Estudiantes awards Athletic Club for its youth academy

Athletic Club, together with the former basketball player Juan Carlos Navarro, the pilot Carlos Sáinz, the Isabel Gemio Foundation, Tamara Echegoyen, the Abuso Fuera de Juego campaign, LUCA and Alfredo Relaño, have been awarded in the ‘V Premios Todos Somos Estudiantes’ (V Awards We Are All Students) in the ceremony that has taken place in Madrid in the fifth homage to the football academy that the basketball club carries out.

By awarding these prizes, the school recognises the people and entities that share the values of the Madrid club: to promote the youth academy in its male and female categories, which fully coincides with the philosophy of existence of the Athletic Club.

On this occasion, the ‘Todos Somos Estudiantes’ (We Are All Students) 2019 awards went, in addition to the red and white club, to basketball legend Juan Carlos Navarro; rally driver Carlos Sáinz; the Isabel Gemio Foundation; Olympic sailor Tamara Echegoyen; the Superior Sports Council’s “Abuso Fuera de Juego” campaign; the Telefónica LUCA data unit and sports journalist Alfredo Relaño.

President Aitor Elizegi, who has been accompanied by director Tomás Ondarra, has wanted to leave a phrase that the family of Estudiantes has praised: “The youth academy allows you to win every day, regardless of the outcome. Elizegi acknowledged that he sees “a friendly team on the other side of the phone” for the values they share and wanted to highlight the commitment to the youth academy: “Commitment that Athletic Club has had for 121 years.” In front of the media, the president wanted to emphasize the importance of the award: “For me this award is a pride. The most important thing unites us with the Estudiantes, a common dream, a commitment to our own. We try to make it possible for the children of our fans to become athletes, even professionals. When that dream is fulfilled close to home is also circular economy, also a truth, a connection, family. This is how the surroundings of an athlete’s dream are finished up.”

The ‘valores de cantera’ (youth academy values) prize has been collected by Elizegi from the hands of the presidents of Movistar Estudiantes, Miguel Ángel Bufalá and Fernando Galindo, an award that has been presented with the following introduction: “Athletic Club receives the prize this year for its exemplary trajectory: they innovated 121 years ago by creating a club of this sport that came from England, football. They innovated maintaining a unique philosophy, attached to the academy and to their land, which they have never renounced. They innovated by betting on women’s football. They innovate with their Foundation’s social, sports and cultural initiatives. In addition, 8 Men’s Leagues, 24 King’s Cups and 5 Women’s Leagues contemplate the record of the popular club of Bilbao.