Gontzal Suances, the club's Business Area sports coordinator, explains that this initiative is "a small step further, a qualitative leap." It stems from the evolution of the Eskola, expanding the format, increasing training sessions from two to three per week, and incorporating the new Lauaxeta facility, focused on the Durangaldea area.
The academy has led to the creation of two mixed teams, born in 2017 and 2018, who will compete as federated in the Bizkaia School League. These teams are not part of Athletic's youth system, but they work in parallel with Lezama's sports structure, sharing methodology and facilities. The coaches are from Lezama, ensuring the quality of the process.
“"We don't see competition with other private academies or with the Biscayan clubs they will compete against. What we want is to provide a comprehensive selection for children to work in the best conditions."
Suances emphasizes that the club also aims to "generate new revenue" for the entity chaired by Jon Uriarte. The short-term limit is these two new teams, respecting Lezama's current infrastructure while awaiting an expansion planned for September 2027.
The coordinator acknowledges the challenge of managing the impact of competing under the Athletic Academy brand at such an early age, but highlights the positive experience at the Eskola, where they have worked with around 200 young players in the last quarter. He differentiates the project from the academies of other First Division clubs, such as Villarreal, with Athletic focusing on improving its immediate environment.
