which should be emulated and the same work should be carried out in other municipalities, this would be good for female football and all sports in general. I will always be grateful to the people in charge at Leioa Town Hall because they have been behind us as of always.


This is your first season in which you have not won the title as of coach of Athletic. Have you felt at some stage that there are people who don’t believe in you?
Well, I work with the conviction of knowing that I give it everything I’ve got and do my job in the best possible way and that football is a sport, a game and the rivals are sometimes better than you and that you must accept that.
Concerning the detractors or people who don’t believe in my work, well, there’s not much I can do. I am going to continue to make an effort, to do my utmost for Athletic and for female football, with my successes and failures, and regarding this matter I usually say that the only ones who make mistakes are those who make them and that there are a lot of people who only know how to criticise and actually do very little, just the opposite of what this still minority sport needs.

Thank you very much Iñigo.
Not at all and thanks everyone for your support. Bye.