It was meant to be a popular game, and it turned into an industry – one of the biggest in the world. But no matter how hard they try to turn football into a money-making machine, it still has a soul. And it evokes emotions that few things can. Emotions came out fully in the defiant Basque Country. Tears flowed like the Nervion River, and on it again, after 40 years, the famous barge and hundreds of small boats appeared.Football romance has not died, it is just skillfully hiding and waiting for the moment to explode like a volcano, to resurface. It appeared in Bilbao, the city that has been rocking their favorite child – Athlétic Club – since 1898. The city lives for the club, and all the while they remain faithful to the ideology – only players born in the Basque Country and Navarre can play for the club, or they have blood ties, that is, their roots are from there – they resist modern football. One region, one city, and one club. The celebration of the century was organized because of Athletic Bilbao.##NAJAVA_MECA_8028015##Generations lived to see one dream realized – to see the trophy at the famous Cathedral. For Athletic Bilbao to be ahead of Real Madrid and Barcelona again. They went to bed and got up with that thought. Many did not see it and the question is when and if the ‘Pride of the Basque Country’ will win La Liga, but the new generations have welcomed – the Copa del Rey trophy!Manu Morlanes and Nemanja Radonjić missed their penalty shots, Alex Berenger sent the ball into the net and tens of thousands of souls at La Cartuja witnessed history, the writing of new pages. After four decades and many defeats in the finals – immediately after the corona, in 2021, Athletic Bilbao was defeated twice in the decisive match – the cup found its way to San Mames, by the river Nervion. A dream photo was taken: Iker Muniain, the man who turned down lucrative offers from Europe’s richest clubs, finally lifted the trophy with his Bilbao. Three years ago, with a lump in his throat, he shed tears and applauded the Real Sociedad players for winning the Copa del Rey.These days tears are being shed because of him and his teammates. All generations of Bilbaine people, everyone took to the streets. Some to remember what it’s like when a large barge called La Gabarra and hundreds of small boats set sail, others to experience the stories they heard on their grandfathers’ laps.😍 ¡Vaya día vivimos ayer!Recuerdos imborrables, para toda la vida. Eskerrik asko, athleticzales!#UniqueInTheWorld 🏆 #AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/xByVHUKDbt— Athletic Club (@AthleticClub) April 12, 2024 They strongly believed that it would come to this, perhaps the strongest so far, although not so long ago in this century they had Ariz Aduriz, Fernando Llorente, Javi Martinez, Markel Susaeta… This is also shown by the fact that in Seville, outside La Cartuja stadium, there were tens of thousands of Bilbao fans who did not have a ticket, but that did not stop them from traveling to Andalucia. Or for 15 of them to drink 290 pints of beer and make a 2,255 euros bar tab. And all that before the cup final match against Mallorca started.They waited and preparations began for the famous barge to set sail. What is La Gabarra? It was built in the shipyard of the port of Celia in Bilbao back in 1960. In the beginning, it was called ‘Barge No. 1’ and was used to transport heavy materials. It was not intended for the celebrations of Athletic Bilbao.At first, the ‘Pride of the Basque Country’, like all Spanish clubs, celebrated their titles by driving a bus through the city. But the management got an idea and decided to introduce a new custom in the 1982/1983 season. The fans liked it. Barges navigated the Nervion River, and it is estimated that there were around 1,000,000 people along the river bank. The festivities were repeated the following year, when Athletic Bilbao won the double – also the last title of a team that has never been relegated from the elite tier of Spanish football – by beating Diego Armando Maradona’s Barcelona.Since then, the barge has not been released from the port, although the trophies were lifted in the Spanish Super Cup in 2015 and 2021. And now – it got freed! The preparations began that evening when Iker Muniain and Oscar de Marcos, men who dedicated their careers to one love, lifted the Copa del Rey trophy.All of Bilbao stopped. And went out into the streets.On Wednesday evening, it was already impossible to approach the island of Zorrotza, and during the night and at dawn, people began to gather in the streets. They set up tents and sleeping bags because they wanted to have the best view. Maritime traffic and the streets of the central city were closed. Traffic was stopped, and schools adjusted their working hours.Fans came from all over the world, some bought plane tickets and came ‘across the pond’ to witness history.About 110 boats registered for sailing – they had to submit a request to Athletic Bilbao and get approval – there were also 30 traditional Basque rowing boats floating on the Nervion, and the players were on the famous barge. The sailing lasted over two hours, a distance of 12 kilometers was covered. They passed by the magnificent San Mames and disembarked at the Town Hall, where they had contact with the fans.They had it a little earlier when they left the stadium because they were there for – training. Ernesto Valverde scheduled it. Maybe that kind of approach is the reason why he is the first man to lead the club to the Copa del Rey trophy. Since the last time they won a major trophy, 20 coaches and 11 presidents have changed…Inigo Martínez was among the people who followed the tow on the barges. He left Bilbao, but Athletic is still in his heart. Although a Barcelona player, he went to the Basque Country and followed his former teammates on his boat. Thousands of red and white petals floated down Nervion, and the entire atmosphere left even players who had already won trophies abroad speechless.”I won trophies in Manchester and Paris, but this is unique and different from everything else. The wins here are different, because I won with a group of friends. People here only like Athletic. Hopefully it won’t take another 40 years for this to happen again. This is a triumph for all those who are not in the club, but who fought for it,” said Ander Herrera.Iker Muniain and Oscar de Marcos appeared on the terrace of the City Hall together with the Copa del Rey trophy and ignited the atmosphere, and young Unai Gomes burst into tears during the celebration. That year 2021, when Athletic Bilbao lost two finals of the Spanish Cup, he was in the stands with the fans…🏆 La Copa ya está aquí. 😍2⃣5⃣ #UniqueInTheWorld 🏆 #AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/u9yCmQjQ8N— Athletic Club (@AthleticClub) April 11, 2024 Emotions ran high. And in the City Hall, and in front of it, and that evening at La Cartuja, when the Williams brothers – Inaki and Nico, tapped each other on the back while they were hugging and sobbing. Boys with a wonderful story, born in the Basque Country, whose parents crossed the Sahara to ensure a better life for their descendants.And, during the celebration, one life ended. Gerardo Flores (64) from Extremadura died after seeing the barge with the players, Marca reported.For some, football is not ‘the most important pastime in the world.’ It is more than that. Especially in the Basque Country.”There were many tears shed and lost finals in these 40 years, but because of desire, dedication and passion we are here today to celebrate,” said Iker Muniain and Oihan Sancet from the terrace of the City Hall added:”I assure you that it won’t take 40 years for us to get the damn boat out again.”🥹 Uno de los momentos más emocionantes de ayer… Hegoak ebaki banizkionnerea izango zen,ez zuen aldegingo.Bainan,honelaez zen gehiago txoria izangoeta nik…txoria nuen maite.#UniqueInTheWorld 🏆 #AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/UqHz33gqWY— Athletic Club (@AthleticClub) April 12, 2024 Whether they waited that long or not, this trophy will create new generations of Athletic Bilbao fans, a club that built a wall around itself and for the sake of ideals reduced its chances in competing with Real Madrid and Barcelona, and constantly participates in the international stage. Next year, with Ernesto Valverde, they could also be in the Champions League.It’s a new dream. The Copa del Rey has been won, and fans will have until Sunday to take a photo with the cup at San Mames, the cause of the century-long celebration in the defiant Basque country.
