{"id":24635,"date":"2026-08-13T16:43:01","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T14:43:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sanmames.athletic-club.eus\/?p=24635"},"modified":"2026-08-13T16:44:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T14:44:34","slug":"unai-simon-laporte-nico-williams-world-champions-san-mames","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sanmames.athletic-club.eus\/en\/blog\/unai-simon-laporte-nico-williams-world-champions-san-mames\/","title":{"rendered":"Unai Sim\u00f3n, Aymeric Laporte and Nico Williams: the world\u2019s best footballers play at San Mames"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The fact that the Spanish national team recently won the 2026 World Cup<\/strong><\/a> confirmed what has long been known in Bilbao: the world\u2019s best footballers are trained and play at the ‘Cathedral’. The decisive role played by Unai Sim\u00f3n<\/strong>, Aymeric Laporte<\/strong> and Nico Williams<\/strong> in winning the trophy represents the ultimate triumph of the Lezama model. The Athletic Club<\/strong> youth academy<\/strong> is not only capable of keeping a hundred-year-old club in the elite ranks of professional football, but also provides outstanding players for the international stage. The success of these Athletic Club players<\/strong> is a testament to the philosophy of an institution that is unique<\/strong><\/a> in the world, bringing pride to football fans in Bizkaia and cementing the club\u2019s prestige in the eyes of the global football community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tribute to the international players at the red-and-whites’ home ground <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To mark this historic milestone, the board of directors has organised a heartfelt ceremony on the pitch at San Mames. The event will take place on 22 August, in the run-up to the season opener against Sevilla, a match that will mark manager Edin Terzic\u2019s<\/strong><\/a> official debut in charge of the Bilbao side. Fans at the ‘Cathedral’ will be able to pay a resounding tribute to the three Athletic Club internationals<\/strong>, and to national team manager Luis de la Fuente, who has been closely linked to Lezama since his days as a player and coach. This celebration will also link the club\u2019s current success with its history, with a minute\u2019s silence to be observed in memory of goalkeeping legend Carmelo Cedr\u00fan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The red-and-whites’ development programme is not limited to the men\u2019s first team. The same event will honour Elene Gurtubay and Ziara Vega, the newly crowned European Under-19 champions. This collective recognition shows that the club\u2019s DNA permeates every level of its sporting structure. Fans can relive the excitement of this milestone through a special video entitled 2026 World Champions on Athletic Club Play<\/strong><\/a>, which captures the indelible mark left by the academy players on the tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u2018Unique in the World\u2019 philosophy as a driving force for global appeal <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The World Cup triumph has turned the club\u2019s slogan into an undeniable reality. Proving that it is possible to reach the pinnacle of international football by fielding a team made up exclusively of home-grown players or those trained at the club debunks the myth that tradition is a constraint in modern sport. This ethical model has earned the admiration of the international press and sparked unprecedented interest among fans across the world, who see the club as a bastion of authenticity in the face of commercialised football.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lezama’s triumph on the world stage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n