45 years since The Basque Country played a League of Ireland XI at San Mames

Today marks 45 years since the Basque national team played their first match under the name ‘Euskadiko Selekzioa’ after the end of the Franco dictatorship. On 16 August 1979, the Basque side beat a League of Ireland XI 4-1 at San Mames.

In the years leading up to this fixture, Basque XIs had been put together for testimonial matches for José Eulogio Garate (against Atlético Madrid) and José María Lizarralde (against Real Vallodolid), in addition to a friendy with the Soviet Union at San Mames, but the clash against the visiting Irish team was seen as the birth of the modern Basque national team.

The friendly took place against the backdrop of a tense political situation, with Spain in the process of democratisation. The government of the time had prohibited the playing of the Basque national anthem (Gernikako Arbola – The Tree of Gernika) before kick-off, a decision which led Basque president Carlos Garaikoetxea (The Lehendakari) and several major politicians to leave the presidential box and sit in other parts of San Mames in protest.

What’s more, funds raised from the fixture went to ‘Bai Euskarari’ (Yes to Basque), a campaign organised by Sustraiak and Euskaltzaindia (the Basque Language Institute) to help promote the use of the Basque Language.

40,000 fans packed into the old San Mames and pre-match festivities included traditional Basque music and dances, as well as a ceremonial kick-off for José Irarragorri and Isidro Lángara, two members of the national team that had toured the world raising funds for Basque refugees during the Spanish Civil War.

The match

Led by Jesús Garay and Andoni Elizondo, the Basques fielded a strong starting XI with a mix of Athletic Club and Real Sociedad players: Jose Angel Iribar; Genaro Celayeta, Inaxio Kortabarria, José Ramón Alexanko, Javier Escalza; Ángel Maria Villar, Periko Alonso, Jesús María Zamora; Dani Ruiz-Bazán, Jesús María Satrústegui & Txetxu Rojo.

Luis Arconada, Agustin Gajate, Javier Irureta, Fernando Tirapu and Estanislao Argote also came off the bench.

The Irish travelling squad, with Bohemians boss Billy Young at the helm, looked like this: Peter Thomas, Alan Patterson, Pat Nolan, Joe Burke, Terry Eviston, Ronnie Whelan, Johnny Walsh, John Delamere, Johnny Fullam, Austin Brady, Tommy McConville, Jerome Clarke, Richie Bayly, Eddie Byrne, Pierce O'Leary, & Paddy Joyce.

Euskadiko Selekzioa went ahead in the 10th minute. Dani fired in a shot from range after being teed up by Alonso. Satrústegui doubled the Basques’ lead seven minutes later.

Captain Iribar was replaced by Arconada on the half-hour mark, the Athletic goalkeeper, instrumental in the match coming together, left to a roaring ovation. For the Lions’ shotstopper it was a 50th international appearance after his previous 49 matches for the Spanish national team.

Ireland pulled one back just before half-time when Ronnie Whelan smacked in a left-footed shot from outside the box. Just 17 years old at the time, months after the match Whelan was signed by Liverpool FC, where he became a club legend and won six top-flight titles and a European Cup. 

Coincidentally, Ronnie returned to San Mames for a European Cup match in 1983/84, the year he lifted the trophy with the Reds, being an unused substitute as the eventual champions knocked Athletic out of the tournament thanks to a 0-1 win in the second leg of our round-of-16 tie.

The Basque national team made it 3-1 with an hour gone after Burke brought down Satrústegui in the box. Dani stepped up to convert the penalty. Zamora scored the final goal five minutes from time when he picked up a rebound to score past Patterson.

“It was a match which united a lot of different feelings, different motives. It was a long-awaited moment,” Iribar said when reflecting upon the fixture. “On a personal level, I was coming towards the end of my career and I was thrilled to play.”

After full-time, the president of Euskaltzaindia presented Iribar and Arconada with the victors’ trophy.

The Irish perspective

Many of the Irish players who travelled to Bilbao for the match have fond memories of the clash, particularly the raucous, festive atmosphere at San Mames.

Whelan admitted the match was a life-changing experience. It was the first time the then Home Farm midfielder had ever played in front of more than a few hundred people.

“I’ll never forget the noise,” he told the Irish Mirror about playing at The Cathedral. “I remember it being a lightbulb moment. I found myself relishing the atmosphere. I wanted more of it. That told me something about myself. I loved the noise.”

Shelbourne FC striker John Delamere, the man who assisted Whelan's goal, was equally impressed by what he witnessed at San Mames.

Delamere said: “I was 23, a young footballer, and I didn’t have a clue about the significance of the match. The Basques were so up for the game. That night, that crowd, that was the best atmosphere I ever played in.”

In 2014, the Basque Country played Ireland again in a women’s international match at Garmendipe, Azpeitia, where the Basques won 2-0. The fixture was repeated in Dublin two years later, with the Irish winning 2-1 on that occasion.

Athletic Club has always maintained strong ties with Ireland. Although the Zurigorri is yet to face a League of Ireland side, we have played two friendlies at the Aviva Stadium in recent years – against Liverpool FC in 2017 and versus Manchester United in 2023.

Apart from that, Irish football legend Liam Brady attended the 2023 Thinking Football Film Festival to watch the screening of his documentary, ‘Liam Brady: The Irishman Abroad’.

Basque national team at San Mames

Since hosting the League of Ireland XI in 1979, 20 further Basque national team fixtures have been held at San Mames. 
The most recent of which was a 1-1 draw with Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay in March 2024.

35,500 spectators attended the clash. Athletic’s recent signing Álvaro Djaló was on the scoresheet for the Basques, while Matias Vecino struck for the Uruguyans.