Best moments of 2019. Ladies’ team

The January calendar had not been benign with the female Athletic. The visits to Cerro del Espino and Miniestadi left the lionesses with few more options than the fight for the fourth place in the League. The challenge of the Cup was left. After the hard initial qualifying round in Seville against Betis, the bass drum had not been especially generous. It was necessary to face Atletico de Madrid again, an added complication.

San Mamés was in this occasion the chosen scenario. Yes, we lost the match and that also counts, but we also lived one of those moments in which Athletic Club shows us that it is also much more than winning or losing.

48.121 was the iconic figure that resulted from a historic day. 48,121 people exceeded the expectations and supported the girls in a late Wednesday night match in the middle of winter, an idea and a commitment to women’s football and gender equality. An extra breath for those who represent us on the pitch thanks to a unique philosophy, identity and sense of belonging.
An unstoppable effect that may have served to inspire many girls who came that day for the first time to San Mamés and felt identified with what they experienced. The first step for them to continue dreaming of being themselves the protagonists on the field of the Cathedral.

The Copa match against Atlético de Madrid literally went around the world. It became a social and sporting reference whose echoes have not yet been extinguished. Somehow it can be said that the resonance of women’s football was amplified in a decisive way and from then on there were not few teams that chose to take high-profile matches, even regularly, to big stages. An unstoppable growth.

The lionesses then returned to the activity in Lezama with a victory against Rayo in a stretch of the competition where the triumphs became more and more expensive. Injuries, especially in the team’s offensive side, made the picture even more complicated. There was still an important challenge to face: the return game at San Mamés against Levante. With the European attendance record for a club match still fresh, the match against the Valencian team became another party and a great opportunity to keep alive the option of fighting for the third place in the raking. 25,203 spectators, another spectacular turnout, drove Athletic to take the three points thanks to two goals from Vanessa Gimbert. Athletic took the opportunity to strengthen its bond by extending an invitation to its 31 agreed clubs from which it draws young players for its youth categories. The revenue from the match also allowed the Club to triple its annual contribution to these teams.

The end of the season served to give minutes to players who are called to take over in a short period of time. The case of Nerea Nevado, one of our three U-17 world champions, who debuted as a striker in the victory in Albacete. With the competitive backdrop also came the relay on the benches. After four campaigns, Joseba Agirre becomes the new sports director replacing Juan Luis Fuentes who will remain at the head of the methodology, recruitment and technology area.

The coach for next season will be Ángel Villacampa, two times League champion and one time Cup winner with Atlético de Madrid. Current coach in the lower categories of Chinese football, the coach from Toledo is one of the most honored, with a record of 46 consecutive matches without losing and having achieved an undefeated League.

The squad will continue to maintain the main assets of recent years including Vanessa Gimbert. At 39, she will continue to be a key part of the team’s defensive play on the pitch and a source of wisdom and experience in the dressing room. In the last two seasons she has played every minute.