In his book dedicated to the glorious history Athletic Bilbao ( "The last bastion. Football Athletic Bilbao frank," Limina Editions, 2006 ), Simone Bertelegni dedicated to the short and unfortunate parenthesis footballer Javier Clemente looked soft and comforting for those who can indulge in hindsight and see the terrible accident that crushed in the bud a bright career in the middle of the field is not an end but the beginning of a new and successful season as coach, ending with the triumph in the championship in eighty-three and eighty-four years.
To understand Barakaldo, should bear the words of the story, stopping there, where everything seems to be lost, and yet it is not:
"What Athletic had always relied massively on the shoots of the Basque lands has been amply demonstrated in the previous pages. Basically, however, has always spoken of young people who once dressed in red and white shirt, had several seasons available to confirm the confidence of observers and coaches who had promoted the first team. Fate wanted to Javier Clemente would not touch such a fortune.
Born nell'operaia Baracaldo, near Bilbao, Clemente as a child chose as a favorite toy ball. With a crystal clear talent, of genius that something more typical of the numbers that make 10 fall in love with the people, the small Javier burn up the track: at 15 he was already in the youth of Baracaldo, 16, along the eye of "Piru" Gainza him in the Spring Athletic. Shortly after he could sit on the bench as a reserve of the first team, while continuing to play with the youth team, in this case fixed by the owner. Finally, in 1968, an Athletic-Liverpool Fairs Cup, Clemente made his debut with the shirt of one of its two teams of the heart (the other was and is the Baracaldo), following an injury to an output of "Txetxu" Rojo: he was only 18 years. Clemente played badly, and ended up back on the bench. It was three months before seeing him again in the field, the opportunity was nothing less than a derby against Real Sociedad. The red and white won 3-0, Clemente played with charm and became unmovable. Excellent provider of balloons and many likened to Bobby Charlton, made the fans go crazy in love with her and decisive steps millimeter. On trunks of several cars, and not only in Bilbao, began to appear eloquent stickers: "Clement, the No. 10 Athletic" the deification was in place. Maybe we're talking about a player who would have won the hearts of many fans, even in Italy. Perhaps because it was impossible to determine. Clement was the star of a comet that passed very fast in the firmament of football.
November 23, 1969, Stadio Nova Creu Alta, Sabadell. The local team faced the Athletic. A few minutes from the whistle, the result of 2-1 for the Basques, a rude entry Marañón white and red on the director forced the latter to come out on a stretcher semisvenuto for pain. The diagnosis was terrible broken tibia, fibula and ankle. [..] Clement went under the knife five times in a vain, stubborn attempt to come back to do what he liked best: play football. Although he was seen again on the field for a few meetings, the pain did not forsake him, and eventually even his stubbornness was won. Backed by just about sixty lots, the boy left the Baracaldo football player. Not could not even take the field for the game of homage that was paid, an Athletic-Borussia Moechengladbach view from the sidelines with a leg in a cast following surgery to the nth.
addition to great promise, however, Clement was able to prove great person. After an injury that would break the morale of everyone, had the strength to show their skills, if not playing, learning and teaching football. [..] Had to spend a few year or so, but the Athletic would see that guy so unlucky. I would see at the helm of the team, not so much as a director, and then in the field, because as a coach. It would have been times of glory. "
I am convinced that "the glory days of" do not compete with the victories, but with people who live there. The spirit of the boy Barakaldo, Vizcaya's like the wind, he never ceased to inhabit the wet grass of the San Mames. It is no coincidence that twenty-three years after that terrible accident, made his first team debut in another boy destined to become the myth of an entire generation of red and white fans. Blond playmaker and almost Bilbaino like Clement, he never wears the colors of another camiseta , despite the lure of half of Europe.
His name is Julen Guerrero, for all the captain "Julentxu.
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