Basque players who qualify though grand parents.

Basically I was watching the Athletic Bilbao game last night on sky and they had a player who was born in Venezuela but qualifyed to play for them because his grandparents were Basque's. My question is will this be in FM 11 as it's the first time I have heard of this rule considering Athletic are very strict on this basque rule for their players.

I think it should be in. Bilbao are a bit more relaxed on their rules now.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athletic_Bilbao

I agree too that it should be implemented.

It already is implemented. There is or was an Argentinean player who has Pays Basque as a second nationality.

There are a lot of children/grandchildren of Basques immigrants who technically would qualify, the difference is that he moved back to Spain at a young age. I don't think they be as welcoming to Jonathan Urretavizcaya.

Isn't the policy simply that the player must have come through the youth system at a Basque cantera, rather than a question of race/nationality?

Isn't the policy simply that the player must have come through the youth system at a Basque cantera, rather than a question of race/nationality?

They must have come through there or be born in the Basque area.

Is there a similar challenge to that with San Mariono that anyone has suceeded with?

Is there a similar challenge to that with San Mariono that anyone has suceeded with?

The Basque team are not FIFA recognized so don't play official matches.

The Basque team are not FIFA recognized so don't play official matches.

lol I probably should have kown that. OK let me re-phrase that, has anyone taken on the challenge of Basque only? Seems similar to Dafuge's self set youth team only challenge with Tooting and Mitcham

Athletic can only sign Basque players anyway, you don't have a choice if you play with them. It has been done with a few other clubs too.

Yeah, for example Real Madrid striker Higuaín is Basque descent so he can play for them too.

Was his name Fernando Amorebieta? He is in the Athletic squad in game.

The point I am making is that this player was born outside of spain so qualifyed not though his parents but his grandparents which must now maybe open up more players to choose from when playing as Athletic Bilbao. If it's already in the game then great but is it and did he come though the youth ranks or was he signed.

Sorry can not remember the name of the player.

Athletic wouldn't go for these foreigners. Even when they were at a low point a couple of seasons ago the names that were being linked were Spanish players who were born outside the Basque Country to Basque parents/grandparents, such as Kepa and Óscar.

Yeah, for example Real Madrid striker Higuaín is Basque descent so he can play for them too.

The French bit of the Basque area, to be precise.

This would simply be in the game as Argentinian with Basques as second nationality.

You cannot sign Higuain on FM, it will not let you bid for him at all.

Athletic wouldn't go for these foreigners. Even when they were at a low point a couple of seasons ago the names that were being linked were Spanish players who were born outside the Basque Country to Basque parents/grandparents, such as Kepa and Óscar.

Well this is true as the game was on sky saturday night and it was brought up before the game started

Amorebieta was in born in Venezuela to Spanish parents (Basque). When he was two he returned to Spain.

It is not the same situation as second, third generation Basques who immigrated to South America.

Amorebieta was in born in Venezuela to Spanish parents (Basque). When he was two he returned to Spain.

It is not the same situation as second, third generation Basques who immigrated to South America.

On sky,they stated his parents were not Basques but his grandparents are thus thats why he now qualifys as Athletic have relaxed their rules

The rule IRL is the player must come from Athletic youth ranks. In their youth system currently are some non-basque players: nigerians, italians, portuguese and so, most of them without basque ascendancy. But they have been recruited to play for youth system, so they will be eligibles when they reach first team.

An article (in spanish) about that : http://www.elpais.com/articulo/deportes/Athletic/viene/elpepudep/20080131elpepidep_8/Tes

The rule IRL is the player must come from Athletic youth ranks. In their youth system currently are some non-basque players: nigerians, italians, portuguese and so, most of them without basque ascendancy. But they have been recruited to play for youth system, so they will be eligibles when they reach first team.

An article (in spanish) about that : http://www.elpais.com/articulo/deportes/Athletic/viene/elpepudep/20080131elpepidep_8/Tes

In real life I thought they signed players from other Basque clubs that have not come through the Athletic youth ranks.

Isn't it "born in the Basque country or raised in Athletic's academy", not just the latter?

Done some research on Higuian BTW, it turns out he was born in Brest, so is not Basque.

If you search for Basque players on FM there are not that many non-Spanish Basque players. There were 4 on a large database, all players from France gave 20 something most of which were quite poor.

I think the deal with Higuain is that he has already represented Argentina and so is classed as foreign. Whereas if he had not been capped he would still be eligible for Athletic.

Yeah, I forgot, when signing a new player, yes any player basque it's ok. Even sometimes players formed at a Basque youth team setup.

IRL rule it's not even clear for the Athletic supporters, and every case is studied individually to see if the player matches or not.

On FM you can sign any spanish player under 16. When they come to the club they get the basque nationality automatically.

so can someone please confir this for me athletico bilboa ONLY sign players who are basque?, they dont sign any other nationality, any other type of spanish player (ie catalan etc)

Isnt there another club in Europe which has exactly the same cantera policy of bilboa

Athletic can only sign Basque players anyway, you don't have a choice if you play with them. It has been done with a few other clubs too.

You know which teams?

The only other team I can think of is Chivas (Mexico) who have a policy of Mexican-only players.

so can someone please confir this for me athletico bilboa ONLY sign players who are basque?, they dont sign any other nationality, any other type of spanish player (ie catalan etc)

As I said, IRL it's not so easy. They mainly sign basque players, but also accept other players as long as spent some time on their youth setup (e.g. they have Saborit who is a catalan player, who they signed when he was 15).

The only other team I can think of is Chivas (Mexico) who have a policy of Mexican-only players.

No, im pretty sure there is another club in Europe who has the same policy but have been less successful, it was on Eurosport not so long ago...