De la Fuente: As a player, being able to play at San Mames was the greatest thing

According to Marca, Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente recalled his connection with Athletic Club during a program.

Luis de la Fuente won the World Cup with Spain and had a long history with Athletic Club, openly admitting that he is a fan of the club. Luis's father was born in Biscay. Although de la Fuente was born and raised in Haro, he often traveled to Bilbao to watch Athletic Club matches at San Mames. In Athletic Club's official podcast, he said: "At the age of 15, I had the opportunity to sign for the club I loved. Playing for Athletic Club was the greatest thing, unbelievable. As a player, being able to play at San Mames was the greatest thing."

De la Fuente was an Athletic Club player, later worked as a youth team coach, and eventually became the first-team manager. He experienced all these stages with great emotion. He said: "I clearly remember where my parents sat when they watched our matches at San Mames, and I also remember the first time I watched Athletic Club there. It was against Granada, and I sat in the upper level of the East Stand." Now Spain's head coach, de la Fuente said his idol was Chechu Rojo, adding: "For two and a half seasons, I was able to share the first team with him. Can you imagine how exciting it was to be in the same dressing room as someone like that? Chechu was like a father to me. He protected me and looked after me."

De la Fuente's ideal Athletic Club XI consists of: Iribar, Iñaki Sáez, Garay, Goiko, Yuri, De Andrés, Fidel Uriarte, Guerrero, Dani, Zarra and Chechu Rojo.

The coach from Haro recalled his first day at Lezama after joining Athletic Club's youth system at the age of 15. He said: "The selection process back then was obviously not like it is today. There were scouts, they talked about me, and then I had to come to Lezama for a trial. There were 11 players from different places, and we played a friendly match against Pamplona. Piru Gainza gave the approval, and later Iñaki Sáez had a major influence on my development. Isma Urtubi and I arrived here at the same time and were together from the first day. We lived in the same room for a long time and maintained that friendship. I had a very good relationship with everyone, but De Andrés and Patxi Salinas were indeed special. I lived together with De Andrés for a period of time."

In a room at San Mames overlooking the pitch, the world champion coach held a long conversation and tried to select an ideal XI of players who had worn the Athletic Club shirt. He said: "Many excellent lineups could be made. The goalkeeper would be Iribar. Then the defense would be Iñaki Sáez, Jesus Garay, Andoni Goikoetxea and Yuri. In midfield would be Miguel De Andrés, Fidel Uriarte and Julen Guerrero, my goodness; in attack I would put Dani, Telmo Zarra and Chechu Rojo."