53 years since our first match in the United States

On this day (April 12) 53 years ago, Athletic Club played their first fixture on North American soil. The squad, then managed by Piru Gainza, faced powerful Red Star Belgrade in Chicago –side that managed to win the 1991 European Cup-, the same team that had knocked the Red and Whites out in the UEFA Cup’s first round some months before (5-0 in Belgrade, as opposed to the 2-0 win at San Mamés).

In the fixture played at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Athletic prevailed 1-3 over Red Star –who came from the former Yugoslavia then– after coming back from 1-0 down, with goals from Acimovic (66’), Arraiz (2) and Uriarte, all three scored in the last ten minutes.

Oddly enough, the trip to North America was made in the middle of the 1966-67 Liga season. Only three days afterwards, Athletic played their second-to-last league match of the competition in Valencia -where they had to travel directly from the US- against the local side.

Boise, their second experience
Athletic Club went back to the United States 48 years later to play their second match in history there. Boise, the capital city of Idaho, was the chosen scenario this time taking advantage of the Jaialdi festival, which is celebrated every five years and turns the city into the capital of the Basque diaspora.

The Red and Whites faced Mexican side Xolos de Tijuana on 18 July 2015 at Albertsons Stadium, defeating them 2-0 thanks to goals from Aduriz and Beñat.