Javier Clemente, former coach of Athletic and the Spanish national team, among others, is once again in the news. This time, for his reflections on the recruitment policy for the Bilbao club's youth academy. In an interview on Sunday night on Cadena Ser's Carrusel Deportivo, Clemente criticized how players are brought in and then presented as products of Athletic's youth system.

The coach from Barakaldo stated that when "tricks" are used, the atmosphere is not the same, even though he is happy for players to come. However, he emphasized that "it's not the same Athletic as before," because life has also changed. According to Clemente, "now the focus is more on results, the board doesn't have much sway with members or players. I believe Athletic has adopted the trend of other teams," instead of maintaining "what it used to be, everyone from home, everyone from the academy, we knew each other since we were thirteen. And that, practically, is disappearing."

At 76 years old, Clemente remains one of the most polarizing and successful figures in Basque football, known for his unwavering personality and a tactical style that defined an era. After his promising career as a player at Athletic Club was cut short by a serious injury, he turned to coaching, where his greatest achievements were two league titles and a Copa del Rey in the early 1980s with his beloved club. His career peaked at the helm of the Spanish national team, which he managed for six years and two World Cups, solidifying a tenacious squad that maintained an unbeaten record of 31 matches. Throughout his extensive career, he has managed teams in various leagues and international selections such as the Euskal Selekzioa, Serbia, and Libya.