Athletic Club Women’s academy graduates of the last decade
Athletic Club Women’s academy graduates of the last decade
Nearly two out of every three players to have debuted for Athletic Club Women stepped up from the reserves
The female first-team are off to a flying start. On Sunday, Athletic made it two wins out of two in the Primera Iberdrola and the younger players have really made a difference. Furthemore, in the last two weeks, Paula Arana, Sophie Istillart and Bibiane Schulze have made their debuts.
French Basque, Istillart, arrived from Bordeaux to strengthen the midfield, while Paula and Bibiane arrived in 2018-19 and 2019-20, respectively, initially joining the reserves.
After a pre-season full of injuries and transfers, Ángel Villacampa has decided to place his trust in youth. The coach gave striker Arana her first minutes against Deportivo Abanca. Then, on Sunday, defender Bibiane Schulze made her debut, coming on as a substitute against Sevilla FC.
In making her debut, Schulze became the 100th player to pull on the red-and-white jersey for Athletic Club Women in an official match. What is more, half of those players came through Athletic’s own youth system.
In the last decade, 47 footballers have made first-team debuts, and 30 of them were promoted from the reserve side. This means that 63 per cent of the debutants were formed in the second team.
The academy continues to nourish the first team year after year. Last season, three players took the step up to the first team: Amaiur Sarriegi, Irene Oguiza and Naroa Uriarte, with Naroa now being a fixed part of the first-team squad. In the season before that, 2018-19, three players also made the jump under then coach Joseba Aguirre: Nerea Nevado, Oihane Hernández and Oihane Valdezate. No players were promoted in 2017-18, but in 2016-17, there were debuts for María Blanco, Andrea Sierra, Ane Azkona and Leyre Monente.
The lionesses that have stepped up from the reserves to the first team in the last decade:
2010/11
- Ane Landa
2011/12
- Joana Arranz
- Alazne Gómez
2012/13
- Silvia Ruiz
- Jone Guarrotxena
- Eztizen Merino
- Ane Otxoa
2013/14
- Izaskun Leoz
- Ainhoa Álvarez
2014/15
- Jone Bilbao
- Garazi Murua
- Sheila Elorza
- Jone Ibáñez
- Marta Perea
2015/16
- Maite Oroz
- Maddi Torre
- Damaris Egurrola
- Leia Zarate
2016/17
- María Blanco
- Andrea Sierra
- Ane Azkona
- Leyre Monente
2018/19
- Nerea Nevado Gómez
- Oihane Hernández
- Oihane Valdezate
2019/20
- Amaiur Sarriegi
- Irene Oguiza
- Naroa Uriarte
2020/21
- Paula Arana
- Bibiane Schulze