Special team photo for 125-year anniversary

The Athletic Club 2022/23 team photos commemorate the club's 125th anniversary. Moreover, for the first time, starting from a common commemorative approach, the backdrop that accompanies both senior squads is different.

In view of such an important event, the idea was to include a background reflecting a journey through time.The men's photo contains Athletic's biggest idols from over the last 125 years. Taking inspiration from Mount Rushmore, where four US presidents' faces have been carved into a mountain side, a small group of iconic Lions watch over this season's squad.

The difficult part, in a club full of legends where the team is always more important than individuals, was to choose footballers who represented such a long and storied history. In the end, seven male and two female players were chosen: Josemari Belauste, Pitxitxi, Erika Vázquez, Txetxu Rojo, Telmo Zarra, Jose Angel Iribar, Eli Ibarra, Julen Guerrero and Piru Gainza.

Both photos are available to purchase as poster in our online store and in Athletic Club retail outlets.

Tribute to all women

For the women's first team photo, the Club wanted women to take centre stage. After all, for long periods of time women have been denied a place in the limelight that was rightfully theirs.

With a shortage of iconic Athletic female footballers from the 20th century, the challenge was to pay homage to all the women who have made Athletic better throughout its history, also during the last century.

With a shortage of iconic Athletic female footballers from the 20th century, the challenge was to pay homage to all the women who have made Athletic better throughout its history, also during the last century. The photo is a tribute to the pioneers, to those who have paved the way. Three names on the poster represent so many anonymous women who contributed to improving the club:

Miren Edurne Salsamendi raised the flag for gender equality in a time of profound discrimination against women at the club. In 1972, Miren fought a heroic battle against the prevailing sexism by demanding that women could be Members at Athletic Club, something that had been routinely denied to them.

Sara Estévez, a pioneer among female sports journalists, had to work under a male pseudonym, "Marathon", for almost 20 years between 1954 and 1973. After a long career dedicated to journalism, Sara only received the equal treatment she deserved very late on in life.

Ana Urquijo was the first ever woman to become Athletic Club president. In 1990, Ana became the first female board member at the Club. In 2006, she became president.

The presence of these three women on the 125th anniversary poster is in recognition of all the women who, without being footballers, have made a decisive contribution to making Athletic Club and society fairer and more equal. To all of them, we say thank you.

Miren Edurne Salsamendi, Sara Estévez and Ana Urquijo are of course joined by some legendary Lionesses: Iraia Iturregi, Erika Vázquez, Eli Ibarra, Nerea Onaindia, Ainhoa Tirapu, Tzibi Juaristi, Irune Murua and Arrate Orueta.